Born in Arkansas, USA; grew up in Burbank, CA. Began his career as an assistant editor in 1956 and, from the early 1960s, cut several superbly crafted Hollywood productions. O'Steen is particularly known for his long-running association with Mike Nichols; he edited nine of the director's films, from WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (1966) through WORKING GIRL (1988). O'Steen made his directorial debut with the TV movie A BRAND NEW LIFE (1973). He received the Director's Guild of America award and an Emmy® nomination for best television directing for "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom" (1975). He directed his first feature film, the cult fave SPARKLE, in 1976. He died of a heart attack in Atlantic City, NJ, in 2000. Notable (non-nominated) film editing credits include ROBIN AND THE 7 HOODS, YOUNGBLOOD HAWKE and KISSES FOR MY PRESIDENT (all 1964), NONE BUT THE BRAVE (1965), HOTEL, COOL HAND LUKE and THE GRADUATE (all 1967), ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968), THE STERILE CUCKOO (1969), CATCH-22 (1970), CARNAL KNOWLEDGE (1971), PORTNOY'S COMPLAINT (1972), THE DAY OF THE DOLPHIN (1973), STRAIGHT TIME (1978), HURRICANE (1979), AMITYVILLE II: THE POSSESSION (1982), HEARTBURN (1986), NADINE (1987), FRANTIC, BILOXI BLUES and WORKING GIRL (all 1988), A DRY WHITE SEASON (1989), POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE (1990), REGARDING HENRY (1991), CONSENTING ADULTS (1992), WOLF (1994), NIGHT FALLS ON MANHATTAN (1997), and his last film, THE WHITE RIVER KID (1999). O'Steen's memoir Cut to the Chase: Forty-five Years of Editing America's Favorite Movies, written with his wife Bobbie O'Steen, was published in 2002.  Nominated for Film Editing 1966: WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?  Nominated for Film Editing 1974: CHINATOWN  Nominated for Film Editing 1983: SILKWOOD 3 nominations