Tim Cooney (sound engineer)

Tim Cooney (born June 14, 1951 in Glendale, California) is an American film production sound mixer, animal trainer and musician.

Cooney was born in Glendale, California but then later moved to West Virginia. At a young age, pursuing his desire to be musician, he joined a bluegrass band called the Canfields, playing guitar.

Cooney playing with the original Dillards

Cooney and Vassar Clements at the Grand ole Oprey

After graduating from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, he worked as a clown for Circus Vargas for a year but decided he wanted to train animals. He trained animals for circuses, the St. Louis Zoo, and then the film business.

Cooney and his tiger Gregory

Cooney and his elephant Kura

Cooney and his elephants Tembo and Kura

In 1976, Cooney started working as a boom man at Universal Studios. His first studio picture as production mixer was Blue Thunder for Columbia Pictures in 1981. Cooney was the first production mixer in history to have sound on his own web page. He had several animated items on his page as well, which had not been done at the time. The page has been taken down since his retirement. Cooney sat twice on the board of directors of the Cinema Audio Society is still a member of the motion picture academy of arts and sciences and the television academy of arts and sciences. Cooney was a producer on the movie the November Conspiracy. He also directed a few music videos, the most notable "About Love" with the singer Johnny Rivers. But one of his biggest works is for the movie Cliffhanger where he was nominated for an Academy Award.

Cooney playing guitar with Willie while on the bus

Cooney in the studio with (left to right) John McEuen, Cooney, Rodney Dillard, Ricky Scaggs, Jeff Hanna and Randy Scruggs

Cooney has received nominations for various awards that include an Academy Award nomination for Best Sound for Cliffhanger, three Emmys nominations, two Cinema Audio Society nominations For Outstanding Achievement In Sound Mixing and three Golden Reel Award nominations. Cooney won the Golden Reel for best sound in 2000 and wrote a book entitled, Work in movies? Are you crazy? Cooney has formed a musical duo called Cooney&Co. and performs his show all over the world.