Washington DC [US], June 27: Legendary composer Lalo Schifrin, best known for the iconic Mission: Impossible theme, passed away on Thursday at the age of 93 due to complications from pneumonia, Variety reported.
The Argentine maestro, whose musical legacy spans genres from jazz and rock to sophisticated orchestral compositions, was among the earliest to blend diverse styles into film and television scores. Schifrin rose to prominence in the 1960s and ’70s, creating memorable music for films like Cool Hand Luke, Dirty Harry, and Bullitt.
In 2018, Schifrin was awarded an honorary Oscar, making him only the third composer in Academy history to receive such recognition. He had previously earned six Oscar nominations, including for scores in Cool Hand Luke (1967), The Fox (1968), Voyage of the Damned (1976), The Amityville Horror (1979), The Sting II (1983), and a Best Original Song nod for The Competition (1980).
His Mission: Impossible theme brought him lasting fame, winning him two Grammy Awards and multiple Emmy nominations. The theme became a cultural touchstone, featured prominently in the Tom Cruise-led film franchise that began in 1996. The original 1968 soundtrack album was a commercial hit, with the theme reaching No. 41 on the Billboard pop charts.
Schifrin’s television work was extensive, with themes for shows such as Blue Light, The Young Lawyers, Planet of the Apes, Bronk, and Glitter. He scored more than 40 TV movies and miniseries, including the controversial Doomsday Flight (1966), and titles like Princess Daisy, A.D., A Woman Named Jackie, and Don Quixote.
His final major work, a 35-minute symphony titled Long Live Freedom, co-composed with Rod Schejtman, premiered in April 2024 at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.
Schifrin is survived by his wife Donna, three children—William, Frances, and Ryan—and four grandchildren.