PhotosLook Back at the Stage Work of Marvin HamlischThe celebrated composer of A Chorus Line was born June 2, 1944.
By
Matthew Blank
June 02, 2020
A Chorus Line
Marvin Hamlisch, the celebrated composer of A Chorus Line, was born June 2, 1944. In honor of the late composer’s birthday, we’re taking a look back at his illustrious career—during which he became one of only a handful of people to have won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards.
After beginning his career as a rehearsal pianist for Funny Girl with Barbra Streisand, Hamlisch rose in the industry by writing songs for artists Liza Minnelli and Lesley Gore, as well composing the scores for films such as The Swimmer and Take the Money and Run. He continued to write film scores throughout his career (Ordinary People, Sophie’s Choice, and The Sting are among some of his most celebrated credits).
In 1975, Hamlisch’s musical A Chorus Line earned the composer both a Tony Award and a Pulitzer; the musical remains well-loved and oft-revived, with prolific television producer Ryan Murphy currently adapting the musical into a 10-part miniseries for Netflix.
Hamlisch also composed the scores for the musicals They’re Playing Our Song, Jean Seberg, Smile, The Goodbye Girl, and The Nutty Professor. Throughout his career, he accumulated three Academy Awards, one Tony Award, four Grammy Awards, and four Emmy Awards—making him what is known as an EGOT.
Flip through photos from Hamlisch’s career below:
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Look Back at the Stage Work of Marvin Hamlisch
Look Back at the Stage Work of Marvin Hamlisch
The composer was born June 2, 1944.
48 PHOTOS
A scene from the original Broadway production of A Chorus Line
A scene from the original Broadway production of A Chorus Line
A scene from the original Broadway production of A Chorus Line
A scene from the original Broadway production of A Chorus Line
Wayne Cilento in the original Broadway production of A Chorus Line
A scene from the original Broadway production of A Chorus Line
Marvin Hamlisch and Joe Papp at the Chorus Line recording session
Donna McKechnie records the Chorus Line cast album
Marvin Hamlisch, Goddard Lieberson and Michael Bennett at the Chorus Line recording session
The original cast of A Chorus Line at the recording session
Eight "Cassies" perform at the record-breaking 3.389th Broadway performance of A Chorus Line
Lucie Arnaz in They're Playing Our Song
Robert Klein in They're Playing Our Song
Lucie Arnaz and Robert Klein in They're Playing Our Song
Lucie Arnaz and Robert Klein in They're Playing Our Song
Robert Klein and Lucie Arnaz in They're Playing Our Song
Robert Klein in They're Playing Our Song
Robert Klein in They're Playing Our Song
Hamlisch in rehearsal for Smile with Anne Bobby, Tia Riebling, Nikki Rene, Donna Marie Elio, Veanne Cox, Lauren Goler, Cheryl-Ann Rossi, Julie Tussey, Cindy Oakes and Jodi Benson, Sept. 1986
Valerie Lau-Kee, Nikki Rene, Deanna D. Wells, Donna Marie Elio and Julie Tussey in Smile
Tia Riebling and Lauren Goler in Smile
A scene from Smile
A scene from Smile
Anne Marie Bobby and Jodi Benson in Smile
Michael O'Gorman and cast in Smile
Marsha Waterbury, Jodi Benson and Mia Malm in Smile
Bernadette Peters in The Goodbye Girl
Bernadette Peters and Martin Short in The Goodbye Girl
Martin Short and Bernadette Peters in The Goodbye Girl
Martin Short, Bernadette Peters and Tammy Minoff in The Goodbye Girl
Bernadette Peters and cast in The Goodbye Girl
Tammy Minoff and Bernadette Peters in The Goodbye Girl
John Christopher Jones, Martin Short, Denis Faye and Nancy Hess in The Goodbye Girl
John Lithgow and company in Sweet Smell of Success
Brian d'Arcy James and cast in Sweet Smell of Success
Brian d'Arcy James in Sweet Smell of Success
A scene from Sweet Smell of Success
Brian d'Arcy James and John Lithgow in Sweet Smell of Success,
Paul Kolnik
Kelli O'Hara and Jack Noseworthy in Sweet Smell of Success
John Lithgow in Sweet Smell of Success
Paul Kolnik
The cast of the 2006 Broadway revival of A Chorus Line
Charlotte d'Amboise, Mara Davi, Brad Anderson, Tony Yazbeck in the 2006 Broadway revival of A Chorus Line
The cast of the 2006 Broadway revival of A Chorus Line
The cast of the 2006 Broadway revival of A Chorus Line
Charlotte d'Amboise in A Chorus Line
Charlotte d'Amboise in A Chorus Line
Paul Kolnik
The cast of the 2006 Broadway revival of A Chorus Line
The cast of the 2006 Broadway revival of A Chorus Line
