X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

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.

Paul Williams Biography

Birth Name:Paul Hamilton Williams

Birth Place:Omaha, Nebraska, United States

Profession Soundtrack, Actor, Music department, Writer

Fast Facts

  • Became an inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001
  • Elected President and Chairman of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 2009
  • Is involved with the Musician's Assistance Programme, a non-profit organization that aims to help professionals from the music industry recover from substance abuse
  • Was in a rock group called The Holy Mackerel, but it proved short-lived
  • Has written many popular songs for pop and country artist, as well as for film and television
  • Has had numerous cameo appearances on television, sometimes as himself and sometimes in other roles, including an ironic appearance in "Star Trek: Voyager" in which he plays the leader of a planet that has never heard music
  • As a skydiver, had completed over 100 jumps by 1980

Awards

  • 1974Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
  • 1975Oscar-Best Music, Scoring Original Song Score and/or Adaptation: nominated
  • 1975Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1977Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: winner
  • 1977Oscar-Best Music, Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score: nominated
  • 1977Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music-: nominated
  • 1977Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1977Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: winner
  • 1977Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1977Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: winner
  • 1978Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music-: nominated
  • 1978Grammy-Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special: nominated
  • 1980Oscar-Best Music, Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score: nominated
  • 1980Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
  • 1980Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
  • 1980Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1981Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement - Children's Programming: nominated
  • 1988ASCAP Award-Most Performed Feature Film Standards: winner
  • 1993Grammy-Best Musical Album for Children: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics: nominated
  • 2012OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Adapted Song: nominated
  • 2012Satellite Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2013Critics Choice Award-Best Song: nominated
  • 2014Rondo Statuette-Best DVD extra: winner
  • 2015World Soundtrack Award-Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: winner
  • 2019HMMA Award-Best Original Song - Documentary: nominated