Story perspectives

Composer George Fenton Dies Aged 76, Family Says

By Drooid · Oct 6, 2026, 3:55 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

George Fenton Dies

Composer George Fenton died at age 76 on October 5, 2026.
His family said his death was unexpected and gave no cause.
He earned five Oscar nominations for scores such as Gandhi, Cry Freedom, Dangerous Liaisons and The Fisher King.
His Blue Planet music won a BAFTA, a Primetime Emmy and an Ivor Novello award.
He received a CBE in 2023 for services to music.

Summary

George Fenton Scores

George Fenton’s final score for Up Against It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 12 September.
He composed the BBC One, Six, Nine O’Clock News and Newsnight theme tunes.
He launched his theatre-scoring career with the RSC’s 1974 Twelfth Night.
In 1968 he signed with MCA and Decca while acting in Alan Bennett’s Forty Years On.

History

Historical Context

In 1975, John Williams’ score for Jaws captured the Academy Award for Best Original Score, cementing blockbuster film music’s prestige. Williams, representing the Hollywood Composer’s Guild, amassed five Oscars by 1990, while the BBC commissioned its first news theme from a contemporary composer. Similarly, George Fenton, a Royal Shakespeare Company alumnus, crafted BBC Newsnight’s iconic theme and earned a BAFTA for Blue Planet, echoing Williams’ trailblazing path. Their legacies illustrate how award-winning scores shape public broadcasting and festival premieres, prompting institutions like TIFF to spotlight composers’ final works.

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George Fenton Dies

Composer George Fenton died at age 76 on October 5, 2026.
His family said his death was unexpected and gave no cause.
He earned five Oscar nominations for scores such as Gandhi, Cry Freedom, Dangerous Liaisons and The Fisher King.
His Blue Planet music won a BAFTA, a Primetime Emmy and an Ivor Novello award.
He received a CBE in 2023 for services to music.

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