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Randy Newman Biography

Birth Name:Randall Stuart Newman

Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, United States

Profession Composer, Music department, Actor, Writer

Fast Facts

  • Presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010
  • Performed at the 1985 Farm Aid concert to help benefit struggling family farmers in the U․S
  • Influenced by Ray Charles and other film composers in his family, he became a professional songwriter at the age of 17
  • Quote: "(On his music) "I've always tried to say something․ Often it was a joke․ Eccentric lyrics about eccentric people․ I would plead guilty on the grounds that I prefer eccentricity to the bland․""
  • Frequently writes quirky, humorous and satirical tunes for films
  • Known for piano melodies, such as his work in "Monsters, Inc․" and "Forrest Gump․"
  • At every home game victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers, his song "I Love L․A․" is played
  • Before being awarded the Oscar for Best Song in 2002, he broke the all-time record for most Academy Award nominations without a win
  • Performed as the musical guest on the second episode ever of Saturday Night Live in 1975
  • Moved to New Orleans as a child, which helped influence his jazz roots

Awards

  • 1981LAFCA Award-Best Music: winner
  • 1982Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
  • 1982Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
  • 1982Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1983BAFTA Film Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 1983Grammy-Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special: nominated
  • 1985Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
  • 1985Grammy-Best Instrumental Composition: winner
  • 1990ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
  • 1990Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
  • 1990Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1990Grammy-Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television: nominated
  • 1990LAFCA Award-Best Music: nominated
  • 1991Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
  • 1991Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1991Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Achievement in Music and Lyrics: winner
  • 1992Grammy-Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television: nominated
  • 1992Grammy-Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television: nominated
  • 1995ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
  • 1995Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
  • 1996ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
  • 1996Oscar-Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score: nominated
  • 1996Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
  • 1996Annie-Best Individual Achievement: Music: nominated
  • 1996Annie-Best Individual Achievement: Music: winner
  • 1996CFCA Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 1996Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1997Oscar-Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score: nominated
  • 1997Annie-Best Individual Achievement: Music in a Feature/Home Video Production: winner
  • 1997CFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 1998ACCA-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 1998FMCJ Award-Best Original Score for a Comedy Film: winner
  • 1998FMCJ Award-Best Original Score for a Drama Film: nominated
  • 1999Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
  • 1999Oscar-Best Music, Original Dramatic Score: nominated
  • 1999Oscar-Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score: nominated
  • 1999CFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 1999Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1999OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Family Score: nominated
  • 1999OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Comedy/Musical Score: nominated
  • 1999OFCS Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 1999Golden Satellite Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 1999Golden Satellite Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2000ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
  • 2000Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
  • 2000Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
  • 2000Annie-Outstanding Individual Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production: winner
  • 2000Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2000Grammy-Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: winner
  • 2000Grammy-Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: nominated
  • 2000Sierra Award-Best Song: nominated
  • 2000Sierra Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2000OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
  • 2001ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
  • 2001Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
  • 2001GoldSpirit Awards-Best Animated Soundtrack: nominated
  • 2001Grammy-Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: winner
  • 2001Grammy-Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: nominated
  • 2002ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
  • 2002Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
  • 2002Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: winner
  • 2002PFCS Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2002World Soundtrack Award-Best Original Song Written for a Film: winner
  • 2002World Soundtrack Award-Soundtrack Composer of the Year: nominated
  • 2002World Soundtrack Award-Best Original Soundtrack of the Year: nominated
  • 2003Annie-Outstanding Music in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
  • 2003Grammy-Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: nominated
  • 2003Grammy-Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: winner
  • 2004ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
  • 2004Grammy-Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: nominated
  • 2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Main Title Theme Music: winner
  • 2004Golden Satellite Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2005ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
  • 2005ASCAP Award-Top TV Series: winner
  • 2006IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for an Animated Film: nominated
  • 2006World Soundtrack Award-Best Original Song Written for Film: winner
  • 2007ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
  • 2007Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song: nominated
  • 2007Annie-Best Music in an Animated Feature Production: winner
  • 2007Grammy-Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: winner
  • 2007Grammy-Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: nominated
  • 2008IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Comedy Film: nominated
  • 2009HFCS Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2009IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for an Animated Film: nominated
  • 2009Satellite Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2009Satellite Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2009SLFCA Award-Best Music: nominated
  • 2010Felix-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2010ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
  • 2010Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song: nominated
  • 2010Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song: nominated
  • 2010Davis Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2010ACCA-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2010BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
  • 2010Black Reel-Best Song: nominated
  • 2010Black Reel-Best Song: winner
  • 2010Critics Choice Award-Best Song: nominated
  • 2010Critics Choice Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2010Gold Derby Film Award-Original Song: nominated
  • 2010OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
  • 2010PFCS Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics: winner
  • 2010World Soundtrack Award-Best Original Song Written for a Film: nominated
  • 2011Felix-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2011ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
  • 2011Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song: winner
  • 2011Critics Choice Award-Best Song: nominated
  • 2011DFCS Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2011Gold Derby Film Award-Original Song: nominated
  • 2011Grammy-Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: nominated
  • 2011IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for an Animated Film: nominated
  • 2011OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Song: winner
  • 2011World Soundtrack Award-Best Original Song Written for a Film: winner
  • 2014ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
  • 2014Annie-Outstanding Achievement in Music in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
  • 2016Felix-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2017Felix-Best Score Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2019CFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2019DFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2019FFCC Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2019GWNYFCA Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2019Hollywood Film Award-Composer of the Year: winner
  • 2019HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Feature Film: nominated
  • 2019NMFC Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2019SFBAFCC Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2019Satellite Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2019Satellite Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2019SLFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2019WAFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2020Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song): nominated
  • 2020Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score): nominated
  • 2020Annie-Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
  • 2020AFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2020ACCA-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2020BOFA-Best Music Score: nominated
  • 2020CIC Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2020COFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2020Critics Choice Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2020DFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2020DFCS Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2020Gold Derby Film Award-Original Score: nominated
  • 2020Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2020Grammy-Best Song Written for Visual Media: nominated
  • 2020HFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2020HFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2020ICS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2020IFC Award-Best Song: winner
  • 2020LEJA Award-Best Music: nominated
  • 2020MCFCA Award-Best Song: nominated
  • 2020MCFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2020NCFCA Award-Best Music: nominated
  • 2020NDFS Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2020NDFS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2020OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
  • 2020OFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2023OFTA Film Hall of Fame-Score: winner