Composer Marvin Hamlisch died 6 August 2012 after a brief illness. Born 2 June 1944 in New York City, he is one of only two people to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, a Tony, and a Pulitzer Prize (the other one is Richard Rodgers). He composed music for stage and screen, including classics such as A Chorus Line and The Sting.
Hamlisch started life as a child prodigy: at the age of 7, he was the youngest student ever accepted into New York’s Juilliard School of Music. As an adult, he conducted pops orchestras across the country, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Pasadena, San Diego and Seattle Symphonies, but he’ll be long remembered for his composing work, featured in Broadway musicals, Hollywood films, and television programs in a huge variety of genres.
His awards include:
* 12 Oscar nominations (including three wins for his work on The Sting)
* 7 Emmy nominations (including wins in 1995, 1999, and 2001)
* 11 Golden Globe nominations (including wins in 1972 and 1974)
* 4 Grammy nominations (including one win in 1975)
* a shared Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1976 for his work on A Chorus Line
His work on genre projects includes: an episode of Fringe (2010), Land of the Lost (2009), Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009), Bedtime Stories (2008), Meet Dave (2008), Shrek the Third (2007), eight episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1992-98), Big (1988), The Return of the Six MIllion Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman (1987), D.A.R.Y.L. (1985), The Devil and Max Devlin (1981), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Move (1970), and an episode of Batman (1967).
He is survived by Terre Blair, his wife of 23 years. Former First Lady Nancy Reagan said she was shocked to hear of his death, calling Hamlisch “a dear friend” and a favorite of hers and President Reagan’s. “I’ll never forget that he wrote a special song for Ronnie’s surprise 77th birthday party in 1988. My heart goes out to Terre at this difficult time.”