Ernest Gold

Ernst Sigmund Goldner (July 13, 1921 – March 17, 1999), known professionally as Ernest Gold, was an Austrian-American composer of film and television scores. He won an Academy Award and two Grammy Awards for his work on the film Exodus, and a Golden Globe for On the Beach (1959). He received an additional three Oscar nominations throughout his career, and was the first composer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Early life Gold was born in 1921 in Vienna, the son of Elisabeth (Stransky) and Gustav Goldner. Gold's father's mother (Jaiteles) ancestry from Szeged, Hungary and mother's mother (Therese Sprung) from Temesvár (at the time part of Hungary and now in Romania) and Budapest (Spitzer). Ernest Gold came from a musical family. His father played the violin and his mother sang. His father also studied under Richard Heuberger.

Ernest Gold said he learned to read music before he learned to read words. Gold went to movie theaters as a teenager, not only to watch the films but to listen to the musical score. Among prominent film composers of the time, he admired Max Steiner. In New York City, he earned money by working as an accompanist and writing popular songs. He also studied with Otto Cesana and Léon Barzin at the National Orchestra Association. He also wrote music for television.

Honors For his contributions to the recording industry, Gold has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was the first composer to receive the honor.

Personal life Gold was married to singer and actress Marni Nixon from 1950 to 1969. They had three children: musician Andrew Gold (composer of "Lonely Boy" and "Thank You for Being a Friend"), Martha Carr, and Melani Gold. Ernest Gold and Jan Keller Gold were married from 1975 until his death.

Death Ernest Gold died March 17, 1999, in Santa Monica, California, at 77 from complications following a stroke.

Selected filmography

Awards and nominations