Mission: Impossible composer Lalo Schifrin dead at 93
The Argentine musician was considered one of the most influential film composers of his generation
Famed composer Lalo Schifrin, who created themes for a host of hit Hollywood films and television shows – including the instantly recognisable Mission: Impossible score – died Thursday aged 93.
Born in Argentina, Schifrin blended the influences of his classical and symphonic training with jazz and modern sounds in his diverse and vast oeuvre, which includes the scores for around 100 films, some of them the best-known of their generation.
His death was confirmed by his son, Ryan Schifrin, to several entertainment trade publications.
Schifrin’s work for film includes The Cincinnati Kid (1965) and Bullitt (1968), both with Steve McQueen, Paul Newman’s Cool Hand Luke (1968), and Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry (1971).
He also created the score to the 1960s Mission: Impossible television series, which inspired the theme of the massive film franchise starring Tom Cruise.