Marvin Hamlisch Dies, 'The Way We Were' Composer Mourned
Marvin Hamlisch, the composer of musicals like "A Chorus Line" and songs such as "The Way We Were," died on Monday.
Hamlisch collapsed after a brief illness and died in Los Angeles, according to a statement from his family on Tuesday. No other details were added. He was 68 years old.
A decorated composer, Hamlisch's career covered film, television, theater, and recorded music. He is the recipient of three Academy Awards, four Grammys, four Emmys, two Golden Globes, and one Tony. Moreover, the composer shared in a Pulitzer Prize for Drama for "A Chorus Line" in 1976.
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Only Hamlisch and one other composer, Richard Rodgers, won at least one Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and a Pulitzer Prize. The composers are two of only 11 people to have been awarded all four Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, and Tony prizes.
Hamlisch contributed to films such as "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Sophie's Choice" in addition to over 40 movies. He provided the music for Barbra Streisand's 1994 concert tour and contributed to the Neil Simon show "The Goodbye Girl."
More recently, the composer was working on a musical adaptation of the Jerry Lewis comedy "The Nutty Professor," for which he wrote the score. Also, Hamlisch's representative said he was working on a musical called "Gotta Dance" and had written the score for the upcoming HBO biopic "Behind the Candelabra" about the life of Liberace.
Many Hollywood celebrities have expressed their grief over the death of Hamlisch, and Twitter was flooded with users who posted their sympathies for the composer's family, as Marvin Hamlisch, A Chorus Line and The Way We Were all became trending topics on the micro blogging site on Tuesday.
"I just heard of Marvin Hamlisch's death," Joan Rivers posted on her Twitter account. "Nothing more to say than I just adored him. Very, very sad day."
Actress Debra Messing posted, "The GREAT Marvin Hamlisch passed away… What a loss. What a talent. What contributions… #rip"
"Oh so sad to hear about Marvin Hamlisch," wrote songwriter Diane Warren. "Brilliant composer and such a lovely man. The angels have beautiful melodies now."
"RIP Marvin Hamlisch," wrote singer and actress Audra McDonald. "You were an amazing composer and a bundle of light."
Hamlisch leaves behind his wife of 25 years, Terre.
