Italian composer Ennio Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” has died. He was 91.
Morricone’s longtime lawyer, Giorgio Assumma, said the Maestro, as he was known, died early Monday in a Rome hospital of complications following a fall, in which he broke a leg.
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Italian composer Ennio Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” has died. He was 91.
That Tarantino film would also win him the Oscar for best original score in 2016. In accepting that Academy Award, Morricone told the audience at the ceremony: “There is no great music without a great film that inspires it.”
Morricone was known for crafting just a few notes, that that played on a harmonica in Leone's “Once Upon A Time in America," which would be instantly associated with that film.
FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007 file photo, Italian composer Ennio Morricone, left, accepts an honorary Oscar for his contributions to the art of film music as director Clint Eastwood looks on during the 79th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” died Monday, July 6, 2020 in a Rome hospital at the age of 91. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill, file)
FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016 file photo, Ennio Morricone poses in the press room with the award for best original score for "The Hateful Eight" at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” died Monday, July 6, 2020 in a Rome hospital at the age of 91. (Photo by Jordan StraussInvisionAP)
FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2016 file photo, from left, actor Kurt Russell, Italian composer Ennio Morricone, director Quentin Tarantino and actor Michael Madsen pose for photographers during a photo call of the movie The Hateful Eight, in Rome. Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” died Monday, July 6, 2020 in a Rome hospital at the age of 91. (AP PhotoGregorio Borgia, file)
FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2007 file photo, Italian composer Ennio Morricone, left, accepts an honorary Oscar for his contributions to the art of film music as director Clint Eastwood looks on during the 79th Academy Awards telecast in Los Angeles. Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” died Monday, July 6, 2020 in a Rome hospital at the age of 91. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill, file)
FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2016 file photo, Italian composer Ennio Morricone, left, and director Quentin Tarantino pose for photographers during a photo call of the movie The Hateful Eight, in Rome. Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” died Monday, July 6, 2020 in a Rome hospital at the age of 91. (AP PhotoGregorio Borgia, file)
FILE - In this July 12, 2009 file photo, Italian composer Ennio Morricone, conducts with the Budapest Symphonic Orchestra - Gyor, performing his best film themes together with the Macedonian Opera Choir, on the opening eve of the 49th Ohrid Summer Festival at the Ancient Theatre in Ohrid, in southwestern Macedonia. Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” died Monday, July 6, 2020 in a Rome hospital at the age of 91. (AP PhotoBoris Grdanoski, file)
During a career that spanned decades and earned him an Oscar for lifetime achievement in 2007, Morricone collaborated with some of the most renowned Italian and Hollywood directors, in movies including “The Untouchables” by Brian de Palma, “The Hateful Eight” by Quentin Tarantino and “The Battle of Algiers” by Gillo Pontecorvo.
FILE - In this Dec. 6, 2013 file photo, Italian composer Ennio Morricone poses during a photo call to promote his German 2014 concerts, in Berlin, Germany. Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” died Monday, July 6, 2020 in a Rome hospital at the age of 91. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn, file)
That Tarantino film would also win him the Oscar for best original score in 2016. In accepting that Academy Award, Morricone told the audience at the ceremony: “There is no great music without a great film that inspires it.”
In total, he produced more than 400 original scores for feature films.
His iconic so-called Spaghetti Western movies saw him work closely with the late Italian film director Sergio Leone.
FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016 file photo, Italian composer Ennio Morricone poses in the press room with the award for best original score for "The Hateful Eight" at the Oscars, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” died Monday, July 6, 2020 in a Rome hospital at the age of 91. (Photo by Jordan StraussInvisionAP, File)
Morricone was known for crafting just a few notes, that that played on a harmonica in Leone's “Once Upon A Time in America," which would be instantly associated with that film.
FILE - In this May 31, 2016 file photo, three-time best sound-track Oscar winner Ennio Morricone answers questions during an interview with The Associated Press, in Rome. Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” died Monday, July 6, 2020 in a Rome hospital at the age of 91. (AP PhotoAndrew Medichini, file)
FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007 file photo, Italian composer Ennio Morricone, left, accepts an honorary Oscar for his contributions to the art of film music as director Clint Eastwood looks on during the 79th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” died Monday, July 6, 2020 in a Rome hospital at the age of 91. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill, file)
FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016 file photo, Ennio Morricone poses in the press room with the award for best original score for "The Hateful Eight" at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” died Monday, July 6, 2020 in a Rome hospital at the age of 91. (Photo by Jordan StraussInvisionAP)
FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2016 file photo, from left, actor Kurt Russell, Italian composer Ennio Morricone, director Quentin Tarantino and actor Michael Madsen pose for photographers during a photo call of the movie The Hateful Eight, in Rome. Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” died Monday, July 6, 2020 in a Rome hospital at the age of 91. (AP PhotoGregorio Borgia, file)
FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2007 file photo, Italian composer Ennio Morricone, left, accepts an honorary Oscar for his contributions to the art of film music as director Clint Eastwood looks on during the 79th Academy Awards telecast in Los Angeles. Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” died Monday, July 6, 2020 in a Rome hospital at the age of 91. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill, file)
FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2016 file photo, Italian composer Ennio Morricone, left, and director Quentin Tarantino pose for photographers during a photo call of the movie The Hateful Eight, in Rome. Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” died Monday, July 6, 2020 in a Rome hospital at the age of 91. (AP PhotoGregorio Borgia, file)
FILE - In this July 12, 2009 file photo, Italian composer Ennio Morricone, conducts with the Budapest Symphonic Orchestra - Gyor, performing his best film themes together with the Macedonian Opera Choir, on the opening eve of the 49th Ohrid Summer Festival at the Ancient Theatre in Ohrid, in southwestern Macedonia. Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” died Monday, July 6, 2020 in a Rome hospital at the age of 91. (AP PhotoBoris Grdanoski, file)