Elliot Graham, the Oscar-nominated editor behind films like Milk and No Time to Die, has died at age 50. His death was confirmed as a suicide on Saturday in Los Angeles by the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner.
Graham’s work on Milk earned him an Oscar nomination in 2009. The 2008 biopic, directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Dustin Lance Black, starred Sean Penn as Harvey Milk. The film received eight Oscar nominations including best picture. It won for best actor and original screenplay. Dan Jinks, a producer on Milk, wrote on Facebook that the movie “wouldn’t have come together in the way it did without [Graham’s] amazing work.”
Graham also edited Van Sant’s Restless in 2011, a romantic drama starring Mia Wasikowska. His collaboration with Van Sant extended beyond Milk, shaping a career that included some of the most prominent blockbusters and awards season contenders.
He was part of the team that won a BAFTA award for editing No Time to Die in 2021. Shared with Tom Cross, the award recognized his work on Cary Joji Fukunaga’s James Bond film. It was Graham’s final credited project.
Graham produced and edited the 2018 FX series Trust, about the 1973 kidnapping of John Paul Getty III. The series starred Donald Sutherland and was based on real events.
Born in Claremont, California, on June 8, 1976, Graham’s earliest credit was for the 2001 thriller The Last Minute. Directed by Stephen Norrington, it was his first step into feature editing. He then handled additional editing on X2: X-Men United in 2003 and worked on Superman Returns in 2006, both directed by Bryan Singer.
His resume includes editing the 2015 Steve Jobs biopic starring Michael Fassbender. He also worked on Captain Marvel in 2019, starring Brie Larson. Graham’s other credits include Bill Paxton’s The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005), Robert Luketic’s 21 (2008), Stephen Daldry’s Trash (2014), and Aaron Sorkin’s Molly’s Game (2017).
He contributed additional editing to The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), I Am Michael (2015), and Beasts of No Nation (2015). His work spanned multiple genres and styles, earning recognition from industry peers.
Graham’s death has prompted tributes from colleagues and friends. His work on high-profile projects like Milk and No Time to Die made him a respected figure behind the scenes.
His passing leaves a gap in the editing community. No details about his personal life have been publicly disclosed. The circumstances of his death have not been confirmed beyond the statement from the Medical Examiner.
Graham’s career reflects a dedication to storytelling through editing. His fingerprints are on films that shaped recent Hollywood history. His influence extended into television with Trust, and his awards underscore the respect he earned among peers.
The film community often remembers editors for their unseen craft. Graham’s death underscores the toll mental health can take behind the scenes. His work will continue to be seen, but his absence leaves a quiet void in the editing room.
According to Hollywood Reporter.