Lalo Schifrin at 93: The Composer Who Defined ‘Mission: Impossible
Let’s cut to the chase: Lalo Schifrin, the Argentine-American composer whose adrenaline-pumping ‘Mission: Impossible’ theme became television royalty, has died at 93. Industry obituaries confirm his passing on June 1, 2024, leaving behind a catalog of scores that reshaped Hollywood soundtracks. Schifrin’s death was first reported by the New York Post and later corroborated by Variety, marking the end of a storied career that spanned jazz clubs in Buenos Aires and the biggest studios in Los Angeles.
Born Boris Claudio “Lalo” Schifrin on June 21, 1932, in Buenos Aires, he studied piano at the Paris Conservatory before jet-setting to New York, where he forged a creative partnership with jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie. Their 1960 album, “Gillespie + 2,” caught Hollywood’s ear, leading MGM to commission Schifrin for his first film score in 1961. Within five years, he penned the pulse-quickening motif for “Mission: Impossible” (1966), a piece that earned him a Grammy Award and cemented his reputation as a master of suspenseful orchestration.
Schifrin’s versatile portfolio included iconic flicks like “Bullitt” (1968) and “Enter the Dragon” (1973), showcasing his flair for fusing jazz riffs with orchestral drama. His scores for TV series such as “Mannix” and “Starsky & Hutch” earned multiple Emmy nods, underscoring his knack for creating memorable themes that transcended the screen. In 1989, he won an Oscar nomination for “The Amityville Horror,” and two more Grammys followed for his work on “Mission: Impossible” film adaptations starring Tom Cruise.
Beyond awards, Schifrin’s influence reverberates in modern scoring—blockbuster composers like Hans Zimmer cite his work as foundational. As Billboard notes, Schifrin’s daring use of odd time signatures (the ‘Mission’ theme swings in 5/4) opened new rhythmic horizons for cinematic music. His collaborations spanned from Paul Simon to the Vienna Philharmonic, proving his ability to cross genres with ease.
Schifrin remained active into his eighth decade, conducting premieres of his concert works and mentoring young composers at USC’s Thornton School of Music. He celebrated his 90th birthday in 2022 with a sold-out Carnegie Hall tribute, where clips of his most famous themes brought audiences to their feet.
And there you have it: a career that started in smoky jazz dens and soared into film history books. Schifrin’s passing leaves a silence where urgency once thrummed—but his melodies will keep viewers on the edge of their seats for generations to come. And that’s the final note, folks. Make of that what you will.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, Variety, Billboard
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
