John Williams
Date of birth: 1932-02-08
Place of birth: Queens, New York City, New York, USA
Known for: Sound
Also known as: John Towner Williams, Johnny Williams
Biography
John Towner Williams (born February 8, 1932) is an American composer and conductor. In a career that has spanned seven decades, he has composed some of the most popular, recognizable, and critically acclaimed film scoresin cinema history. He has a distinct sound that mixes romanticism, impressionism and atonal music with complex orchestration. He is best known for his collaborations with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas and has received numerous accolades including 26 Grammy Awards, five Academy Awards, seven BAFTA Awards, three Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. With 54 Academy Award nominations, he is the second-most nominated person, after Walt Disney, and is the oldest Oscar nominee in any category, at 91 years old. Williams's early work as a film composer includes Valley of the Dolls (1967), Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969), Images and The Cowboys (both 1972), The Long Goodbye (1973) and The Towering Inferno (1974). He has collaborated with Spielberg since The Sugarland Express (1974), composing music for all but five of his feature films. He received five Academy Awards for Best Score for Fiddler on the Roof (1971), Jaws (1975), Star Wars (1977), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and Schindler's List (1993). Other memorable collaborations with Spielberg include Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), the Indiana Jones franchise (1981–2023), Hook (1991), Jurassic Park (1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Catch Me If You Can (2002), War Horse (2011), Lincoln (2012), and The Fabelmans (2022). He also scored Superman (1978), the first two Home Alone films (1990–1992), and the first three Harry Potter films (2001–2004). Williams has also composed numerous classical concertos and other works for orchestral ensembles and solo instruments. He served as the Boston Pops' principal conductor from 1980 to 1993 and is its laureate conductor. Other works by Williams include theme music for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games; NBC Sunday Night Football; "The Mission" theme (used by NBC News and Seven News in Australia); and the television series Lost in Space, Land of the Giants and Amazing Stories. Among other accolades, he has received the Kennedy Center Honor in 2004, the National Medal of the Arts in 2009 and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2016. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1998, the Hollywood Bowl's Hall of Fame in 2000 and the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2004. He has composed the score for nine of the top 25 highest-grossing films at the U.S. box office. In 2022, Williams was appointed an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II, "for services to film music". In 2005, the American Film Institute placed Williams's score to Star Wars first on its list AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores; his scores for Jaws and E.T. also made the list. The Library of Congress entered the Star Wars soundtrack into the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Description above from the Wikipedia article John Williams, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Movie Credits
Music by John Williams
2024-11-01
His unforgettable scores are an essential part of some of the most beloved movies of our time, over
The Making of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'
1996-10-01
A behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of Steven Spielberg's 1982 film "E.T. the Extra-Ter
John Williams Live - Music from the Movies
2021-12-25
The finest film themes and scores from the Berliner Philharmonie. Expect Jaws, Superman and Star War
The Making of 'Jaws'
1995-11-28
A documentary on the making of one of the greatest films ever made, filled with trivia, interviews f
Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery
1997-02-06
Host Howie Long takes viewers on a tour of the "Star Wars" universe, as Fox TV celebrates the re-rel
From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga
1983-12-03
From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga is a 1983 television documentary special that originall
Anne-Sophie Mutter - Vivace
2023-03-28
The child prodigy turns 60! At the tender age of 13, Anne-Sophie Mutter was discovered by star condu
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
2004-12-09
The Secret Policeman benefit shows for Amnesty International brought together comedy grand masters -
Ennio
2022-02-17
A portrait of Ennio Morricone, the most popular and prolific film composer of the 20th century, the
John Williams & the Berlin Philharmonic - The Berlin Concert
2022-02-04
John Williams has made cinematic history with his film scores and transported entire generations int
Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen
2022-04-29
The fall of 2021 marked the 50th anniversary of Fiddler on the Roof, the film Pauline Kael (The New
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball
1989-01-01
After the criticisms of the 1987 show’s disproportionate focus on music - and the financial disaster
Williams: Violin Concerto No. 2 & Selected Film Themes
2022-02-12
The Stories of West Side Story
2022-03-02
Rejoice in the astonishing all-new footage of Spielberg at work in documentary filmmaker Laurent Bou
The Shark Is Still Working
2009-05-02
After three decades, Jaws continues to intrigue, thrill and frighten viewers. This documentary focus
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos
2009-01-11
The artistry, triumph and lifelong friendship of the great cinematographers Laszlo Kovacs and Vilmos
Love Will Tear Us Apart
2007-01-01
John Williams talks about Adapting the Score of Fiddler on the roof to the Big Screen.
The Making of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
2023-08-29
Join the adventure with the cast and crew, showcasing new characters, stunts, music, locations, prod
In the Teeth of Jaws
1997-01-01
BBC documentary about the making of Steven Spielberg's Jaws.
John Williams at the BBC
2016-03-18
Fifty years of performances from guitarist John Williams that takes in classical masterworks, the pr
A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later
2011-09-16
George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan and John Williams look back at The Empire Strikes Back
The Fabelmans: A Family in Film
2023-02-14
A fascinating behind-the-scenes special about Steven Spielberg's "The Fabelmans."
Deconstructing Dad: The Music, Machines and Mystery of Raymond Scott
2010-09-17
His filmmaker son probes the professional and private lives of his remote but fascinating father: ba
Jaws: The Inside Story
2010-06-16
Steven Spielberg takes us behind the cameras for the making of a classic movie.
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
2019-10-25
The history of cinematic sound, told by legendary sound designers and visionary filmmakers.
Anne-Sophie Mutter, John Williams & Friends: Beethoven and Williams
2022-02-13
Superstar violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter rounds off the musical celebrations for her 60th-birthday yea
If These Walls Could Sing
2022-09-03
The untold story of the Abbey Road studio, all-star interviews and intimate access to the premises.
Timeless Heroes: Indiana Jones and Harrison Ford
2023-12-01
An in-depth look at an incredible moment in film history when Steven Spielberg and George Lucas asse
Catch Me If You Can: Behind the Camera
2003-05-06
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of Stephen Spielberg's "Catch Me If You Can."
A John Williams Celebration
2015-06-30
For the 2014/15 Opening Night Concert and Gala, the Los Angeles Philharmonic paid loving tribute to
When Star Wars Ruled the World
2004-09-18
A VH1 television special wherein the cast discuss the making of the films and what made the franchis
Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy
2004-09-20
From the earliest versions of the script to the blockbuster debuts, explore the creation of the Star
John Williams in Tokyo
2024-05-03
30 years after his last visit to Japan, John Williams has returned for a special concert – making hi
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
2006-01-23
"Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer" is a feature-length documentary. In this entertaining look at t
The Beginning: Making Episode I
2001-10-16
The entire process of making Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) is shown here in this
Plotting 'Family Plot'
2001-03-06
Documentary about the making of Alfred Hitchcock's "Family Plot".
Disney Legends Awards Ceremony
2024-08-12
Since 1987, the Disney Legends Awards program has honored individuals for the significant impact the
Taking Flight: The Development of 'Superman'
2001-05-01
Marc McClure presents a documentary on the making of 'Superman' (1978).
Making 'Superman': Filming the Legend
2001-05-01
Documentary on the making of the 1978 film 'Superman.'
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
2001-05-08
A documentary film on the making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
The Making of '1941'
1996-05-28
A non-narrated documentary, told mainly in interviews with the filmmakers, on the making of the cult
Score: A Film Music Documentary
2017-03-16
Music is an integral part of most films, adding emotion and nuance while often remaining invisible t
Spielberg
2017-10-05
A documentary on the life and career of one of the most influential film directors of all time, Stev
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story
2009-04-24
The troubled fraternal relationship between songwriters Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman, th
Leonard Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood
2018-12-28
In honor of Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday, Tanglewood—the famed summer home of the Boston Symph
The Music of 'Indiana Jones'
2003-10-21
In this 2003 featurette, John Williams recalls composing the music for the first three Indiana Jones
Music
2010-10-15
The story of music and the music industry told through interviews with musicians, composers and prod
Star Wars: Music by John Williams
1980-05-18
BBC documentary. Witness John Williams composing the legendary score for The Empire Strikes Back and
The 'E.T.' Journals
2012-10-09
The following documentary is composed exclusively of original behind-the-scenes footage shot during
Return to Jurassic Park
2011-02-05
A multi-part documentary about the making of the Jurassic Park trilogy. Each part walks through the
Star Wars: Within a Minute - The Making of Episode III
2005-11-01
This documentary offers a glimpse into all the people, departments, and work that went into creating
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
2019-12-18
The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once again as the journey of Rey, Finn and Poe Damero
John Williams: The Seventh Symphony
2016-01-02
A discussion of Williams' iconic work and new material for The Force Awakens.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge - Adventure Awaits
2019-09-29
An exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the new lands at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disn
The Making of 'The Lost World'
1997-05-08
Behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of director Steven Spielberg's 1997 film "The Lost Wo
The Skywalker Legacy
2020-03-18
The story lives forever in this feature-length documentary that charts the making of Star Wars: The
The Music of E.T.: A Discussion with John Williams
2002-01-01
John Williams discusses the music of "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial."
Lincoln: An American Journey
2013-01-16
Documentary on the making of Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" (2012).
John Williams: Live in Vienna
2020-06-01
DG presents John Williams in Vienna, the live recordings of the Hollywood legend's Vienna Philharmon
AFI's Master Class - The Art of Collaboration: Steven Spielberg and John Williams
2011-11-07
Filmmaker Steven Spielberg and composer John Williams sit down to discuss their four-decade friendsh
The Revamping of Dracula
2004-10-19
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of "Dracula" (1979).
The Making of The Empire Strikes Back
1980-09-22
Even the most devout Star Wars fan might not know that filmmaker and journalist Michel Parbot was on
A World Without Beethoven?
2020-09-15
"What would the world be like without Beethoven?" That’s the provocative question posed by this musi
Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me
2009-11-04
Commemorating the centennial of Mercer's birth, this documentary is part biography, part archive, an
You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman
2006-11-28
A 5-part documentary of the history of Superman in the movies. • Origin - Superman in the media and
Star Wars: A Musical Journey
2005-05-03
Star Wars: In Concert, originally called Star Wars: A Musical Journey, was a worldwide series of con
John Williams: A Legacy In Sound
2024-09-03
John Williams: A Legacy in Sound (2024) Explore the legendary career of John Williams, the composer
Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story
2025-06-20
The authorized documentary celebrating the film that redefined Hollywood, 50 years after its premier
Montage: Great Film Composers and The Piano
Six legendary film composers each write an original piece for a classic pianist to perform.
Building a Scene
2003-01-01
A documentary about the process of creating a scene for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (200
Live at the Shrine! John Williams and the World Premiere of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: The 20th Anniversary
A documentary about the 20th anniversary edition premiere of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, featuring a