Mission: Impossible' composer dies at 93
Famed composer Lalo Schifrin, who created themes for a host of hit Hollywood films and television shows – including the instantly recognisable Mission: Impossible score – died Thursday aged 93, US media reported.
Born in Argentina, Schifrin blended the influences of his classical and symphonic training with jazz and modern sounds in his diverse and vast oeuvre, which includes the scores for around 100 films, some of them the best-known of their generation.
His death was confirmed by his son, Ryan Schifrin, to several entertainment trade publications.
Schifrin's work for film includes The Cincinnati Kid (1965) and Bullitt (1968), both with Steve McQueen, Paul Newman's Cool Hand Luke (1968), and Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry (1971).
He also created the score to the 1960s Mission: Impossible television series, which inspired the theme of the massive film franchise starring Tom Cruise.
A pipe-smoker in his younger years and bespectacled with a mane of silver hair later, he was also a highly respected international orchestra conductor and jazz pianist.
Boris Claudio Schifrin was born in Buenos Aires on June 21, 1932 into a musical family, his father Luis Schifrin being the concert master of the city's Philharmonic Orchestra for 25 years.
He learned piano at a young age, developing an extensive knowledge of classical music.
His introduction in his teens to jazz and the American sound – through its greats such as Charlie Parker, George Gershwin and Louis Armstrong – was like a conversion, he would say later, and set his life on a new course.
Schifrin moved to the United States in 1958 and became a US citizen over a decade later.
In Hollywood, television producer Bruce Geller asked him to create scores for his television series Mission: Impossible (1966) and Mannix (1969).
Schifrin received several Academy Award nominations for his film work including for Cool Hand Luke.
In 2018, he received an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement, presented by Eastwood. afp
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Express Tribune
9 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Mission: Impossible' composer dies at 93
Famed composer Lalo Schifrin, who created themes for a host of hit Hollywood films and television shows – including the instantly recognisable Mission: Impossible score – died Thursday aged 93, US media reported. Born in Argentina, Schifrin blended the influences of his classical and symphonic training with jazz and modern sounds in his diverse and vast oeuvre, which includes the scores for around 100 films, some of them the best-known of their generation. His death was confirmed by his son, Ryan Schifrin, to several entertainment trade publications. Schifrin's work for film includes The Cincinnati Kid (1965) and Bullitt (1968), both with Steve McQueen, Paul Newman's Cool Hand Luke (1968), and Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry (1971). He also created the score to the 1960s Mission: Impossible television series, which inspired the theme of the massive film franchise starring Tom Cruise. A pipe-smoker in his younger years and bespectacled with a mane of silver hair later, he was also a highly respected international orchestra conductor and jazz pianist. Boris Claudio Schifrin was born in Buenos Aires on June 21, 1932 into a musical family, his father Luis Schifrin being the concert master of the city's Philharmonic Orchestra for 25 years. He learned piano at a young age, developing an extensive knowledge of classical music. His introduction in his teens to jazz and the American sound – through its greats such as Charlie Parker, George Gershwin and Louis Armstrong – was like a conversion, he would say later, and set his life on a new course. Schifrin moved to the United States in 1958 and became a US citizen over a decade later. In Hollywood, television producer Bruce Geller asked him to create scores for his television series Mission: Impossible (1966) and Mannix (1969). Schifrin received several Academy Award nominations for his film work including for Cool Hand Luke. In 2018, he received an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement, presented by Eastwood. afp
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Lalo Schifrin, composer of Mission: Impossible theme, dies at 93
Legendary film and television composer Lalo Schifrin has died at the age of 93. He passed away on June 26, 2025, in Los Angeles, due to complications from pneumonia, confirmed by his son William Schifrin. Born in Buenos Aires in 1932, Schifrin rose to global fame through his fusion of classical music, jazz, and Latin rhythms. Best known for composing the instantly recognizable Mission: Impossible theme, his work reshaped the sound of 20th-century Hollywood and beyond. The Mission: Impossible theme, written in an unconventional 5/4 time signature, debuted in the 1966 television series and became even more iconic through the blockbuster film franchise starring Tom Cruise. Its suspenseful rhythm remains one of the most enduring in pop culture. Schifrin earned six Academy Award nominations and won four Grammy Awards, and was honored with an Honorary Oscar in 2018 for his lifetime contributions to film music. His vast filmography includes Bullitt, Dirty Harry, Cool Hand Luke, Enter the Dragon, and The Amityville Horror. In addition to his film work, Schifrin collaborated with legends like Dizzy Gillespie and conducted world-class orchestras including the London Symphony and Vienna Philharmonic. His musical influence extended to modern artists, with his compositions sampled in hip-hop and electronica. Schifrin is survived by his wife, Donna, their three children, and four grandchildren. His legacy lives on in the countless scenes and soundtracks he helped define.
Express Tribune
18-06-2025
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Tom Cruise to receive an honorary Oscar
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