Legendary Argentine composer Lalo Schifrin, best known for creating the iconic Mission: Impossible theme and scoring dozens of major Hollywood productions, has died at the age of 93, according to media reports on Thursday.

His son, William Schifrin, confirmed the death to The Hollywood Reporter. As of press time, representatives for the composer had not responded to further inquiries.

Born in Buenos Aires in 1932, Schifrin developed a deep love for American jazz during his teenage years, a passion that would shape his musical style throughout his career. Trained as both a pianist and conductor, he fused jazz with orchestral elements to create some of the most distinctive soundtracks in film and television history.

Schifrin’s most enduring legacy is arguably the Mission: Impossible theme, first composed for the CBS television series that premiered in 1966. Its unconventional 5/4 time signature and dramatic flair became instantly recognisable and was later used as the musical foundation for the blockbuster movie franchise starring Tom Cruise.

Over the course of his prolific career, Schifrin was nominated for six Academy Awards for his film scores, including those for Cool Hand Luke (1967) and The Amityville Horror (1979). He also won four Grammy Awards, cementing his place as a titan of cinematic music.

In 2018, Schifrin was honoured with an honorary Oscar for his lifetime contributions to film music. The award was presented by longtime collaborator and friend, actor-director Clint Eastwood, with whom Schifrin worked on several films.

Lalo Schifrin leaves behind a remarkable legacy—his compositions continue to thrill audiences across generations and redefine the sound of cinematic suspense.

Melissa Enoch

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