Alan Balsam was born to Michael and Anita Balsam on 2nd April, 1950. He grew up in Los Angeles and attended California State University at Long Beach, graduating in 1972. He began his career making short promotional films featuring entertainers such as Bette Midler and George Harrison and took his first credit as an assistant film editor on 'Fatso' in 1979. He always worked in television on the AFI salute to Bette Davis and 'Heroes of Rock and Roll'.

Filmography