Since cutting MELVIN AND HOWARD (1980) for director Jonathan Demme, McKay has edited nearly every one of his features. He also acts as a story consultant for documentaries and occasionally directs his own projects. Growing up in New York, McKay got his start in the business at the lowest rung of the ladder, progressing from a messenger to apprentice to assistant editor before moving into feature films. He assisted on MISSION MARS (1968) and THE EXORCIST (1973). Other notable (non-nominated) editing credits include SCARECROW (1973), THIEVES (1977), SWING SHIFT (1984), SOMETHING WILD (1986), MARRIED TO THE MOB (1988), SHE-DEVIL (1989), MIAMI BLUES (1990), SHINING THROUGH (1992), MAD DOG AND GLORY and PHILADELPHIA (both 1993), COP LAND (1997), RETURN TO PARADISE (1998), A MAP OF THE WORLD (1999), BLUE MOON (2000), K-PAX (2001), MAID IN MANHATTAN (2002), THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE and SURVIVING CHRISTMAS (both 2004), EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED (2005), AWAKE (2006) and CARRIERS and LIFE IN FLIGHT (both 2007).  Nominated for Film Editing 1981: REDS (w. Dede Allen)  Nominated for Achievement in Film Editing 1991: THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS 2 nominations