Avis Anne Hope Eckelberry, a talented and multifaceted individual, made a name for herself in the film industry as an editor, working on a wide range of projects such as "The Last Boy Scout," "Mr. Saturday Night," "Super Mario Brothers," "The Flintstones," "Cobb," and "Forget Paris."
But Avis's creative endeavors didn't stop there. She was also a skilled tap dancer, performing under the name Avis Hope alongside her uncle in the movie "Eight on the Lam," which starred Phyllis Diller and Jonathan Winters.
Born to George and Mary Hope in Columbus, Ohio, Avis's family soon relocated to Los Angeles, where her father worked with his brother Bob on various show business projects. In fact, George and Mary met through George Byrne, an early collaborator of Bob Hope's. Growing up in the Toluca Lake district of North Hollywood, Avis was trained as a tap dancer and began performing as a teenager.
After leaving the world of dance, Avis went on to work as a physical trainer and athletic coordinator for fashion manufacturer Esprit in San Francisco. It was during this time that she was introduced to film editing by screenwriter Floyd Mutrux.
In 1995, Avis married technology executive Riggs Eckelberry and dedicated the rest of her life to supporting his career and raising their son, George Hope Eckelberry, now 14. She is also survived by her brothers Harry and Jesse.
