Elena Maganini, Film Editor on ‘Dexter,’ ‘Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer,’ Dies at 70 — SkimNews
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- Elena Maganini died on October 21 in Burbank at age 70 from complications of breast cancer, ending a career spanning influential film and TV projects
- Elena Maganini won an Emmy for editing the pilot of 'Dexter' and was nominated again for 'If These Walls Could Talk,' an abortion-themed anthology directed by Cher and Nancy Savoca
- Elena Maganini edited John McNaughton’s 1986 film 'Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer' and later worked on his films 'Wild Things,' 'Mad Dog & Glory,' and 'Lansky,' establishing a long creative partnership
- Elena Maganini edited multiple television series including 'Madam Secretary,' 'Good Behavior,' 'Clarice,' 'Manifest,' and 'The Cleaning Lady' after transitioning from film to TV
- Elena Maganini studied filmmaking at Columbia College Chicago and began her career at Sinnot & Associates, a Chicago production company, before gaining national recognition
- Scott Collins, Maganini’s husband, serves as communications director at the Motion Picture Editors Guild, and the couple is survived by daughter Gabriella Coronel and daughter-in-law Adrienne Coronel
- A memorial service for Elena Maganini will be held November 15 at 1 p.m. at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills, with donations encouraged to Columbia College Chicago, Tree House Humane Society, or Stray Cat Alliance
Why it matters: Maganini’s Emmy-winning work on 'Dexter' helped shape the visual tone of one of TV’s most influential crime dramas, and her early collaboration on 'Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer' marked a defining moment in independent cinema—her legacy endures across two distinct but impactful eras of American storytelling.
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