Biography
An innovator in the use of computer-synthesized soundtracks, world-renowned composer Hans Zimmer pioneered the successful integration of digital synthesizers, advanced computer technology, and electronic keyboards with traditional orchestral music.
The German-born Zimmer began his career writing advertising jingles before teaming up with Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes as the Buggles to produce the smash single "Video Killed the Radio Star" and the subsequent album The Age of Plastic. Following a meeting with film composer
Stanley Myers, the two set up the Lillie Yard Studio in London and began collaborating on a number of film soundtracks, including
Jerzy Skolimowski's
Moonlighting (1982), Nicholas Roeg's
Insignificance (1985), and
Stephen Frears' widely acclaimed
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985).
Zimmer's career hit a turning point when, based on the strength of his score for the South African film
A World Apart, he was asked to write the score for
Rain Man (1988). His work on the film earned him an Academy award nomination, and he subsequently found himself scoring an increasing number of high-profile films, including
Driving Miss Daisy (1989),
Days of Thunder (1990),
Backdraft (1991), and Thelma & Louise (1991). In 1994, Zimmer had his greatest critical success to date with his score for
The Lion King, which won both Academy and Golden Globe awards. Two years later, he was again nominated for an Oscar for his work on
As Good as It Gets, and in 1998, he was twice nominated for the Academy's Best Original Dramatic Score honor for his work on
The Thin Red Line and
The Prince of Egypt. Zimmer's Academy run continued in 2000 as he was nominated for Best Original Score for his work on
Gladiator. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide