Film composers at 85+ still around?
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I know only two of them: Tony Hatch who did a lot of UK TV but I am not familiar with.
Franco Miccalizzi I do know better although I am not an expert. He did a lot of those cool groovy “Poliziotteschi” (Italian crime movies) scores in the 70s, westerns and what not. His score to the horror movie “Stridulum” is nice and groogy. And especially his score “Lo chiamavano Trinità… (They Call Me trinity)”- a Bud Spencer & Terence Hill western – is a childhood favorite (That duo was/is huge over here as they got some free interpreted unique German dubbing, too).
Franco Miccalizzi I do know better although I am not an expert. He did a lot of those cool groovy “Poliziotteschi” (Italian crime movies) scores in the 70s, westerns and what not. His score to the horror movie “Stridulum” is nice and groogy. And especially his score “Lo chiamavano Trinità… (They Call Me trinity)”- a Bud Spencer & Terence Hill western – is a childhood favorite (That duo was/is huge over here as they got some free interpreted unique German dubbing, too).
A-ha! He did those TRINITY films! For some reason, I always thought it was Morricone, but that’s probably because Morricone did other Hill and Spencer films.
Terrence Hill never made much of an impact in Norway, but his pal Bud Spencer did, for some reason. I remember him being a talking point among my fellow kids in the late 80s. Even if few of us had actually seen any of his films. Something about his physique and fighting style that was often used for comic relief.
A-ha! He did those TRINITY films! For some reason, I always thought it was Morricone, but that’s probably because Morricone did other Hill and Spencer films.
No, just the one I mentioned. The others are all (I think) by the De Angelis brothers. Morricone did the early ones that were actually serious italo westerns. The Trinity ones are actually comedy westerns.
Born 1938:
Howard Blake — retired?
The sublime THE SNOWMAN, the somewhat aggravating FLASH GORDON, bits and bobs in British TV (RED DWARF, was it?). But I’ve never really dived deep into his work.
Charles Calello — retired?
Not familiar with him.
Paul Chihara — still active
Not terribly familiar with him. I think he did a lot of 70s TV in the US, right? I don’t have a single work of his, but I’m slightly familiar with I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN (1977, featuring a cameo of Danny Elfman in what is probably his first interaction with film ever) and PRINCE OF THE CITY, for example.
John Corigliano — still active?
A towering figure in contemporary concert music, and his handful of film scores qualifies him. ALTERED STATES is fascinating (easy to hear where his student Goldenthal picked up some inspiration), I like THE RED VIOLIN and REVOLUTION too.
Eric Demarsan — still active
Again, not terribly familiar with his work, but LE CERCLE ROUGE is great.
Sven Libaek — retired?
A big name in jazz, and with Norwegian roots. I know he worked a lot with Hanna-Barbera.
Denny Zeitlin — still active
Famously only did INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.
Jonathan Tunick — retired
I associate him with musicals, first and foremost, and his work with Sondheim. I’m honestly totally unaware of any of his original film scores or compositions.
Bruce Smeaton — retired
Great, underrated Australian composer (that I sometimes confuse with fellow Aussie Bruce Rowland — who’s still a year or two away from qualifying for this list). PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK, ICEMAN and ROXANNE, I’m familiar with. Never explored much else.
Paul Chihara — still active
Not terribly familiar with him. I think he did a lot of 70s TV in the US, right? I don’t have a single work of his, but I’m slightly familiar with I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN (1977, featuring a cameo of Danny Elfman in what is probably his first interaction with film ever) and PRINCE OF THE CITY, for example.
I primarily know him for the TV mini series NOBLE HOUSE which I still have the LP of and I actually have no other score by him. Seems he did indeed a lot of TV and also quite some concert works. Buysoundtrax released some stuff by him.
Eric Demarsan — still active
Again, not terribly familiar with his work, but LE CERCLE ROUGE is great.
Yeah, quite good movie with Lino Ventura as well if I recall right.
Born 1937:
Michael Gibbs — retired?
I sometimes confuse him with Richard Gibbs, but I always thought he was younger. When I saw his name attached to John Woo’s HARD BOILED (1992) way back when, I did not expect it to be a guy who was already in his mid 50s when he did that. His score for BEING HUMAN is also good, but otherwise I don’t know a lot about him.
Philip Glass — still active
Icon. Nothing much else to say. Good to see him keeping busy, even with scores – as late as 2023 and Reggio’s ONCE WITHIN A TIME. My favourite is another Reggio collaboration. Not any of the -QATSIs (although they are fine), but the suggestive 2013 score for VISITORS.
Anthony Hopkins — still active
His composing chops are of course totally overshadowed by his acting chops (he’s my second favourite actor of all time). But he’s done some pretty decent stuff. The waltz he wrote awhile back is fairly simplistic, but some of the scores – often for his own films – have been interesting. The best is unquestionably the warm and breezy AUGUST (1996).
David Shire — retired?
I say retired, but I’ve seen him attend various events in recent years. So he’s still out and about, even if he doesn’t write music anymore, AFAIK. Of course, he made a “comeback” of sorts with David Fincher’s ZODIAC (2007). My favourite as a “concept” is probably the 12-tone jazz he wrote for THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1-2-3, but otherwise maybe brief score for THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP. I heartily recommend the promo compilation he released in 2002, which displays all his “faces” as a composer.
What do you guys think? Should I have Paul Simon and Bob Dylan on there, for 1941? They’ve scored a film, but are hardly film composers?
Are they primarily film composers? No.
Are they film composers at 85+ still around? Yes.The answer is simply one of focus. Is it more encyclopedic/lexical? Then yes.
Is it more casual/conversational? Then these two are not really relevant.
I hadn’t even finished talking my way through the composers on the list before news of another death comes in: Apparently, Ted Nichols, of Hanna-Barbera fame, died on January 9, at a whopping 97 — but only publicized now. So sadly removed from the list.
The list gets shorter and shorter… Sadly totally unfamiliar with him being overshadowed by Hoyt Curtin…
The list gets shorter and shorter…
That’s the name of the (somewhat morbid) game. Thankfully, a new year is added every year. Hey, that was a nice Buddhist saying. 😀
Born 1936:
Steve Reich — still active
He’s the only one I’ve been able to find that was born in 1936 and is still alive. Yes, he’s mostly known as a legend in minimalist music, but he’s also written the scores to some experimental films (none of which I’ve seen).
Born 1935:
Bruno Zambrini — retired
Not familiar with him at all.
Carlo Martelli — retired?
Despite his name, he’s English. But not familiar with him at all.
Dick DeBenedictis — retired
I know some of his TV themes, like PERRY MASON and MATLOCK (and loads of episode scores to loads of other TV shows), but never taken a deep dive into his work. Do not confuse with actor Dirk Benedict!
Terry Riley — still active
Another legendary minimalist, like Reich above. I’m afraid I’m not familiar with any of his film work, he did a few.
Arvo Pärt — still active
Legend. Often battles with John Williams as the most performed living composer in the world, and enormously influential (there wouldn’t be any Max Richter without him, I think!). But film scores? Haven’t heard any. Apparently, he’s done a handful, beyond the many instances of his existing music being used in films, of course.
Born 1934:
Charles Gross — retired?
I absolutely love his moody score for COUNTRY (1984), released on Windham Hill, I believe. TURNER & HOOCH and AIR AMERICA were other famous titles. Do not confuse with Charles Fox!
Dave Grusin — still active?
Talked a bit about him in the “composers you disliked, but now like” thread. See comments there.
Barry de Vorzon — retired?
THE WARRIORS is a fantastic score, with great crossover appeal. He also did some interesting stuff for EXORCIST III, directed by original EXORCIST author William Peter Blatty, as well as his THE NINTH CONFIGURATION. XANADU and PRIVATE BENJAMIN are other noteworthy efforts, although XANADU is overshadowed by the ELO stuff.
Paul Glass — retired?
No relation to Philip, but not familiar with him at all.
Patrick Gleeson — retired?
A synth pioneer. Famously worked on APOCALYPSE NOW, as well as KNOTS LANDING.
Jan Klusàk — retired?
I know he’s a big deal in Czechia, but my knowledge is limited. Karel Svoboda is rather more famous over here, of Czech film composers, due to the THREE NUTS FOR CINDERELLA connection.
Christian Bruhn — still active?
A name I’ve known forever, but only checked out fairly recently. Mostly CAPTAIN FUTURE and JACK HOLBORN. We talked a bit about him in the German film music thread.
A few more today…
Born 1933:
Tôn-Thát Tiét — retired?
I only know THE SCENT OF GREEN PAPAYA (1993), but I believe he did a couple more. Mostly known as a concert composer, I think.
Jerzy Woy-Wojciechowski — retired
Not familiar with him at all, I’m afraid.
Born 1932:
John Williams — still active
GOAT.
Sigurd Jansen — retired
Born just a few months after the greatest of all time, Norwegian composer/conductor/arranger Sigurd Jansen did lots of television, and a few films back in the 60s and 70s. I still need to check out most of it.
Born 1931:
Dizzy Reece — retired
Jamaican trumpeter who also worked as studio musician on films, and even scored a couple, like the 1958 Ealing film NOWHERE TO GO (which I haven’t seen).
Herb Pilhofer — retired
Had never heard of him before Jon mentioned him earlier in the thread. Neat that super veterans like these are associated with funky synth music.
Bobby Lamb — retired
Irish jazz trombonist. Played with the BBC Radio Orchestra. Wikipedia says that he “worked extensively for film and television”, but whether that is in capacity as performer or occasional composer, I do not know. I choose to believe he scored a few things.
Born 1930:
John Scott — still active?
A great composer who never reached the fame heights of many of his contemporaries. GREYSTOKE is probably my favourite, but I have a massive 4-hour fan-made compilation that showcases all his best work. Kinda prevented me from exploring all the individual scores very much.
Clint Eastwood — still active
It’s obviously not his themes and ditties we will remember him for, but they’re pretty well constructed. With the help of ol’ Lennie, of course. “Claudia’s Theme”, for example, has an elegant simplicity.
David Amram — still active
THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE towers above it all, but SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS is also pretty good. Never really checked out his non-film work very much.
François Rabbath — retired
Not familiar with him at all, but he made it onto this list at some point, which means that he must have composed some scores.
Born 1929:
Stu Phillips — retired?
Another great one. He used to post on FSM, but haven’t seen him there in years. Met him once, in 2012. Favourites include BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, KNIGHT RIDER, THE APPOINTMENT and the under-the-radar travelogue/exotica score for FOLLOW ME.
Toshiko Akiyoshi — retired
I know she’s a legendary jazz musician (and a pioneer of female musicians in general), but I’m unaware of her film work.
Elisabeth Waldo has died at age 107.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/arts/music/elisabeth-waldo-dead.html
Aaaaw, that’s a bummer! We had reached a point now, with an age so crazy high, that I thought she’d go on to record heights.
But what an amazing life she’s led. Born just 6 years after the Titanic sank and in the last year of World War I. And then all the way up to 2026. That’s stunning to think about. As I said earlier in this thread, I checked out a couple of her albums fairly recently – they were more hardcore folk music than I had expected (and less exotica), but it made me curious about her two scores, at least. Amazingly, she wasn’t only the oldest “celebrity” alive, but also the oldest with a film music connection, in case that matters for peculiar people like us. I didn’t know that she had played violin on DR. ZHIVAGO, which her obituary above says.
As I said earlier in this thread, I checked out a couple of her albums fairly recently – they were more hardcore folk music than I had expected (and less exotica), but it made me curious about her two scores, at least.
She was apparently aiming for “serious” compositions using traditional South American instruments and basing them on folk melodies. I have her two GNP Crescendo LPs and an earlier one on a smaller label. Any of these tracks work well in exotica shuffle plays, but overall, they don’t have the jazzy cocktail elements that most people associate with exotica. I wonder if recordings of those film scores exist.
Born 1928:
George Dreyfus — retired?
Australian composer. I’m not terribly familiar with him, or his film and TV work.
Samuel Adler — retired
Mostly a classical composer, but could there be some film scores hiding in there?
Thea Musgrave — retired
Same as above. But she’s written so many dramatic works (operas, ballets, theatre), I’m thinking there must be some film work in there.
Born 1927:
Gerhard Heinz — retired?
Austrian composer who is mostly known for his sex comedies. I’d like to explore this work more properly, so I can add some of his work to the “Excellent Erotica Earworms” thread.
Dick Hyman — still active
Jazz pianist and composer. He’s worked as arranger on lots of Woody Allen films, and done a few original scores as well, including the Cheer classic MOONSTRUCK.
John Kander — still active?
Mostly known as a musical composer (especially CHICAGO), but someone said (can’t remember where) that he’s written original instrumental film scores too. I’d love to be educated on this.
Only know Hyman from all these due to his connectiton to Woody Allen. But cannot say I am really familiar with his work (or Allen’s)
Yes, I was also never a big fan of Woody Allen, and as consequence not familiar with the music in his films. It’s too “frenetic” and nervous for my taste, too much “whiney” dialogue (but I do like SEINFELD and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, so go figure). But one of these days, I have to sit down and watch his films properly.
Born 1926:
So these are the people turning 100 this year.
Laurence Rosenthal — still active
The most famous of the oldest composers. I’ve liked his work ever since I discovered him with THE YOUNG INDIANA JONES CHRONICLES in the 90s (I have all four volumes on CD!), but plenty other favourites, like PETER THE GREAT and MEETINGS WITH REMARKABLE MEN. The recent album they did when he was a lifetime achievement award recipient at the World Soundtrack Awards in Ghent (was it last year? Two years ago?), is a gem and well worth having if you just need a sample of some of his best work. He turns 100 on November 4th — go Larry!
Aleksandr Zatsepin — retired
Alas, I’m not familiar with his work at all. I’d like to sample THE MYSTERY OF THE THIRD PLANET (1981), which apparently is a groundbreaking electronic score.
Philip Springer — retired
I’ve seen him post videos on SoMe in recent years, where he plays the piano. But his film work I’m not familiar with. I know he did a lot of TV.
David Lee — retired
Graham Watt actually suggested him way back when. A jazz pianist who occasionally scored stuff. I think he did some episodes of THE AVENGERS. But I’ll let Graham fill in the blanks, if he’s still reading this board.
Born 1925:
I’ve not been able to find a single person with a film music connection born in 1925 that is still alive.
Born 1924:
Terry Gibbs — retired
This was a wild guess that I did. He’s first and foremost a famous jazz vibraphonist, but on Wikipedia, it says that he worked a lot in the film and TV studios in Los Angeles. I assume as a session musician, but maybe he scored a few things too. Maybe Dr. Jacoby knows him, and can fill in the blanks?
Born 1923:
Johnny Pate — retired
So here he is — John William Pate, the oldest living film composer in the world, at 102. Of course, he did lots of other things, but he has that batch of blaxploitation films in the 70s, like SHAFT IN AFRICA and BROTHER ON THE RUN that are well worth mentioning. I have both of those. Here’s a video that was made two years ago, when he turned 100. Still looks vibrant and healthy.
Born 1922:
Ray Anthony — retired
Not a film composer. In fact, I don’t know if he’s composed anything at all. But at 104, the legendary trumpeter who once played in the Glenn Miller orchestra is the oldest person alive with a film music connection (after Elisabeth Waldo’s recent death), as he played on countless classic film scores in his life. And even appeared onscreen himself in some.
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OK, that’s it for the walkthrough! I was hoping more people would chime in as well, but it is what it is.
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