Lottman began his career his career editing documentaries and
industrial films in his native New York. His first credit on a feature film was as a
montage editor on
The Hustler (1961). In 1970, Lottman edited his first film, the spy parody
The Man from O.R.G.Y. That same year, he met director
Jerry Schatzberg, who hired him to edit his debut film
Puzzle of a Downfall Child. Lottman and Schatzberg would form a successful partnership, working together on a total of six films between 1970 and 1980. In 1973, Lottman was one of four editors on
William Friedkin's
The Exorcist. The film was nominated for ten
Academy Awards, including
Best Film Editing, which Lottman shared with
Bud S. Smith, Norman Gay, and
Jordan Leondopoulos. Lottman also had a successful collaboration with director
Alan J. Pakula, over five films between 1981 and 1990. He also edited films for such directors as
Francis Ford Coppola,
Paul Newman,
Frank Oz, and
Sidney Lumet. == Personal life ==