Introduced to music at age 8 by his father, who played the flute
Became a fan of big band and jazz as a teenager
While a teenager, sent his arrangements to Benny Goodman, who wrote back and encouraged him to pursue a music career
Drafted into the Air Force in 1943, short-circuiting his studies at the famed Juilliard School of Music
Following the war, was hired as a pianist-arranger for the Glenn Miller Orchestra
The first film he scored was Abbott and Costello's Lost in Alaska
Wrote the memorable theme for the TV show Peter Gunn
Composed such classic tunes as "Moon River," "Days of Wine and Roses" and "Charade," and scored such films as Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Pink Panther, Victor/Victoria and 10
His classic "Moon River," which features lyrics by Johnny Mercer, has been covered more than a thousand times
His score for Alfred Hitchock's 1972 film Frenzy was rejected by the director as unsuitable
Wrote Late Night With David Letterman's "Viewer Mail Theme
" Established scholarships and fellowships at Juilliard School of Music, UCLA, USC and the American Federation of Music's Congress of Strings
Awards
1988Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture:nominated
1987Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture:nominated
1986Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Original Song):nominated
1983Emmy-Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Limited Series or a Special (dramatic underscore):nominated
1983Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture:nominated
1982Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Adaptation Score):winner
1980Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture:nominated
1979Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Original Score):nominated
1979Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Original Song):nominated
1976Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Original Song):nominated
1976Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture:nominated
1974Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture:nominated
1971Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture:winner
1971Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Song--Original for the Picture):nominated
1970Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Song--Original for the Picture):nominated
1970Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Original Song Score):nominated
1970Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Original Score):nominated
1968Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture:nominated
1966Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture:nominated
1966Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture:nominated
1965Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture:nominated
1965Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Song):nominated
1964Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Song):nominated
1964Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Music Score--substantially original):nominated
1963Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Song):nominated
1962Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Song):winner
1961Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture):winner
1961Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Song):nominated
1961Grammy-Best Soundtrack Album or Recording of Score from Motion Picture or Television:winner
1959Emmy-Best Musical Contribution to a Television Program:nominated
1954Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Scoring of a Musical Picture):nominated