Steve Maslow, Beloved Oscar-Winning Sound Mixer for Iconic Films, Passes Away at 81
Steve Maslow, a celebrated re-recording mixer whose work earned him Academy Awards for The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Speed, has passed away at the age of 81.
Maslow’s accolades include back-to-back Oscars for the iconic 1980 Star Wars sequel and the 1981 Indiana Jones film, alongside a nomination for the 1994 action hit featuring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. His extensive portfolio also includes nominations for notable films such as Dune (1984), Waterworld (1995), Twister (1996), and U-571 (2000). His vast body of work features a diverse array of films, from More American Graffiti and the Oscar-winning Ordinary People to well-known titles such as Poltergeist, Airplane II: The Sequel, Christine, Starman, Gremlins, and Mad Max: Fury Road.
In addition to mainstream films, Maslow contributed to numerous concert films and rock documentaries. His career began with The Last Waltz, directed by Martin Scorsese, which captured the Band’s farewell concert in 1976. His work in the music documentary sector also includes The Kids Are Alright and Stop Making Sense, as well as significant sound contributions to music videos, such as Michael Jackson: Black or White.
His foray into music included work on the Jerry Lee Lewis biopic Great Balls of Fire and Neil Diamond’s The Jazz Singer, along with the 1986 musical Little Shop of Horrors.
Born on October 17, 1944, in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, Maslow’s entry into the industry came unexpectedly while he was attending college. In 2018, he recounted in an interview with Motion Picture Sound Editors’ CineMontage how a friend, keyboardist for Strawberry Alarm Clock, invited him to join the band as an equipment roadie, leading him to leave school for a career in music.
Maslow later transitioned to becoming a recording engineer and gained acclaim for hits like the Four Seasons’ “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” and A Taste of Honey’s Grammy-winning “Boogie Oogie Oogie.” After facing a decline in the music industry, he transitioned to film and secured work at Samuel Goldwyn Studio, where he spent nearly 15 years.
Throughout his career, Maslow collaborated with a host of prominent directors, including Steven Spielberg, Robert Redford, and Tim Burton, among others.
He is survived by his wife, Ronna, and their son, Travis.
