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John Williams

John Williams

Known For Sound
Birthday Feb 08, 1932 (93)
Birthplace Queens, New York City, New York, USA
Popularity 0.6 (history)
Updated Sep 18, 2025
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

John Towner Williams (born February 8, 1932) is an American composer and conductor. In a career that has spanned seven decades, he has composed some of the most popular, recognizable, and critically acclaimed film scoresin cinema history. He has a distinct sound that mixes romanticism, impressionism ...  and atonal music with complex orchestration. He is best known for his collaborations with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas and has received numerous accolades including 26 Grammy Awards, five Academy Awards, seven BAFTA Awards, three Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. With 54 Academy Award nominations, he is the second-most nominated person, after Walt Disney, and is the oldest Oscar nominee in any category, at 91 years old. Williams's early work as a film composer includes Valley of the Dolls (1967), Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969), Images and The Cowboys (both 1972), The Long Goodbye (1973) and The Towering Inferno (1974). He has collaborated with Spielberg since The Sugarland Express (1974), composing music for all but five of his feature films. He received five Academy Awards for Best Score for Fiddler on the Roof (1971), Jaws (1975), Star Wars (1977), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and Schindler's List (1993). Other memorable collaborations with Spielberg include Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), the Indiana Jones franchise (1981–2023), Hook (1991), Jurassic Park (1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Catch Me If You Can (2002), War Horse (2011), Lincoln (2012), and The Fabelmans (2022). He also scored Superman (1978), the first two Home Alone films (1990–1992), and the first three Harry Potter films (2001–2004). Williams has also composed numerous classical concertos and other works for orchestral ensembles and solo instruments. He served as the Boston Pops' principal conductor from 1980 to 1993 and is its laureate conductor. Other works by Williams include theme music for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games; NBC Sunday Night Football; "The Mission" theme (used by NBC News and Seven News in Australia); and the television series Lost in Space, Land of the Giants and Amazing Stories. Among other accolades, he has received the Kennedy Center Honor in 2004, the National Medal of the Arts in 2009 and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2016. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1998, the Hollywood Bowl's Hall of Fame in 2000 and the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2004. He has composed the score for nine of the top 25 highest-grossing films at the U.S. box office. In 2022, Williams was appointed an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II, "for services to film music". In 2005, the American Film Institute placed Williams's score to Star Wars first on its list AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores; his scores for Jaws and E.T. also made the list. The Library of Congress entered the Star Wars soundtrack into the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Description above from the Wikipedia article John Williams, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

Headshots

Profile
Profile
Profile
Filmography

Libido

Libido

1973

as Martin (segment "The Child")

Superman

Superman

2025

Music

Eastwood Symphonic

Eastwood Symphonic

2023

Music

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

2023

Original Music Composer, Orchestrator, Conductor

Jurassic World Dominion

Jurassic World Dominion

2022

Main Title Theme Composer

The Fabelmans

The Fabelmans

2022

Original Music Composer

Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous: Hidden Adventure

Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous: Hidden Adventure

2022

Main Title Theme Composer

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

2019

Original Music Composer

Battle at Big Rock

Battle at Big Rock

2019

Main Title Theme Composer

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

2017

Original Music Composer

The Post

The Post

2017

Original Music Composer

Dear Basketball

Dear Basketball

2017

Music

The BFG

The BFG

2016

Original Music Composer

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

2015

Original Music Composer

The Book Thief

The Book Thief

2013

Original Music Composer

Lincoln

Lincoln

2012

Original Music Composer

War Horse

War Horse

2011

Original Music Composer

LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace

LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace

2011

Original Music Composer

The Adventures of Tintin

The Adventures of Tintin

2011

Original Music Composer

LEGO Star Wars: The Quest for R2-D2

LEGO Star Wars: The Quest for R2-D2

2009

Original Music Composer

A Timeless Call

A Timeless Call

2008

Music

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

2006

Original Music Composer

An Inconvenient Truth

An Inconvenient Truth

2006

Thanks

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

2005

Original Music Composer

War of the Worlds

War of the Worlds

2005

Original Music Composer, Conductor

Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha

2005

Original Music Composer

Munich

Munich

2005

Original Music Composer

The Terminal

The Terminal

2004

Original Music Composer

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

2004

Original Music Composer

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

2002

Original Music Composer

Catch Me If You Can

Catch Me If You Can

2002

Original Music Composer

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2002

Original Music Composer

Minority Report

Minority Report

2002

Original Music Composer

A.I. Artificial Intelligence

A.I. Artificial Intelligence

2001

Original Music Composer

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

2001

Original Music Composer

The Patriot

The Patriot

2000

Original Music Composer

The Unfinished Journey

The Unfinished Journey

1999

Original Music Composer

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

1999

Original Music Composer

Angela's Ashes

Angela's Ashes

1999

Original Music Composer

Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan

1998

Original Music Composer, Conductor

Lost In Space Forever

Lost In Space Forever

1998

Original Music Composer

Stepmom

Stepmom

1998

Original Music Composer

Rosewood

Rosewood

1997

Original Music Composer

Amistad

Amistad

1997

Original Music Composer

The Lost World: Jurassic Park

The Lost World: Jurassic Park

1997

Original Music Composer

Seven Years in Tibet

Seven Years in Tibet

1997

Original Music Composer

Sleepers

Sleepers

1996

Original Music Composer

Nixon

Nixon

1995

Original Music Composer

Sabrina

Sabrina

1995

Original Music Composer, Songs

Schindler's List

Schindler's List

1993

Original Music Composer

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park

1993

Original Music Composer

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

1992

Original Music Composer

Far and Away

Far and Away

1992

Original Music Composer

Hook

Hook

1991

Original Music Composer, Songs

JFK

JFK

1991

Original Music Composer

Home Alone

Home Alone

1990

Original Music Composer

Stanley & Iris

Stanley & Iris

1990

Original Music Composer

Presumed Innocent

Presumed Innocent

1990

Original Music Composer

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

1989

Original Music Composer

Born on the Fourth of July

Born on the Fourth of July

1989

Original Music Composer

Always

Always

1989

Original Music Composer

The Accidental Tourist

The Accidental Tourist

1988

Original Music Composer

Empire of the Sun

Empire of the Sun

1987

Original Music Composer

The Witches of Eastwick

The Witches of Eastwick

1987

Original Music Composer, Conductor

SpaceCamp

SpaceCamp

1986

Original Music Composer

Amazing Stories

Amazing Stories

1986

Original Music Composer

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

1984

Original Music Composer

The River

The River

1984

Original Music Composer

Return of the Jedi

Return of the Jedi

1983

Original Music Composer

From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga

From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga

1983

Original Music Composer

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

1982

Original Music Composer

Monsignor

Monsignor

1982

Original Music Composer

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Raiders of the Lost Ark

1981

Original Music Composer

Heartbeeps

Heartbeeps

1981

Original Music Composer

Great Movie Stunts: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Great Movie Stunts: Raiders of the Lost Ark

1981

Original Music Composer

Superman II

Superman II

1980

Theme Song Performance, Music

The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back

1980

Original Music Composer

1941

1941

1979

Original Music Composer

Dracula

Dracula

1979

Original Music Composer

Superman

Superman

1978

Original Music Composer

Jaws 2

Jaws 2

1978

Original Music Composer

The Fury

The Fury

1978

Original Music Composer

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

1977

Original Music Composer

Star Wars

Star Wars

1977

Original Music Composer

Black Sunday

Black Sunday

1977

Original Music Composer

Family Plot

Family Plot

1976

Original Music Composer

The Missouri Breaks

The Missouri Breaks

1976

Original Music Composer

Midway

Midway

1976

Original Music Composer

Jaws

Jaws

1975

Original Music Composer

The Eiger Sanction

The Eiger Sanction

1975

Original Music Composer

The Sugarland Express

The Sugarland Express

1974

Original Music Composer, Conductor

Conrack

Conrack

1974

Original Music Composer

The Towering Inferno

The Towering Inferno

1974

Original Music Composer

Earthquake

Earthquake

1974

Original Music Composer

Tom Sawyer

Tom Sawyer

1973

Original Music Composer

Cinderella Liberty

Cinderella Liberty

1973

Original Music Composer

The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing

The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing

1973

Original Music Composer

The Long Goodbye

The Long Goodbye

1973

Original Music Composer

The Paper Chase

The Paper Chase

1973

Original Music Composer

Pete 'n' Tillie

Pete 'n' Tillie

1972

Original Music Composer

The Screaming Woman

The Screaming Woman

1972

Main Title Theme Composer

The Poseidon Adventure

The Poseidon Adventure

1972

Original Music Composer

Images

Images

1972

Original Music Composer, Orchestrator, Conductor

The Cowboys

The Cowboys

1972

Original Music Composer

Fiddler on the Roof

Fiddler on the Roof

1971

Orchestrator, Music, Conductor, Music Arranger

Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre

1970

Original Music Composer

Story of a Woman

Story of a Woman

1970

Original Music Composer

The Reivers

The Reivers

1969

Original Music Composer

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

1969

Original Music Composer, Music Supervisor, Conductor

Daddy's Gone A-Hunting

Daddy's Gone A-Hunting

1969

Original Music Composer

Heidi

Heidi

1968

Original Music Composer

Sergeant Ryker

Sergeant Ryker

1968

Original Music Composer

A Guide for the Married Man

A Guide for the Married Man

1967

Original Music Composer

Fitzwilly

Fitzwilly

1967

Original Music Composer

Ghostbreakers

Ghostbreakers

1967

Original Music Composer

The Lady Is My Wife

The Lady Is My Wife

1967

Music

Valley of the Dolls

Valley of the Dolls

1967

Original Music Composer

How to Steal a Million

How to Steal a Million

1966

Original Music Composer

Penelope

Penelope

1966

Songs, Original Music Composer

The Plainsman

The Plainsman

1966

Original Music Composer

Not With My Wife, You Don't

Not With My Wife, You Don't

1966

Original Music Composer

The Rare Breed

The Rare Breed

1966

Original Music Composer

John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!

John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!

1965

Original Music Composer, Conductor

The Kathryn Reed Story

The Kathryn Reed Story

1965

Original Music Composer

None But the Brave

None But the Brave

1965

Original Music Composer

The Killers

The Killers

1964

Original Music Composer

Nightmare in Chicago

Nightmare in Chicago

1964

Original Music Composer

Gidget Goes to Rome

Gidget Goes to Rome

1963

Original Music Composer

Diamond Head

Diamond Head

1962

Music

Flashing Spikes

Flashing Spikes

1962

Original Music Composer

Stark Fear

Stark Fear

1962

Music

The Secret Ways

The Secret Ways

1961

Original Music Composer

Bachelor Flat

Bachelor Flat

1961

Original Music Composer

The Apartment

The Apartment

1960

Orchestrator

I Passed for White

I Passed for White

1960

Original Music Composer

Daddy-O

Daddy-O

1958

Original Music Composer

No data available

No data available

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

No data available

The Oscars

as Self

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Mar 19, 1953

Previn and the Pittsburgh

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Feb 27, 1977

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 08, 2015

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Episodes: 1

First Aired: May 25, 1992

The Kennedy Center Honors

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 28, 1978

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 02, 1973

Playhouse 90

as Self (Pianist)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 04, 1956

Disney Gallery / Star Wars: The Mandalorian

as Self - Composer (archive footage)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: May 04, 2020

60 Minutes

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1968

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 5 17 21 15
2024 6 16 27 9
2024 7 26 35 12
2024 8 13 28 6
2024 9 11 23 5
2024 10 6 11 4
2024 11 12 32 6
2024 12 11 18 8
2025 1 18 34 5
2025 2 8 15 1
2025 3 7 14 0
2025 4 1 3 1
2025 5 4 5 3
2025 6 3 5 2
2025 7 1 3 0
2025 8 1 2 0
2025 9 0 0 0
2025 10 0 0 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2024 5 375 94
2024 6 639 106
2024 12 307 225
2025 1 589 43
2025 2 370 1
2025 3 11 1
2025 7 68 1
2025 8 252 1
2025 9 58 1

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