Join or Sign In

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Jerry Goldsmith Biography

Birth Name:Jerrald King Goldsmith

Birth Place:Pasadena, California, United States

Profession Soundtrack, Music department, Actor

Fast Facts

In addition to being a prolific composer for film scores, he has also managed to provide such compositions across a wide range of genres, including horror, action, noir and drama films
Was inspired by Miklós Rózsa's soundtrack for the 1945 film "Spellbound" and eventually took courses by Rózsa while attending the University of Southern California
Quote: "When I'm excited about something, the creativity just flows․ I like a good creative fight․ The soundtrack will always get done․ But I'm not happy until it gets done well․"
Following college he started working in the music department of CBS Television and wrote music for various radio shows
Has composed scores for well-known films such as "The Mummy," "Planet of the Apes" and five "Star Trek" films
Enjoyed performing all over the world and putting on concerts, especially in London, where he developed a relationship with the London Symphony Orchestra
Started playing the piano when he was 6 years old, and when he was 13 took private lessons from legendary pianist Jakob Gimpel

Awards

1961Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Music for Television: nominated
1963Oscar-Best Music, Score - Substantially Original: nominated
1965Golden Globe-Best Original Score: nominated
1966Oscar-Best Music, Score - Substantially Original: nominated
1966Grammy-Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show: nominated
1966Primetime Emmy-Individual Achievements in Music - Composition: nominated
1967Oscar-Best Music, Original Music Score: nominated
1967Golden Globe-Best Original Score: nominated
1969Oscar-Best Music, Original Score for a Motion Picture (not a Musical): nominated
1970Golden Laurel-Music Man: nominated
1971Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
1971Golden Laurel-Best Composer: winner
1973Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition - For a Special Program: winner
1974Oscar-Best Music, Original Dramatic Score: nominated
1975Oscar-Best Music, Original Dramatic Score: nominated
1975Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music-: nominated
1975Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
1975Grammy-Album of Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special: nominated
1975Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Special: winner
1976Oscar-Best Music, Original Dramatic Score: nominated
1976Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music-: nominated
1976Grammy-Album of Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special: nominated
1976Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Special: winner
1977Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: winner
1977Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
1977Grammy-Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special: nominated
1979Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
1979Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
1979Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
1980Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
1980Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
1980Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music-: nominated
1980Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
1980Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
1980Grammy-Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special: nominated
1981Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Limited Series or a Special (Dramatic Underscore): winner
1982Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
1983Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
1983Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
1984Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
1984Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
1985Saturn Award-Best Music: winner
1986Razzie Award-Worst Original Song: winner
1986Razzie Award-Worst Musical Score: nominated
1987Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
1987Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
1987BMI Film Music Award-: winner
1989BMI Film Music Award-: winner
1990Filmtracks Award-Top Film Scores: winner
1990Movie Music UK Award-Best Score for a Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror Film: winner
1991Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
1991Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
1991BMI Film Music Award-: winner
1991Chainsaw Award-Best Soundtrack: nominated
1992Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
1992Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
1992BMI Film Music Award-: winner
1993Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
1993Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
1993BMI Film Music Award-: winner
1993Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
1995Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Main Title Theme Music: winner
1996BMI Film Music Award-: winner
1996Razzie Award-Worst Original Song: nominated
1997Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
1997ACCA-Best Original Score: nominated
1997BMI Film Music Award-: winner
1998Oscar-Best Music, Original Dramatic Score: nominated
1998Annie-Outstanding Individual Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production: winner
1998Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music-: nominated
1998BMI Film Music Award-: winner
1998BMI Film Music Award-: winner
1998CFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
1998Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
1998FMCJ Award-Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction Film: winner
1998FMCJ Award-Film Score of the Year: winner
1998FMCJ Award-Best Compilation Album: winner
1998FMCJ Award-Best Original Score for an Adventure Film: nominated
1998FMCJ Award-Best Original Score for an Action Film: winner
1998FMCJ Award-Best Original Score for a Horror/Thriller Film: nominated
1998OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Dramatic Score: nominated
1998Golden Satellite Award-Best Original Score: nominated
1998Best Original Soundtrack-: winner
1999Oscar-Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score: nominated
1999BMI Film Music Award-: winner
1999Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
1999FMCJ Award-Film Score of the Year: nominated
1999FMCJ Award-Film Score of the Year: winner
1999OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Family Score: nominated
2000Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
2000BMI Film Music Award-: winner
2000BMI Film Music Award-: winner
2000Chainsaw Award-Best Score: nominated
2000IFMCA Award-Film Score of the Year: nominated
2001Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
2001Video Premiere Award-Best Audio Commentary: nominated
2001Chainsaw Award-Best Score: nominated
2001GoldSpirit Awards-Best Horror Soundtrack: nominated
2002BMI Film Music Award-: winner
2003BMI Film Music Award-: winner
2004Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
2007IFMCA Award-Best New Release, Re-Release or Re-Recording of an Existing Score: nominated
2007IFMCA Award-Best New Release, Re-Release or Re-Recording of an Existing Score: winner
2008IFMCA Award-Best New Release or Re-Release of an Existing Score: nominated
2008IFMCA Award-Best New Release or Re-Release of an Existing Score: winner
2009IFMCA Award-Best New Release or Re-Release of an Existing Score: nominated
2009IFMCA Award-Best New Release or Re-Release of an Existing Score: nominated
2012IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release of an Existing Score: nominated
2012IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release of an Existing Score: nominated
2012SLFCA Award-Best Music: winner
2013IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release of an Existing Score: winner
2014IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release of an Existing Score - Re-Release or Re-Recording: winner
2014IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release of an Existing Score - Re-Release or Re-Recording: nominated
2017Felix-Best Score Drama: nominated
2017IFMCA Award-Best Re-Release or Re-Recording of an Existing Score: nominated
2017IFMCA Award-Best Re-Release or Re-Recording of an Existing Score: nominated
2018Felix-Best Score Drama: nominated
2018Felix-Best Score Drama: winner
2018IFMCA Award-Best New Release, Re-Release or Re-Recording of an Existing Score: nominated
2020IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release of an Existing Score - Re-Release or Re-Recording: nominated
2022IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release of an Existing Score - Re-Release or Re-Recording: nominated
2022IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release of an Existing Score - Re-Release or Re-Recording: nominated
2023IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release: nominated
2023IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release: nominated
2024IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release: nominated