James Lyons on AllMovie

Editor James Lyons gained greatest recognition in U.S. indie film circles for his multiple onscreen collaborations with director Todd Haynes. These included the groundbreaking Poison (1991), Dottie Gets Spanked (1993), Safe (1995), Velvet Goldmine (1998), and Far From Heaven (2002) -- an Oscar-nominated Douglas Sirk homage. Lyons' contributions to Velvet Goldmine -- a tribute to '70s glam rock about the rise and fall of two musicians (Ewan McGregor, Christian Bale) also included co-authoring the original screen story with Haynes.

Lyons branched out into work for other directors with the 1996 Ratchet, and teamed up with Sofia Coppola to cut that director's feature debut, the shocking coming-of-age drama The Virgin Suicides (1999). In addition to his work at the editing table, Lyons occasionally acted in feature films, such as the aforementioned Poison, I Shot Andy Warhol, and Postcards from America.

Tragically, in April 2007, Lyons died of an HIV-related illness, squamous cell cancer, at age 46.