Sad news out of Beachwood, California. Quentin Tarantino’s longtime collaborator and editor, Sally Menke was found dead this morning. Details at this stage are sketchy.
Menke was reported missing yesterday when she failed to return home after going on a hike with her dog. Police found her dog alive, and discovered Menke’s body in a ravine this morning.
Menke has edited over 20 feature films, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but she is best known for her work with Tarantino, which included Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Jackie Brown, Kill Bil, Death Proof, and Inglourious Basterds.
In a career that spanned 20+ years, she received much acclaim including an Oscar nod for Pulp Fiction and Inglourious Basterds. Menke was a woman who believed in the power of film, and she had a powerful impact on modern cinema, making some of the most talked about films of the last two decades and inspiring editors and writer/directors alike. Her talent and creativity will be missed.
For more on Menke, check out a great interview with her at the Editors Guild.
And we’ll give Tarantino the final word:
What’s your favorite Menke movie?