Robert R. Parrish was born on January 4, 1916, in Columbus, Georgia, to Gordon R. Parrish, a factory cashier, and Laura R. Parrish. The family moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1920s, where Parrish and his sisters, Beverly and Helen, began their acting careers.
Parrish's early film appearances included Our Gang short Olympic Games in 1927, followed by All Quiet on the Western Front in 1930 and City Lights in 1931, both directed by Charles Chaplin. He also worked with John Ford on several films, including Mary of Scotland in 1936 and Young Mr Lincoln in 1939.
During World War II, Parrish served in the United States Navy and worked on documentary and training films, including The Battle of Midway in 1942. After the war, he began his career as a film editor, winning an Academy Award for his work on Body and Soul in 1947, shared with Francis Lyon.
Parrish went on to edit several other notable films, including All the King's Men in 1949, and later made his directorial debut with Cry Danger in 1951. He continued to work in the film industry, directing films such as The Purple Plain in 1954 and Casino Royale in 1967, a James Bond parody.
In addition to his work in film, Parrish wrote two memoirs, Growing Up in Hollywood in 1976 and its sequel, Hollywood Doesn't Live Here Anymore in 1988. His books are highly regarded for their stories about the film industry and its personalities.
Parrish received numerous nominations and awards throughout his career, including an Academy Award for Best Film Editing and a nomination for Best Director. He passed away on December 4, 1995, in Southampton, New York.
Parrish's career spanned over six decades, during which he worked as an actor, film editor, director, and writer. He is remembered for his technical talents, his direction of several notable films, and his storytelling ability, which is showcased in his two memoirs.
