American composer and music editor
John Leonard Strauss (April 28, 1920 – February 14, 2011) was an American television and film composer and music editor . Strauss co-wrote the theme song for the NBC television series , Car 54, Where Are You? , with Nat Hiken .[ 1] He also won a Grammy Award for his work as the producer of the soundtrack for the 1984 film, Amadeus .[ 2] He also frequently collaborated with director Woody Allen in his films, including Take the Money and Run in 1969 and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) in 1972.[ 1]
Strauss was born in New York City .[ 2] He served in the United States Army in both North Africa and France during World War II .[ 2] He studied at Yale University with Paul Hindemith following the end of the war.[ 2]
In addition to co-writing the theme song for the TV sitcom Car 54, Where Are You? , Strauss won an Emmy Award in sound editing for his work on the 1978 television movie , The Amazing Howard Hughes .[ 1]
[ 2] He also wrote the theme song for The Phil Silvers Show .[ 2] Strauss appeared briefly as an orchestra conductor in the film Amadeus .[ 2]
Strauss married actress Charlotte Rae on November 4, 1951,[ 3] but the marriage ended in divorce in 1976 when he came out as bisexual.[ 4] The couple had two sons,[ 5] Larry[ 2] and Andrew.[ 6] Strauss' partner, Lionel Friedman, died in 2003.[ 2]
A longtime resident of Los Angeles , Strauss died in that city on February 14, 2011, of Parkinson's disease , at the age of 90.[ 1] [ 2]
References
^ a b c d "Amadeus music editor and composer John Strauss dies" . BBC News . 2011-02-18. Retrieved 2011-02-24 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j Fox, Margalit (2011-02-17). "John Strauss, Composer of 'Car 54' Theme, Dies at 90" . The New York Times . Retrieved 2011-02-24 .
^ "Charlotte Rae Biography (1926-)" . FilmReference.com. Retrieved January 21, 2013 .
^ Ravitz, Justin (2013-01-21). "Charlotte Rae, Facts of Life Star: My Husband Was Gay, Cheated on Me" . Us Weekly . Retrieved 2015-08-05 .
^ Buck, Jerry (April 12, 1982). "Paul Lynde Helped Charlotte Rae" . The Free Lance-Star . Fredericksburg, Virginia . Associated Press . Retrieved January 21, 2013 . Miss Rae, the divorced mother of two grown sons....
^ "Charlotte Rae: Biography" . TV Guide . Retrieved January 21, 2013 .
External links
International National Artists Other