Oscar-winning composer Ken Thorne passed away yesterday. The composer of Help!, Superman II and III, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum had enjoyed success on both the big and small screens throughout his career.
Born in East Dereham, England, Thorne began piano lessons at just five years old. He was playing professionally by the age of fifteen. His first feature film composition was for 1965's Help!, which would garner him a Grammy nomination for Best Original Score. The following year he won an Oscar for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. On Superman II and III, Thorne was instructed to use John Williams' theme from the first installment, while rearranging it and adding original work. He earned an Emmy nomination for his work on the TV movie A Season of Hope.
Ken Thorne was a resident of West Hills, California. He is survived by his wife, Linda, and twin daughters Emily and Claire.