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Max Steiner Biography

Birth Name:Maximilian Raoul Walter Steiner

Birth Place:Vienna, Austria

Profession Soundtrack, Music department, Actor

Fast Facts

Commemorated in 1999 on a U․S․ Postal Service stamp honoring Hollywood composers
Posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1995
Enrolled in the Imperial Academy of Music where he completed a four-year course in only one year
Quote: "The orchestrator just takes what he is given to do, andif he has any ideas of his own, he had better not show them․"
Frequently collaborated with directors David O․ Selznick, John Ford and William Wyler
Composing over 300 film scores, he also worked as a proficient musical director for Broadway plays
Became a full-time, professional conductor at the age of 16
In two weeks time, he completed the score for "King Kong․"
Was helped by the Duke of Westminster in gaining passage to America after the outbreak of World War I
Was given piano lessons as a child from legendary composer Johannes Brahms

Awards

1935Oscar-Best Music, Score: nominated
1935Oscar-Best Music, Score: nominated
1936Oscar-Best Music, Score: winner
1937Oscar-Best Music, Score: nominated
1939Oscar-Best Music, Scoring: nominated
1940Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
1940Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
1941Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
1942Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic Picture: nominated
1943Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: winner
1944Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: nominated
1945Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: nominated
1945Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: winner
1946Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture: nominated
1947Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture: nominated
1948Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: nominated
1948Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture: nominated
1948Golden Globe-Best Original Score: winner
1948International Award-Best Score: winner
1949Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: nominated
1950Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: nominated
1951Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: nominated
1953Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: nominated
1953Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture: nominated
1955Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: nominated
1956Oscar-Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: nominated
1958Golden Laurel-Top Music Composer: winner
1960Golden Laurel-Top Score: winner
1961Golden Laurel-Top Musical Score: nominated
2008IFMCA Award-Best Re-Recording of an Existing Score: nominated
2009IFMCA Award-Best Re-Recording of an Existing Score: nominated
2013IFMCA Award-Best Archival Re-Recording of an Existing Score: nominated
2021OFTA Film Hall of Fame-Score: winner
2022OFTA Film Hall of Fame-Score: winner