British composer John Barry, who won five Oscars and is best known for creating music for the James Bond movies, has died age the age of 77, reportedly of a heart attack.
“It is with great sadness that the family of composer John Barry announce his passing on January 30, 2011 in New York,” his family said in a statement released by Bond production company EON Productions. “Mr. Barry is survived by his wife Laurie of 33 years and his four children and five grandchildren.”
The producers of Dr. No were dissatisfied with the score they had been given and called in Barry to help.
Barry’s Bond credits included Goldfinger, From Russia with Love, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Diamonds are Forever, The Man with the Golden Gun, Moonraker, Octopussy, A View to a Kill and The Living Daylights.
The composer won two Oscars, for the score and the song, for Born Free, and he earned Oscars for The Lion in Winter, Out of Africa and Dances with Wolves.
He was also nominated for his scores for Mary, Queen of Scots and Chaplin.
