Mission: Impossible theme composer Lalo Schifrin dies aged 93 | The Independent Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Not nowYes pleaseUS EditionChangeSupport NowSupport NowMenuMoreThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inMission: Impossible theme composer Lalo Schifrin dies aged 93The Argentinian worked extensively in film, composing the scores for classics including ‘Enter The Dragon’, ‘Cool Hand Luke’ and ‘Dirty Harry’in Los AngelesFriday 27 June 2025 00:22 BSTComments✕Related: Mission: Impossible Theme LIVE | Classic FMYour support helps us to tell the storyRead moreFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreLalo Schifrin, the composer best known for giving the Mission: Impossible series its dramatic theme tune, has died. He was 93.The Buenos Aires-born musician was a prolific soundtrack composer, writing indelible scores for such classic films as Enter The Dragon and Cool Hand Luke as well as the Dirty Harry and Rush Hour franchises.His son Ryan Schifrin told Deadline that his father died “peacefully” on Thursday morning. Variety reports the cause of death was complications from pneumonia.Boris Claudio "Lalo" Schifrin was born on June 21, 1932. His father was a violinist for the orchestra at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, and the young Schifrin began studying piano from the age of six.Composer Lalo Schifrin, best known for writing the theme for 'Mission: Impossible', pictured in Los Angeles in 2006 (Mark Mainz/Getty Images)At 20, he won a scholarship to the Conservatoire de Paris, where he also began playing in jazz clubs. He later returned to Buenos Aires and formed his own orchestra, but continued to work with noted jazz musicians, including Dizzy Gillespie.Schifrin was asked by MGM to score their 1963 adventure movie, Rhino!. He moved to Los Angeles the same year, and began his extensive work in film. In 1965 he wrote the score for the Steve McQueen movie The Cincinnati Kid, and the following year was approached by producer Bruce Geller and Desilu Studios to compose the theme for a new spy television show they were developing.In 2018 Schifrin spoke to The Independent at length about the writing of his signature theme for Mission: Impossible, recalling that Tom Cruise had hugged him at the premiere of the 1996 film adaptation. “He said he grew up with the television series and the music was one of the biggest elements that convinced him to get involved in the movie project, not only as an actor but as the co-producer,” recalled Schifrin. “So he made my day.”He said the music itself came to him quickly. “I had a very short time to write it. I had to do it right away,” he remembered. “I sat at my desk and wrote that theme in exactly one-and-a-half minutes. It was not inspiration; it was a need to do it. It was my own little mission impossible! The whole thing – including the chorus, the bongos, everything you hear – took me maybe three minutes. I was creating sound of impossible missions and making them swing. I didn’t know it was going to be so successful.”The theme was well received by the public, and bolstered Schifrin’s reputation. In the 60s he composed the music for the Paul Newman film Cool Hand Luke and Steve McQueen’s Bullitt. The following decade his scores included several Dirty Harry films and the Bruce Lee classic Enter The Dragon. He continued to work consistently throughout the 80s and 90s, finding further success with Rush Hour in 1998. He returned for the sequels, with Rush Hour 3 providing his final film credit in 2007.In November 2018, Schifrin received an honorary Academy Award. He is survived by his wife Donna, his three children William Schifrin, Frances Schifrin and Ryan Schifrin and four grandchildren.More aboutJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesCommentsMost PopularPopular videosRead NextToday’s EditionIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduThe StandardPuzzlesIndependent AdvertisingSyndicationWorking at The IndependentModern Slavery StatementThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in , Lalo Schifrin (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈlalo ˈʃifɾin]; [1] born Boris Claudio Schifrin; June 21, 1932 – June 26, 2025) was an Argentine-American pianist, composer, arranger and conductor., Lalo Schifrin, the composer best known for giving the Mission: Impossible series its dramatic theme tune, has died. He was 93. The Buenos Aires-born musician was a prolific soundtrack composer .