Legendary Mission: Impossible theme composer dies aged 93

Lalo Schifrin, the hugely respected Argentine-born composer behind the iconic Mission: Impossible theme - as well as scores for over 100 film and TV titles - has died at the age of 93. His son, writer-director Ryan Schifrin, confirmed the sad news, saying his father passed away 'peacefully' on Thursday morning (Picture: Getty Images)

Schifrin’s long and incredibly decorated career earned him a hugely impressive six Academy Award nominations and four Grammy wins. In 2019, he was bestowed with an Honorary Oscar, joining a short list of composers to receive the distinction, including Ennio Morricone and Quincy Jones. The award was given to him by colleague, friend and Hollywood icon himself, Clint Eastwood (Picture: Getty Images)

Though best known for the unforgettable Mission: Impossible TV and movie theme, Schifrin’s music also powered a host of classic films. He came up with the scores for the likes of Cool Hand Luke, Dirty Harry, Bullitt, The Amityville Horror, and even the Rush Hour trilogy. His style fused classical, jazz and dramatic tension, creating a signature sound that's instantly recognizable to generations of film fans. His scores all had one thing in common… They were all very, very cool. Timeless, catchy and stylish - every single one of them (Picture: Getty Images)

His Mission: Impossible theme, written in 5/4 time, earned Schifrin three Grammy nominations from 1967 to 1969. The track has remained central to the Tom Cruise-led franchise too, with modern versions created by Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, Limp Bizkit and U2’s Larry Mullen Jr and Adam Clayton (Picture: Getty Images)

In 1996, the Mullen-Clayton version cracked the US Billboard top 10 when it was released as a single for the first Cruise M:I film. Schifrin’s own single version from 1968 narrowly missed the top 40, but the theme’s legacy has only grown stronger over time (Picture: Getty Images)

Beyond Hollywood, Schifrin was a respected conductor, leading prestigious ensembles including the London Symphony, Vienna Symphony, Israel Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. From 1989, he served a six-year run as music director for the Glendale Symphony Orchestra (Picture: Getty Images)

Schifrin also thrived as a jazz pianist, collaborating with legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Stan Getz, Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie. His ability to move between genres made him one of the most versatile musicians of his time (Picture: Getty Images)

Born in Buenos Aires in 1932, he was raised in a musical household. His father Luis Schifrin was concertmaster of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Buenos Aires. Lalo studied classical music from a young age before moving to Paris in the early '50s to attend the Conservatory (Picture: Getty Images)

While in Europe, he began working professionally as a jazz musician. After returning to Buenos Aires, a performance caught the attention of Gillespie, who brought him to the US in 1958. That move launched Schifrin’s prolific film and television career (Picture: Getty Images)

Over his long and storied lifetime, the hard-working Schifrin released more than 50 albums and contributed to over 40 soundtrack records. He was featured on recordings with everyone from Cannonball Adderley to The Three Tenors, leaving a genuinely long-lasting legacy in both the concert hall and in the annals of pop culture history (Picture: Getty Images)