Biography

Avis Anne Hope Eckelberry worked as an editor on films such as "The Last Boy Scout," "Mr. Saturday Night," "Super Mario Brothers," "The Flintstones," "Cobb" and "Forget Paris." She also was a tap dancer and under the name of Avis Hope appeared with her uncle in the movie "Eight on the Lam," which co-starred Phyllis Diller and Jonathan Winters. Avis was born to George and Mary Hope in Columbus, Ohio and the family soon moved to Los Angeles where George worked with his brother Bob on show business projects. In fact, George and Mary met through her own brother, Bob Hope's early collaborator, George Byrne. Growing up in the Toluca Lake district of North Hollywood, Avis was trained as a tap dancer and performed as a teenager. She went on to work as a physical trainer and athletic coordinator for fashion manufacturer Esprit in San Francisco. Screenwriter Floyd Mutrux introduced Avis to film editing. In 1995, Avis married technology executive Riggs Eckelberry and devoted the rest of her life to helping him with his career and raising their son, George Hope Eckelberry, now 14. She is also survived by her brothers Harry and Jesse.