David Brenner dead at 59

Oscar-winning Hollywood film editor David Brenner has died at the age of 59.

His wife Amber told The Hollywood Reporter that he passed away at his home in West Hollywood on Thursday afternoon.

The film editor is most famous for working on movies including Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Legend: Oscar-winning Hollywood film editor David Brenner has died at the age of 59

He also won an Oscar in 1990 for his work on Oliver Stone’s Born On the Fourth of July.

In addition to Born on the Fourth of July (1989) – Brenner partnered with Stone on Platoon (1986), Salvador (1986), Wall Street (1987), Talk Radio (1988), The Doors (1991), Heaven & Earth (1993), World Trade Center (2006) and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010).  

American Cinema Editors – of which Brenner was a long-time member – started a GoFundMe page for fans to donate money to help his family after his sudden death.

Fans have raised $46,000 (£33,000) in less than 24 hours and donations continue to pour in. 

Family: His wife Amber told The Hollywood Reporter that he passed away at his home in West Hollywood on Thursday afternoon (pictured with Amber in 2013)

The group said: ‘He was an extraordinary editor and a loving, compassionate family man.

‘In an effort to support David’s family during this terrible time, Lightstorm Entertainment has created a GoFundMe account.

‘More important than any financial assistance this may provide, it’s an opportunity to let his wife Amber and his children Annie, Haider, and Sasha know how many other lives David touched.’

Zack Snyder lead the tributes on Saturday.  

Success: David won an Oscar in 1990 for his work on Oliver Stone’s Born On the Fourth of July (Tom Cruise is pictured in the film) 

He wrote on social media: ‘Devastated by the news that I lost my dear friend and collaborator David Brenner… The kindest man, A loving father and husband, A gifted artist… you’ll be deeply missed.’

Roland Emmerich – who worked with Brenner on Independence Day, The Patriot, The Day After Tomorrow and 2012 – shared a tribute on Facebook.

He wrote: ‘Our deepest sympathies and sincerest condolences to Amber, Anna, Haider and Sasha on the sad and tragic passing of OSCAR – winning film editor David Brenner, a beloved husband and father, as well as dear and very gifted friend.’ 

Busy: In addition to Born on the Fourth of July (1989) – Brenner partnered with Stone on Platoon (1986), Salvador (1986), Wall Street (1987) – pictured

Avatar producer Jon Landau wrote on Twitter: ‘We have lost a very dear member of the #AvatarFamily, David Brenner, an editor extraordinaire on the Avatar sequels. Our hearts go out to his wife Amber and their children Annie, Haider and Sasha.

‘His talent, compassion and friendship will be truly missed.’  

The film editor also worked with Rob Marshall on Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in 2011.

The director shared his condolences on social media, writing ‘David was an extraordinary artist and a kind and gentle man. We were incredibly lucky to have collaborated with such a beautiful spirit.

Editor: He also worked on the film Platoon (1986) which was also directed by Oliver Stone

Upset: Zack Snyder lead the tributes on Saturday. He wrote on social media: ‘Devastated by the news that I lost my dear friend and collaborator David Brenner…’

Sad: Avatar director James Cameron wrote on Twitter: ‘We have lost a very dear member of the #AvatarFamily, David Brenner, an editor extraordinaire on the Avatar sequels’

‘We are deeply saddened by this unimaginable loss — and we send our most profound sympathies.’ 

Brenner is survived by his wife and children Anna, Haider and Sasha. 

He had been working at home on James Cameron’s Avatar sequels for about a year, editing footage shot in New Zealand, just before he died.  

Born in Hollywood, Brenner attended North Hollywood High School and Stanford before serving as an apprentice editor on the 1985 film Radioactive Dreams.

Career: He had been working at home on James Cameron’s Avatar sequels for about a year, editing footage shot in New Zealand, just before he died (pictured in 2015) 

Much-loved: Film fans reacted with sadness on Saturday to the news of his death 

In one of his last ever interview in 2021  published on ProVideoCoalition, Brenner said that his goal in editing a movie was always the same, no matter how big the movie is. 

He said: ‘The gigantic features may have elaborate action scenes involving a lot of footage and a lot of CG, which brings a host of editorial challenges. 

‘They frequently also have complex storylines with many interweaving characters, which the editor has to track, massage, make flow and climax,’ he said.

‘But this is exactly what the editor must do with many smaller films. … So, no matter what the budget or scale, as the editor, you’re just trying to get the story and characters to work. Whether it’s a $200 million action film or a $20 million art house film, you’re still trying to get the movie to play.’ 

Tragic: Brenner is survived by his wife (pictured with him in November 2021)  and children Anna, Haider and Sasha

Job: Shia Labeouf and Carey Mulligan are pictured in Wall Street – Money Never Sleeps which aired in 2010 and was edited by David 

ncG1vNJzZmhqZGy7psPSmqmorZ6Zwamx1qippZxemLyue9OvqqGnp5e2u3vDmq2inF2Xv6a6zZ6pZpyVlrFurdNmbHJn