Composer Nick Glennie-Smith Dies at 74

British composer, conductor and keyboardist Nick Glennie-Smith passed away peacefully in August at his home in Charlottesville, Virginia, surrounded by family, his wife Jan Glennie-Smith said to The Hollywood Reporter. No cause of death was disclosed. The couple had been married for 52 years.

Hollywood Reporter

Glennie-Smith’s film-music career began after moving to Hollywood in the late 1980s. Early credits include keyboard work on *K2* (1991) and *Cool Runnings* (1993). He later joined Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions team, co-composing scores for major releases such as *The Lion King* (1994), *Crimson Tide* (1995), *The Simpsons Movie* (2007), *Transformers* (2007), *X-Men: First Class* (2011) and *Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides* (2011). He shared principal composing duties with Zimmer and Harry Gregson-Williams on Michael Bay’s *The Rock* (1996) and contributed to a long list of subsequent blockbusters, including *Man of Steel* (2013) and *Mufasa: The Lion King* (2024). He also scored *The Man in the Iron Mask* (1998), *We Were Soldiers* (2002), *Secretariat* (2010) and *Heaven Is for Real* (2014).

Hollywood Reporter

Glennie-Smith is survived by his older son Seth, a composer and music editor, as well as his other children Joss, Haley and Katharine, and several grandchildren. The statement highlighted his role as musical director for Zimmer’s live concerts and his conducting of the 60-piece orchestra at the 2012 Academy Awards.

Hollywood Reporter

Glennie-Smith’s collaborations spanned over three decades, influencing the sound of contemporary blockbuster cinema. His work as a trusted creative partner to Zimmer and his contributions to both orchestral and electronic film scores left a lasting imprint on the industry. Colleagues and family alike noted that his music continues to resonate, underscoring his impact on the scores that shaped modern Hollywood.

Hollywood Reporter