Lalo Schifrin
(22nd June 1932 – 26th June 2025 – Aged 93)

The multiple Grammy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated composer was born in Buenos Aries, Argentina, to a Jewish violinist father, Luis, [who was a member of the Buenos Aries Philharmonic Orchestra] and a Catholic mother, Clara, who was also from a musical family.

He began playing the piano aged five and after studying at that city’s University, he won a scholarship to the Paris Conservatoire. He would be found playing jazz in clubs and also wrote arrangements for French record labels.

Upon his return to Argentina, he formed a Jazz Big Band and gained Radio and TV work. In 1964, Schifrin’s Hollywood debut was for a film entitled ‘Rhinol’, a drama about white rhinos in Africa.

He is probably best known for the ‘Mission Impossible’ theme, and also for the soundtracks for four of the ‘Dirty Harry’ films, [which starred Clint Eastwood] and ‘Bulllitt’, [which starred Steve McQueen]. Other themes include those for ‘Starsky and Hutch’, ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E’ and ‘Planet Of The Apes’

In addition to dozens of other films, his musical career embraced Classical, Jazz, Latin American, funk and rock music. He conducted the London, Vienna
and Moscow Symphony Orchestras as well as the Israel and Los Angeles Philharmonics.

His compositions include symphonies and piano concertos; for the tenor Placido Domingo, he created an album of songs in the Aztec language.

For the eve of the historic 1990 World Cup Final in Rome, Schifrin penned the arrangements for the concert by the Three Tenors, and its recording has remained the all-time best-selling Classical album.

Lalo Schrifrin suffered complications following pneumonia, which sadly caused his death. He is survived by his wife Donna, their son Ryan and two children, William and Frances, from his previous marriage to Sylvia Schor.

© Tony Clayden 2025