Immensely talented, Argentinian born pianist, conductor and composer who has written over 100 scores for both television & the cinema including the memorable themes to _"Mission: Impossible" .
His song "Tar Sequence," from the music score for Cool Hand Luke , was used for many years as the theme song for local "Eyewitness News" broadcasts on ABC-owned television stations (i.e. WABC-TV in New York, New York, USA and WLS-TV in Chicago, Illinois, USA). In Australia, it has also been used by the Nine Network for many years as the theme for National Nine News, now known as Nine News, and has more recently been used by regional networks affiliated with Nine, such as WIN Television, as the theme for their local news broadcasts.
Sister, Flora Schminovich, is a Spanish instructor at Barnard College - Columbia University.
Received the Film Music Societys career achievement award.
Has composed a large number of concert works for chamber ensembles and orchestras which are published by MMB Music, Inc. (of St. Louis, MO).
Father of Ryan Schifrin.
Composed the 1970 Paramount TV jingle. This was used from the fall of 1970 to the fall of 1976, and from the fall of 1978 until the fall of 1987.
Member of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994
Bruce Lee personally chose him to score Enter the Dragon . Upon their lunch meeting, Lee told him that he worked out to the soundtrack from "Mission: Impossible" .
