An Oscar-nominated film editor, Robert grew up in New York City. After graduating Colgate University in 1964, Robert Dalva attended the University of Southern California as a graduate student in the Cinema Department. After USC Dalva edited TV commercials, directed educational films and cut LIONS LOVE, directed by French director, Agnes Varda. In 1969 Dalva and his family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to work at Francis Coppola's newly formed American Zoetrope. He directed, shot and edited over 100 national TV commercials. In 1977 he returned to editing to cut an ABC movie of the week, FOREVER, directed by John Korty. In 1978 Dalva edited THE BLACK STALLION, directed by Carroll Ballard. Dalva was nominated for an Academy Award for editing. In 1983 he directed the sequel, THE BLACK STALLION RETURNS. He made a prize-winning documentary, VOYAGE FROM ANTIQUITY, in 1986 for NOVA, winner of a Gold “Hugo” at the Chicago Film Festival.
In 1995 Dalva edited JUMANJI directed by Joe Johnston. Robert edited OCTOBER SKY in 1999, another feature directed by Joe Johnston, In 2001 He edited JURASSIC PARK III again with Johnston at the helm. Dalva edited HIDALGO in December of 2003, again directed by Johnston. Robert edited THE PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE, OHIO in 2005, directed by Jane Anderson. He cut TOUCHING HOME IN 2007, a low-budget feature film directed by Logan and Noah Miller. Dalva directed an episode of Star Wars: Clone Wars for Lucas Animation. Called “The Deserter” it aired on New Year’s Day, 2010. In 2011 Dalva edited CAPTAIN AMERICA, THE FIRST AVENGER, with Jeff Ford, directed by Joe Johnston. In 2012 he edited LOVELACE, directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman and SWEETWATER, directed by Logan and Noah Miller. Both films played at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013.