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Emmy- and Golden Globe-winner and ten-time Oscar-nominee Walter Scharf was born and raised in New York City, the son of Polish-Jewish immigrants. He started playing music at an early age, helping his uncle play the piano in theaters for silent films. His mother Bessie Zwerling was a well-known comedian in New York's Yiddish theater. He got his first real Broadway gig at the age of 17, orchestrating 'George Gershwin' .
He had two children with his wife, Betty: son, Allen; and daughter, Susan.
He graduated from New York University.
He died of heart failure at his home in Brentwood, CA.
Composing for films is a gypsy industry. I was lucky, but also had years,of starving and it was tough. You have to put up with so much,rejection. .
