07.22.2004
Jerry Goldsmith, one of Hollywood’s most prominent composers who left an indelible mark on Star Trek, died Wednesday night after a long battle with cancer. He was 75.
Goldsmith’s compositions have virtually defined the musical personality of Star Trek since the debut of “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” in 1979. That score went on to be the theme song for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Goldsmith also wrote the title music for Star Trek: Voyager, along with several other Trek movies including “Star Trek: First Contact,” which many fans believe to be one of the most inspired scores ever written for a genre film (or any film for that matter).
He’s even left his mark on the Star Trek: The Experience attraction in Las Vegas, with original music for “Borg Invasion 4D.” He also scored “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier,” “Star Trek: Insurrection,” and two years ago, “Star Trek Nemesis.”
His soundtrack for “ST:TMP” earned him one of his 17 Academy Award nominations (his one Oscar win was in 1977 for “The Omen”), as well as nominations for Golden Globe and Saturn awards. His Voyager theme song earned one of his five Emmy trophies. “First Contact” won him a BMI Film Music Award, and his audio commentary on the “Director’s Edition” DVD of “TMP” earned a Video Premiere Award nomination in 2001.