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Henry Mancini Biography

Birth Name:Enrico Nicola Mancini

Birth Place:Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Profession Soundtrack, Music department, Actor

Fast Facts

Honored by the United States Postal Service in 2004 with a 37 cent commemorative stamp
In 1995, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences posthumously awarded him its Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award
Received a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995
Received honorary doctorate degrees from Duquesne University of Pennsylvania, Mount Saint Mary's College in Maryland, Was․, Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, and the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia
Developed an interest in music at a young age, beginning piccolo lessons at age eight and piano lessons at age 12
Joined The Glenn Miller-Tex Beneke Orchestra as a pianist and arranger in 1946, where he would meet his future wife, Ginny O'Connor
Studied at the Juilliard School of Music before being drafted in the United States Army, where ultimately participated in the liberation of a concentration camp in Germany
Known for composing the songs "Moon River" for 1961's "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Days of Wine and Roses" for the film "Victor Victoria," both of which garnered him Academy Awards
An in-demand concert performer, he conducted more than 50 engagements a year, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Wrote the books, "Sound and Scorse - A Practical Guide to Professional Orchestration" and the autobiography "Did They Mention the Music?"

Awards

1955Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture: nominated
1959Grammy-Best Soundtrack Album, Background Score - Motion Picture or Television: nominated
1959Primetime Emmy-Best Musical Contribution to a Television Program: nominated
1961Grammy-Best Soundtrack Album or Recording of Music Score from Motion Picture or Television: nominated
1962Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: winner
1962Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
1962Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: winner
1962Grammy-Best Performance by an Orchestra - for Other Than Dancing: winner
1962Grammy-Best Soundtrack Album or Recording of Score from Motion Picture or Television: winner
1962Grammy-Album of the Year: nominated
1962Grammy-Record of the Year: winner
1962Golden Laurel-Top Song: nominated
1962Golden Laurel-Top Song: winner
1962Golden Laurel-Top Musical Score: nominated
1963Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: winner
1963Golden Laurel-Top Song: nominated
1964Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
1964Golden Laurel-Top Song: nominated
1965Oscar-Best Music, Substantially Original Score: nominated
1965Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
1965Golden Globe-Best Song: nominated
1965Grammy-Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show: nominated
1965Golden Laurel-Best Song: nominated
1966Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
1966Golden Globe-Best Original Score: nominated
1966Golden Globe-Best Original Song: nominated
1966Golden Laurel-Song: nominated
1967Grammy-Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show: nominated
1968Golden Globe-Best Original Score: nominated
1970Grammy-Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special: nominated
1970Golden Laurel-Music Man: nominated
1971Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
1971Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
1971Oscar-Best Music, Original Song Score: nominated
1971Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: winner
1971Grammy-Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special: nominated
1971Golden Laurel-Best Composer: nominated
1972Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
1974Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
1976Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
1976Grammy-Album of Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special: nominated
1977Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
1979Grammy-Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special: nominated
1980Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
1980Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
1980Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
1981Razzie Award-Worst Original Song: nominated
1983Oscar-Best Music, Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score: winner
1983Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
1983Grammy-Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special: nominated
1983Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Limited Series or a Special (Dramatic Underscore): nominated
1987Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
1987Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
1987Razzie Award-Worst Original Song: nominated
1988ASCAP Award-Most Performed Feature Film Standards: winner
1988Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
1988Grammy-Best Album of Original Instrumental Background Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television: nominated
2007ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
2014IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release of an Existing Score - Re-Release or Re-Recording: nominated
2023IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release: winner
2025IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release: nominated