The unmistakable “dun-dun DUN-dun” of the Mission: Impossible theme has thrilled audiences for generations—and it all came from the mind of Lalo Schifrin, a musical legend whose talent crossed continents and genres.
Sadly, Schifrin passed away this Thursday at 93, surrounded by his loved ones at his home in Los Angeles.
From Buenos Aires to Hollywood: A Life Devoted to Sound
Born Boris Claudio Schifrin in Buenos Aires to a Jewish family, music was always in his blood.
His father served as concertmaster of the national philharmonic, and young Lalo followed that path with formal classical training.
He also studied law, but it was clear music would be his life’s calling.
He took his talents to the Paris Conservatory, learning harmony and composition from the famed Olivier Messiaen, before returning home to Argentina to form his own concert band.
A Jazz Pianist, a Classical Maestro, and a Hollywood Powerhouse
It wasn’t long before Dizzy Gillespie heard Schifrin play and invited him to join his quintet.
That kicked off a U.S. career in the 1960s that would see Schifrin play with giants like Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and George Benson.
He moved effortlessly between jazz, classical, and film music—earning admiration from every corner.
He later worked with classical legends like Zubin Mehta, Daniel Barenboim, and Mstislav Rostropovich, cementing his reputation as one of music’s great chameleons.
The Creation of the Iconic Mission: Impossible Theme
Schifrin’s biggest cultural contribution came in 1966, when he composed what became one of the most instantly recognizable TV themes of all time—Mission: Impossible.
Funny enough, the original piece he submitted wasn’t meant to be the theme.
But show creator Bruce Geller preferred a dramatic sequence Schifrin had scored and asked him to turn that into the show’s signature.
The result? A pulse-pounding, odd-meter masterpiece that became a global phenomenon.
“I had no images to work from,” Schifrin once told the AP.
“Maybe that freedom is why it connected—it came from inside me.”
From Small Screen to Big Screen: The Theme That Never Died
When Brian De Palma adapted Mission: Impossible into a blockbuster in the ’90s, he insisted on using Schifrin’s original theme.
Composer John Williams had wanted to write something new, but ultimately Danny Elfman was brought in to preserve Schifrin’s iconic sound.
Later films saw Hans Zimmer and Michael Giacchino take the reins, with Giacchino recalling how nervous he was to touch a piece he adored.
“I felt like I was asking a father if I could marry his daughter,” he said. Schifrin simply told him, “Have fun with it.”
Awards, Honors, and a Hall of Fame Legacy
Over his career, Schifrin composed over 100 film and TV scores, won four Grammy Awards, and received six Oscar nominations.
His Mission: Impossible score earned him Grammys and, in 2017, a place in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
In 2018, he received an Honorary Oscar, presented by none other than Clint Eastwood, who had long admired Schifrin’s work—including the dark, jazz-infused theme for Dirty Harry.
Beyond the Movies: A Career of Global Impact
Schifrin’s talent wasn’t limited to Hollywood.
He wrote and arranged the music for the 1990 World Cup finale, where the Three Tenors performed together for the first time—a moment that became one of the best-selling recordings in classical music history.
He also composed for global events like the Pan American Games, and even created an opera-inspired choral work in the Nahuatl language, performed at the Teotihuacan pyramids in Mexico to raise restoration funds.
A Musical Explorer Until the End
Throughout his career, Schifrin explored everything from tango and folk to symphonic jazz.
His album Letters from Argentina was nominated for a Latin Grammy, and his Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts won him another Grammy back in 1965.
He wasn’t just a composer—he was a conductor too, leading top orchestras from London to Vienna to Los Angeles.
He served as music director of the Glendale Symphony Orchestra for six years, and even brought holiday magic with Christmas in Vienna, starring Diana Ross.
Family, Farewell, and Mission Accomplished
Schifrin is survived by his wife Donna, sons Ryan and William, and daughter Frances.
His influence will live on—not just in the soundtracks we hum without thinking, but in the sheer range of music he touched.
Looking back on his career while accepting his honorary Oscar, Schifrin said it best: “It is mission accomplished.”