Paul Hirsch, A.C.E. has had a prolific career spanning over 40 films, showcasing his versatility in editing various genres such as drama, action, horror, musical comedy, fantasy, suspense, mystery, and comedy.
Notable films in his repertoire include the first "Star Wars" written and directed by George Lucas, for which he received an Academy Award in 1978, and "The Empire Strikes Back". He has also worked on 11 films for Brian De Palma, including "Carrie", "Blowout", and "Mission: Impossible", as well as four films for Herbert Ross, including "Footloose", "The Secret of My Success", and "Steel Magnolias".
Additionally, Hirsch has collaborated with John Hughes on three films, including "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "Planes, Trains & Automobiles", and with Joel Schumacher on "Falling Down". His other notable works include "Ray", a biopic based on the life of Ray Charles, directed by Taylor Hackford, for which he received his second Academy Award nomination in 2005.
Hirsch's filmography also includes "Love Ranch", directed by Hackford in 2008, as well as more recent projects such as "Source Code", "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol", and "Warcraft", the latter two being his second collaborations with directors Duncan Jones and Brad Bird, respectively. He has also served as an additional editor on numerous films.
Born in New York City, Hirsch comes from an artistic family. His father, Joseph Hirsch, was a renowned painter whose works are featured in the permanent collections of major museums in the US, including the Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum. His mother and stepfather, Ruth and Leonard Bocour, were prominent collectors of 20th Century American painting.
Hirsch spent part of his childhood in Paris, where he developed his fluency in French, as well as some conversational skills in Italian and British. He studied music at the High School of Music & Art in NYC and majored in Art History at Columbia University. He is married with two grown children who are also involved in the film industry, and resides in Pacific Palisades.
