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Danny Elfman Biography
Birth Name:Daniel Robert Elfman
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, United States
Profession Soundtrack, Music department, Actor, Producer
Fast Facts
- Received the Film Composer of the Year award at the 2008 International Film Music Critics Association
- Received an honorary doctorate in 2007 from the North Carolina School of the Arts
- Decided to drop out of high school to follow his brother to France in order to join the Le Grand Magic Circus
- Is heavily influenced by the compositions of Bernard Herrman
- Quote: "I get drawn to things that don't make any sense, and I learned early on not to resist that․"
- Frequently collaborates with Tim Burton on film projects
- Often combines digital sounds with orchestra music
- As a street performer in Paris, he learned how to breath fire
- Was a former member of the theatre band Oingo Boingo
- Provided all of the vocals for the soundtrack to "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by singing in different pitches
Awards
- 1987BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 1989BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 1989BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 1989Filmtracks Award-Top Film Scores: nominated
- 1989Movie Music UK Award-Score of the Year: winner
- 1989Movie Music UK Award-Composer of the Year: nominated
- 1989Movie Music UK Award-Best Original Score for a Action/Adventure/Thriller Film: winner
- 1990Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
- 1990BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 1990Filmtracks Award-Top Film Scores: nominated
- 1990Grammy-Best Album of Original Instrumental Background Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television: nominated
- 1990Movie Music UK Award-Best Score for a Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror Film: winner
- 1990Movie Music UK Award-Best Original Score for a Action/Adventure/Thriller Film: nominated
- 1990Movie Music UK Award-Best Score for a Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror Film: nominated
- 1990Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Main Title Theme Music: nominated
- 1991BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 1991Grammy-Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television: nominated
- 1992Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
- 1992ACCA-Best Original Score: nominated
- 1992Grammy-Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television: nominated
- 1993ACCA-Best Original Score: nominated
- 1993BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 1993Chainsaw Award-Best Soundtrack: winner
- 1994Saturn Award-Best Music: winner
- 1994Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
- 1996Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
- 1996BMI TV Music Award-: winner
- 1997Saturn Award-Best Music: winner
- 1997Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
- 1997ACCA-Best Original Score: nominated
- 1997ACCA-Best Original Score: nominated
- 1997BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 1997Chainsaw Award-Best Score: winner
- 1997Golden Satellite Award-Best Original Score: nominated
- 1998Oscar-Best Music, Original Dramatic Score: nominated
- 1998Oscar-Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score: nominated
- 1998Saturn Award-Best Music: winner
- 1998BMI TV Music Award-: winner
- 1998BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 1998BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 1998BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 1998Grammy-Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television: nominated
- 1998Sierra Award-Best Score: winner
- 1998OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Comedy/Musical Score: nominated
- 1999CFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
- 1999FMCJ Award-Film Score of the Year: nominated
- 1999OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Dramatic Score: nominated
- 2000Saturn Award-Best Music: winner
- 2000BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 2000Chainsaw Award-Best Score: winner
- 2000Sierra Award-Best Score: nominated
- 2000OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
- 2000Golden Satellite Award-Best Original Score: winner
- 2001BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 2001GoldSpirit Awards-Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Soundtrack: nominated
- 2001Golden Satellite Award-Best Original Score: nominated
- 2002BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 2002Grammy-Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: nominated
- 2002World Soundtrack Award-Best Original Soundtrack of the Year: nominated
- 2003Saturn Award-Best Music: winner
- 2003ACCA-Best Original Score: nominated
- 2003Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music-: nominated
- 2003BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 2003BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 2003BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 2003BMI TV Music Award-: winner
- 2003Grammy-Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: nominated
- 2003SFX Award-Best SF or Fantasy Film Music: nominated
- 2004Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
- 2004Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
- 2004BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 2004CFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
- 2004Critics Choice Award-Best Composer: nominated
- 2004Gold Derby Film Award-Original Score: nominated
- 2004Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
- 2004IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for Television: winner
- 2004IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for an Action/Adventure Film: nominated
- 2004INOCA-Best Original Score: nominated
- 2004IOMA-Best Original Score (Miglior colonna sonora originale): nominated
- 2004OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
- 2004OFTA Television Award-Best New Theme Song in a Series, Motion Picture or Miniseries: winner
- 2004PFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
- 2005Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
- 2005ACCA-Best Original Score: nominated
- 2005BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 2005BMI TV Music Award-: winner
- 2005GoldSpirit Awards-Best Horror Theme: winner
- 2005Grammy-Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: nominated
- 2005IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction Film: nominated
- 2005IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Comedy Film: nominated
- 2005PFCS Award-Best Original Score: winner
- 2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Main Title Theme Music: winner
- 2005Golden Satellite Award-Best Original Score: nominated
- 2005Satellite Award-Outstanding Original Score: nominated
- 2006Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
- 2006BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2006CFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
- 2006Grammy-Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: nominated
- 2006IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for an Animated Film: nominated
- 2006OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
- 2006World Soundtrack Award-Soundtrack Composer of the Year: nominated
- 2007BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2007IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for an Animated Film: nominated
- 2008Annie-Best Music in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
- 2008BMI TV Music Award-: winner
- 2008CFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
- 2008IFMCA Award-Film Music Composition of the Year: nominated
- 2008IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for an Action/Adventure Film: nominated
- 2008IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Drama Film: nominated
- 2008IFMCA Award-Film Score of the Year: nominated
- 2008IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Documentary Film: winner
- 2008IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction Film: nominated
- 2008Movie Music UK Award-Best Score for a Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror Film: winner
- 2008Movie Music UK Award-Score of the Year: nominated
- 2008Movie Music UK Award-Composer of the Year: nominated
- 2008Movie Music UK Award-Best Original Score for a Documentary Film: winner
- 2008Movie Music UK Award-Best Original Score for a Action/Adventure/Thriller Film: nominated
- 2008Movie Music UK Award-Best Original Song: nominated
- 2008Satellite Award-Best Original Score: nominated
- 2009Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score: nominated
- 2009BMI Film Music Award-: winner
- 2009BMI TV Music Award-: winner
- 2009Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Score: nominated
- 2009Critics Choice Award-Best Composer: nominated
- 2009Gold Derby Film Award-Original Score: nominated
- 2009ICS Award-Best Original Score: winner
- 2009OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
- 2009OFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
- 2009World Soundtrack Award-Soundtrack Composer of the Year: nominated
- 2010BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2010BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2010BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2010Grammy-Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: nominated
- 2010Sierra Award-Best Score: nominated
- 2010Movie Music UK Award-Composer of the Year: nominated
- 2010Movie Music UK Award-Best Score for a Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror Film: nominated
- 2010SDFCS Award-Best Score: nominated
- 2010World Soundtrack Award-Soundtrack Composer of the Year: nominated
- 2011Felix-Best Original Score: winner
- 2011Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music-: nominated
- 2011Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
- 2011Grammy-Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: nominated
- 2011IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release of an Existing Score: nominated
- 2011IFMCA Award-Film Music Composition of the Year: winner
- 2011IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction/Horror Film: nominated
- 2012BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2012IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for an Action/Adventure/Thriller Film: nominated
- 2012IFMCA Award-Film Music Composition of the Year: nominated
- 2012Movie Music UK Award-Composer of the Year: winner
- 2012Movie Music UK Award-Best Score for a Drama Film: nominated
- 2012PFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
- 2013Saturn Award-Best Music: winner
- 2013BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2013BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2013BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2013BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2013HFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
- 2013ICP Award-Best Original Score or Soundtrack: nominated
- 2013IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Comedy Film: nominated
- 2013IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for an Animated Film: nominated
- 2013World Soundtrack Award-Film Composer of the Year: nominated
- 2014Felix-Best Original Song: nominated
- 2014Felix-Best Original Song: nominated
- 2014Felix-Best Original Score: winner
- 2014Felix-Best Original Song: nominated
- 2014Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
- 2014Annie-Outstanding Achievement in Music in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
- 2014BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2014BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2014BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2014HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Animated Film: nominated
- 2014IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for an Animated Film: nominated
- 2014Movie Music UK Award-Best Documentary Score: nominated
- 2015Annie-Outstanding Achievement in Music in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
- 2015BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2015HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film: nominated
- 2015IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Documentary Film: winner
- 2016BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2016BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Music Direction: winner
- 2017Felix-Best Score Comedy or Musical: winner
- 2017BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2017BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2017BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2018Felix-Best Score Comedy or Musical: winner
- 2018Felix-Best Score Drama: nominated
- 2018BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2018BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
- 2019Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
- 2019Annie-Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
- 2019BMI Film, TV & Visual Media Award-BMI Film Music Award: winner
- 2019BMI Film, TV & Visual Media Award-BMI Film Music Award: winner
- 2020BMI Film, TV & Visual Media Award-BMI Film Music Award: winner
- 2020BMI Film, TV & Visual Media Award-BMI Film Music Award: winner
- 2020IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for an Action/Adventure/Thriller Film: nominated
- 2021OFTA TV Hall of Fame-Theme Songs: winner
- 2022Saturn Award-Best Music: winner
- 2022HMMA Award-Best Main Title - TV Show/Limited Series: nominated
- 2022HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Sci-Fi Film: winner
- 2022HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Feature Film: nominated
- 2022IFJA Award-Best Musical Score: nominated
- 2022Movie Music UK Award-Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Sci-Fi Film: nominated
- 2023BMI Film, TV & Visual Media Award-Theatrical Film Award: winner
- 2023IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction Film: nominated
- 2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music: winner
- 2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score): nominated
- 2023SCL Award-Outstanding Original Song for a Comedy or Musical Visual Media Production: nominated
- 2023World Soundtrack Award-Television Composer of the Year: nominated
- 2024Movie Music UK Award-Best Original Score for a Comedy Film: nominated
- 2025Saturn Award-Best Film Music: winner
- 2025BMI Film, TV & Visual Media Award-Theatrical Film Award: winner
- 2025IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Comedy Film: nominated
- 2025Lizzie-Best Score: winner
- 2026IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Horror/Thriller Film: nominated