Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Jerry Goldsmith

Role / Field:

Innovative American composer renowned for pioneering film and television scoring.

Born:

1929-02-10

Died:

2004-07-21

Century / Era:

1929s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Jerrald King Goldsmith (February 10, 1929 – July 21, 2004) was an American composer, conductor and orchestrator with a career in film and television scoring that spanned 49 years and over 200 productions, between 1954 and 2003. He was considered one of film music's most innovative and influential composers. He was nominated for eighteen Academy Awards (winning in 1977 for The Omen), six Grammy Awards, five Primetime Emmy Awards, nine Golden Globe Awards, and four British Academy Film Awards. He composed scores for five films in the Star Trek franchise, three in The Omen franchise, and three in the Rambo franchise, as well as for films including Planet of the Apes, Patton, Tora!

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Tora! Tora!, Papillon, Chinatown, Logan's Run, Alien, Poltergeist, The Secret of NIMH, Gremlins, Hoosiers, Total Recall, Sleeping with the Enemy, Medicine Man, Basic Instinct, Rudy, L.A. Confidential, Air Force One, Mulan and The Mummy. He also composed the current fanfare for the Universal Pictures logo, which debuted in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. His scores for the 1960's American television series Thriller, hosted by Boris Karloff, have been pointed out for praise.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He frequently collaborated with directors...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Al Davis — Contemporary (Born in 1929) (1929): Pioneering NFL executive and coach, known for building the legendary Oakland Raiders.
• Alasdair MacIntyre — Contemporary (Born in 1929) (1929): Influential Scottish-American philosopher known for virtue ethics and political theory.
• Alejandro Jodorowsky — Contemporary (Born in 1929) (1929): Avant-garde filmmaker known for surrealism, mysticism, and theatrical provocation.
• A. A. K. Niazi — Contemporary (Died in 2004) (2004): Pakistani general who commanded Eastern Command during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
• Alicia Markova — Contemporary (Died in 2004) (2004): Pioneering British ballerina, choreographer, and founder of major ballet institutions.
• Ancel Keys — Contemporary (Died in 2004) (2004): Pioneering physiologist who studied diet's influence on health, notably fat replacement.
• Abdul Hamid II — Shared historical date (02-10 · Died) (1918): Last effective Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, navigating decline and constitutional upheaval.
• Alex Haley — Shared historical date (02-10 · Died) (1992): Pioneering author of 'Roots,' who brought Black American genealogy to global prominence.
• Alan Shepard — Shared historical date (07-21 · Died) (1998): Pioneering American astronaut, second in space and first American on the Moon.
• Albert Luthuli — Shared historical date (07-21 · Died) (1967): Pioneering anti-apartheid activist and leader of the ANC in South Africa.
• 1929 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1929
• February 10 (02-10) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 10
• 2004 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2004
• July 21 (07-21) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 21

Frequently Asked Questions about Jerry Goldsmith