Henry Mancini
About
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Also Known As
Hank Mancini,
Enrico Nicola Mancini
Birth Place
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Born
April 16, 1924
Died
June 14, 1994
Cause of Death
Complications From Liver And Pancreatic Cancer
Biography
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Multiple Oscar and Grammy award-winning composer whose numerous plush, tuneful, often jazzy scores of the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s were just as memorable as the films and TV shows for which they were written. Mancini began his career as a pianist-arranger for the Glenn Miller Orchestra under the direction of Tex Beneke after WWII and from 1952 to 1958 worked on more than 100 films as s...
Filmography
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Ice Princess
(2005)
Performer
Audrey Hepburn: Remembered
(1993)
Heavy Petting
(1988)
Performer
Long Shot
(2019)
Song
I Am Mother
(2019)
Song
The Spy Who Dumped Me
(2018)
Song
Family & Companions
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Virginia Mancini
Wife
Singer. Married September 13, 1947; formerly a member of the singing group the Mellolarks.
Bibliography
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"Sounds and Scores"
Henri Mancini (1962)
Notes
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Named a honorary alumni at UCLA (1974)
He received an honorary doctrate of music from Duquesne University in 1977.
Biography
Multiple Oscar and Grammy award-winning composer whose numerous plush, tuneful, often jazzy scores of the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s were just as memorable as the films and TV shows for which they were written. Mancini began his career as a pianist-arranger for the Glenn Miller Orchestra under the direction of Tex Beneke after WWII and from 1952 to 1958 worked on more than 100 films as staff composer for Universal Pictures. In 1958 Mancini reached a career-changing landmark when he provided the hard-boiled, jazzy theme for Blake Edwards' "Peter Gunn" TV show. His feature film work, which had began attracting attention with his compositions and adaptation for "The Glenn Miller Story" (1954), also showed increasing maturity that same year with his Latin-accented, percussive score for Orson Welles' classic "Touch of Evil." Mancini won his first two Oscars for the glittery romantic score of Edwards' "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961) and his most famous and oft-quoted composition, the film's theme song, "Moon River." The following year he composed the award-winning and almost-as-famous "Days of Wine and Roses" for the Edwards film of the same name. Mancini would work with Edwards on a total of 27 films, ranging from "The Pink Panther" (1964), whose sly, insinuating theme was another Mancini landmark, through "Victor/Victoria" (1982), which snared the composer yet another Oscar, right up to "Son of the Pink Panther" (1993). Mancini also composed for a wide variety of TV series, including the theme music for "Newhart" and "Remington Steele," miniseries such as "The Thorn Birds" (1983), and specials like the televising of the 1991 Democratic party's presidential candidates debate. His influence in moving scoring from an orchestral and symphonic sound to smaller group arrangements and an alluring blend of jazz and easy listening music was enormously influential and his easy facility across a wide range of popular genres enabled him to remain one of the leading artists in his field right up until the time of his death from cancer at 70.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Ice Princess
(2005)
Performer
Audrey Hepburn: Remembered
(1993)
Heavy Petting
(1988)
Performer
Music (Feature Film)
Long Shot
(2019)
Song
I Am Mother
(2019)
Song
The Spy Who Dumped Me
(2018)
Song
The Front Runner
(2018)
Song Performer
The Spy Who Dumped Me
(2018)
Song Performer
The Front Runner
(2018)
Song
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
(2018)
Song
American Pastoral
(2016)
Song
Battleship
(2012)
Song
Paul
(2011)
Song
Monsters vs. Aliens
(2009)
Song
The Pink Panther 2
(2009)
Theme Music
In Bruges
(2008)
Music Composer
The Wrecking Crew
(2008)
Song
The Wrecking Crew
(2008)
Song Performer
Two Lovers
(2008)
Song
Love and Other Disasters
(2007)
Song
The Pink Panther
(2006)
Song
The Pink Panther
(2006)
Theme Song
The Pink Panther
(2006)
Song Performer
Take the Lead
(2006)
Song
Elizabethtown
(2005)
Song
Ice Princess
(2005)
Music
The Longest Yard
(2005)
Song
Beyond the Sea
(2004)
Song
Fahrenheit 9/11
(2004)
Song Performer
A Hard Straight
(2004)
Song
Fahrenheit 9/11
(2004)
Song
Kings and Queen
(2004)
Original Music
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
(2003)
Music
How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(2003)
Song
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
(2003)
Song
The Truth About Charlie
(2002)
Song
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
(2002)
Song
The Family Man
(2000)
Song Performer
The Family Man
(2000)
Song
200 Cigarettes
(1999)
Song
Elephant Juice
(1999)
Song Performer
Le Derriere
(1999)
Music
Condo Painting
(1999)
Song ("Mr Lucky")
Mystery Men
(1999)
Song
Neil Simon's Odd Couple II
(1998)
Song
The Big Lebowski
(1998)
Song
Simon Birch
(1998)
Song
The Big Lebowski
(1998)
Song Performer
Blues Brothers 2000
(1998)
Song
A Smile Like Yours
(1997)
Song
The Devil's Advocate
(1997)
Song
The Real Blonde
(1997)
Song
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
(1997)
Song
A Smile Like Yours
(1997)
Song Performer
One Hundred and One Nights
(1995)
Music
Dumb & Dumber
(1994)
Song
Blake Edwards' Son of the Pink Panther
(1993)
Music; Music Orchestrator
Hexed
(1993)
Song
Tom & Jerry: The Movie
(1993)
Song
Matinee
(1993)
Music Composer
The Man Without A Face
(1993)
Song
Blake Edwards' Son of the Pink Panther
(1993)
Song ("Clouseau'S Anthem")
Tom & Jerry: The Movie
(1993)
Music
Never Forget
(1991)
Music
Married To It
(1991)
Music
Switch
(1991)
Music
Switch
(1991)
Song
Days of Thunder
(1990)
Song
Fear
(1990)
Music
Ghost Dad
(1990)
Music
Born On The Fourth Of July
(1989)
Song
Mother, Mother
(1989)
Music
Welcome Home
(1989)
Music
Peter Gunn
(1989)
Music
Permanent Record
(1988)
Song
Physical Evidence
(1988)
Music
The Presidio
(1988)
Song
Sunset
(1988)
Music
Justin Case
(1988)
Music
Without A Clue
(1988)
Music
The Glass Menagerie
(1987)
Music
Heaven
(1987)
Song
Heaven
(1987)
Song Performer ("Peter Gunn Theme")
If It's Tuesday, It Still Must Be Belgium
(1987)
Theme Music
Blind Date
(1987)
Song
Blind Date
(1987)
Music
No Man's Land
(1987)
Song
That's Life!
(1986)
Music
That's Life!
(1986)
Song
A Fine Mess
(1986)
Song
A Fine Mess
(1986)
Music
Off Beat
(1986)
Song
The Great Mouse Detective
(1986)
Song
Santa Claus: The Movie
(1985)
Songs ("Thank You Santa" "Every Christmas Eve" "Making Toys" "Patch! Natch")
Porky's Revenge
(1985)
Music
Santa Claus: The Movie
(1985)
Music
Lifeforce
(1985)
Music
Fletch
(1985)
Song
That'S Dancing!
(1985)
Music
Harry & Son
(1984)
Music
Best Defense
(1984)
Song
Best Defense
(1984)
Song Performer
Angela
(1984)
Music
Hotel
(1983)
Theme Music
Curse of the Pink Panther
(1983)
Song
The Lords of Discipline
(1983)
Song
The Right Stuff
(1983)
Music Conductor
Better Late Than Never
(1983)
Music
The Man who Loved Women
(1983)
Music
Curse of the Pink Panther
(1983)
Music
Second Thoughts
(1983)
Music
The Right Stuff
(1983)
Song
Trail of the Pink Panther
(1982)
Music
Victor/Victoria
(1982)
Song
An Officer And A Gentleman
(1982)
Song
Victor/Victoria
(1982)
Music
Young Doctors In Love
(1982)
Song
Some Kind Of Hero
(1982)
Song
Class of 1984
(1982)
Song ("Moon River")
Condorman
(1981)
Music
Back Roads
(1981)
Song
S.O.B.
(1981)
Music
Back Roads
(1981)
Music
Mommie Dearest
(1981)
Music
A Change of Seasons
(1980)
Song
Shadow Box
(1980)
Music
A Change of Seasons
(1980)
Music
Little Miss Marker
(1980)
Music
10
(1979)
Music
Great Santini
(1979)
Song ("Moon River")
The Prisoner of Zenda
(1979)
Music
10
(1979)
Song
More American Graffiti
(1979)
Song
Prisoner in the Street
(1979)
Music
Nightwing
(1979)
Music
Revenge of The Pink Panther
(1978)
Song ("Move 'Em Out")
Revenge of The Pink Panther
(1978)
Music
Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?
(1978)
Music
A Family Upside Down
(1978)
Music
House Calls
(1978)
Music
Lifeguard
(1976)
Song ("Moon River")
The Pink Panther Strikes Again
(1976)
Song
W.C. Fields and Me
(1976)
Music
The Big Bus
(1976)
Song
Silver Streak
(1976)
Music
Alex And The Gypsy
(1976)
Music
The Pink Panther Strikes Again
(1976)
Music
Silver Streak
(1976)
Music Conductor
The Return Of The Pink Panther
(1975)
Music
The Great Waldo Pepper
(1975)
Music
The White Dawn
(1974)
Music
The Sex Symbol
(1974)
Song
That's Entertainment!
(1974)
Music
99 and 44/100% Dead
(1974)
Music
The Parallax View
(1974)
Song
The Girl From Petrovka
(1974)
Music
The Thief Who Came to Dinner
(1973)
Music
Oklahoma Crude
(1973)
Music
Visions of Eight
(1973)
Music
Sometimes a Great Notion
(1971)
Music
The Night Visitor
(1971)
Music
Sometimes a Great Notion
(1971)
Composer
Sunflower
(1970)
Music
The Molly Maguires
(1970)
Music
Darling Lili
(1970)
Music
The Hawaiians
(1970)
Music
Darling Lili
(1970)
Composer
Me, Natalie
(1969)
Music
Me, Natalie
(1969)
Composer
Downhill Racer
(1969)
Composer
Gaily, Gaily
(1969)
Composer
The Party
(1968)
Music
The Party
(1968)
Composer
The Brotherhood
(1968)
Composer
Two for the Road
(1967)
Music
Gunn
(1967)
Music
Wait Until Dark
(1967)
Music
Wait Until Dark
(1967)
Composer
Gunn
(1967)
Composer
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
(1966)
Music
Moment to Moment
(1966)
Music
Arabesque
(1966)
Music
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
(1966)
Composer
Moment to Moment
(1966)
Composer
The Great Race
(1965)
Music
The Great Race
(1965)
Composer
Dear Heart
(1964)
Music
Man's Favorite Sport?
(1964)
Music
The Pink Panther
(1964)
Music
A Shot in the Dark
(1964)
Music
Dear Heart
(1964)
Composer
The Pink Panther
(1964)
Composer
Man's Favorite Sport?
(1964)
Composer
A Shot in the Dark
(1964)
Composer
The Killers
(1964)
Composer
A Carol for Another Christmas
(1964)
Music
Soldier in the Rain
(1963)
Music comp & Conductor
Charade
(1963)
Music
Charade
(1963)
Composer
Hatari!
(1962)
Music Score
Days of Wine and Roses
(1962)
Music
Experiment in Terror
(1962)
Music
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation
(1962)
Music
Days of Wine and Roses
(1962)
Composer
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation
(1962)
Composer
The Great Impostor
(1961)
Music
Breakfast at Tiffany's
(1961)
Music
Bachelor in Paradise
(1961)
Music Score
Bachelor in Paradise
(1961)
Composer
Breakfast at Tiffany's
(1961)
Composer
The Second Time Around
(1961)
Composer
High Time
(1960)
Music
Never Steal Anything Small
(1959)
Adapted
Flood Tide
(1958)
Music
Touch of Evil
(1958)
Music
Summer Love
(1958)
Music
Damn Citizen
(1958)
Music
Voice in the Mirror
(1958)
Music
The Big Beat
(1958)
Addl Music
Summer Love
(1958)
Composer
Rock, Pretty Baby
(1957)
Music
Man Afraid
(1957)
Music
Rock, Pretty Baby
(1957)
Composer
The Benny Goodman Story
(1956)
Addl Music
Six Bridges to Cross
(1955)
Composer
Foxfire
(1955)
Composer
The Glenn Miller Story
(1954)
Music Adapted
The Glenn Miller Story
(1954)
Composer
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Blake Edwards' Son of the Pink Panther
(1993)
Other
Cast (Special)
Frank Sinatra: The Voice
(1998)
Interviewee
The Hollywood Soundtrack Story
(1995)
Disney's Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra
(1993)
A CAPITOL FOURTH -- 1992
(1992)
Disney's Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra
(1992)
1992 Grammy Awards
(1992)
Presenter
Glenn Miller: America's Musical Hero
(1992)
Seriously... Phil Collins
(1990)
A Capitol Fourth 1990
(1990)
National Memorial Day Concert
(1990)
The Television Academy Hall of Fame
(1990)
Performer
The 31st Annual Grammy Awards
(1989)
Performer
A Capitol Fourth 1989
(1989)
The 2nd Annual American Comedy Awards
(1988)
Performer
Santa Claus: The Making of the Movie
(1987)
Mancini and Friends
(1987)
Whatta Year... 1986
(1986)
The 38th Annual Emmy Awards
(1986)
Performer
A Capitol Fourth -- 1986
(1986)
100 Years of Golden Hits
(1981)
100 Years of America's Popular Music
(1981)
Perry Como's Music From Hollywood
(1977)
Play It Again, Uncle Sam
(1975)
Monsanto Presents Mancini
(1971)
Host
Monsanto Presents Mancini
(1971)
Host
Monsanto Presents Mancini
(1971)
Host
Music (Special)
Victor/Victoria
(2000)
Music ("Paris By Night" "If I Were A Man" "Le Jazz Hot" "The Tango" "Paris Makes Me Horny" "Crazy World" "King'S Dilemma" "Apache" "You & Me" "Almost A Love Song" "Chicago. Illinois")
Monica Mancini... On Record
(1998)
Music ("Moon River" "The Days Of Wine And Roses" "Charade" "Two For The Road" "Slow Hot Wind" "Whistling Away The Dark" "Crazy World" "Moment To Moment" "Dear Heart" "Music On The Way" "Dreamsville")
Julie Andrews: Back on Broadway
(1995)
Music
A CAPITOL FOURTH
(1994)
Music
100 Years of the Hollywood Western
(1994)
Music Conductor
100 Years of the Hollywood Western
(1994)
Music
Disney's Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra
(1992)
Music Conductor
A CAPITOL FOURTH -- 1992
(1992)
Music Conductor
The Democrats: A Presidential Debate
(1991)
Decision 92 Theme Music
National Memorial Day Concert
(1990)
Music
The 75th Anniversary of Beverly Hills
(1989)
Theme Music
A Capitol Fourth 1989
(1989)
Music
A Capitol Fourth 1989
(1989)
Music Conductor
Mancini and Friends
(1987)
Song Performer
The Music Makers: An ASCAP Celebration of American Music at Wolf Trap
(1987)
Song Performer
Santa Claus: The Making of the Movie
(1987)
Music
Circus
(1987)
Music
Mancini and Friends
(1987)
Song
Santa Claus: The Making of the Movie
(1987)
Song
Mancini and Friends
(1987)
Music Conductor
A Capitol Fourth -- 1986
(1986)
Music
Co-Ed Fever
(1979)
Music
Co-Ed Fever
(1979)
Theme Song Lyrics ("Dear Mom And Dad")
Ann-Margret -- When You're Smiling
(1973)
Music
Monsanto Presents Mancini
(1971)
Music Director
Monsanto Presents Mancini
(1971)
Music Director
Monsanto Presents Mancini
(1971)
Music Director
Music (TV Mini-Series)
The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years
(1996)
Original Score
The Best Place to Be
(1979)
Music
Moneychangers
(1976)
Music
Life Events
1946
Joined Glenn Miller Band (under direction of Tex Beneke) as pianist and arranger
1952
First film work, as uncredited arranger on the Abbott and Costello comedy, "Lost in Alaska"
1954
Received first Oscar nomination, for "Best Scoring of a Musical Picture", for "The Glenn Miller Story"
1954
First film credit for title song, "Six Bridges to Cross" and for music adaptation and song, "The Glenn Miller Story"
1958
Created now-classic theme for TV detective series, "Peter Gunn"; also first notable TV composition and first collaboration with writer-director Blake Edwards
1959
Became an RCA recording artist
1960
Association with Universal ended with his work on the film, "The Great Imposter"
1960
First of 27 feature collaborations with writer-producer-director Blake Edwards, "High Time"
1971
Hosted and served as music director for three syndicated TV specials highlighting his compositions, "Monsanto Presents Mancini"
1976
Composed music for first TV miniseries, "Arthur Hailey's 'The Moneychangers'"
1977
Composed music for the NBC TV series, "Kingston: Confidential"
1983
Last original theme music composition for a TV series, the ABC anthology drama, "Hotel"
1986
Received last of 18 Oscar nominations, in the category of "Best Song", for the title tune of Blake Edwards's comedy, "That's Life"
1987
Career feted on the PBS variety show, "Mancini and Friends"
1991
Last TV theme music composition, "Democrats: A Presidential Debate"
1992
Composed music for the syndicated revival of the game show, "Tic Tac Dough"
1993
Last feature film credit as well as last feature collaboration with Blake Edwards, "Son of the Pink Panther"
1993
Last major TV appearance, on the Disney Channel's variety concert special, "Disney's Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra"
1994
Began undergoing treatments for blood clots and cancer
1994
Made one of last public appearances on April 19 at gala celebrating his 70th birthday at the Pauley Pavilion at UCLA
1995
Made Broadway debut as composer (posthumously) with Blake Edwards' stage version of "Victor/Victoria"
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Family
Quinto Mancini
Father
Steelworker. Played the flute in the Aliquippa (PA) Sons of Italy band.
Anna Mancini
Mother
Christopher Mancini
Son
Monica O'Connor
Daughter
Singer, actor. Twin of Felice.
Felice O'Connor
Daughter
Twin of Monica.
Companions
Virginia Mancini
Wife
Singer. Married September 13, 1947; formerly a member of the singing group the Mellolarks.
Bibliography
"Sounds and Scores"
Henri Mancini (1962)
Notes
Named a honorary alumni at UCLA (1974)
He received an honorary doctrate of music from Duquesne University in 1977.
Made honorary major of Northridge CA
Endowed yearly for the film music scholarship at UCLA.
Endowed yearly for the composition scholarship at Juilliard School of Music in New York.
