Lalo Schifrin, Iconic Composer of 'Mission: Impossible' Theme, Passes Away at 93

Lalo Schifrin, the mastermind behind the unforgettable "Mission: Impossible" theme, passed away on Thursday at the age of 93. His sons, William and Ryan, confirmed the news to various media outlets.

Schifrin's illustrious career spanned over six decades, during which he composed more than 100 scores for film and television. He garnered four Grammy Awards and received six Academy Award nominations, including five for original scores for films such as "Cool Hand Luke" and "The Sting II."

“Every movie has its own personality. There are no rules to write music for movies,” Schifrin remarked in a 2018 interview, emphasizing the unique relationship between film and music.

His contributions extended beyond cinema; he composed the grand finale for the 1990 World Cup in Italy, featuring the Three Tenors—Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, and José Carreras—marking a historic moment in classical music.

Schifrin's versatility as a jazz pianist and classical conductor allowed him to collaborate with legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie. However, it was his "Mission: Impossible" theme that became a cultural phenomenon, characterized by its distinctive 5/4 time signature. The theme's infectious rhythm was paired with an iconic self-destruct countdown that opened the original TV series from 1966 to 1973.

Originally, Schifrin had composed a different piece for the show, but series creator Bruce Geller favored an action sequence arrangement instead. “The producer called me and told me, ‘You’re going to have to write something exciting, almost like a logo,’” Schifrin recounted in 2006. “Maybe that’s why this thing has become so successful — because I wrote something that came from inside me.”

When the series transitioned to film, director Brian De Palma insisted on retaining Schifrin's theme despite initial conflicts with composer John Williams. Ultimately, Danny Elfman agreed to incorporate Schifrin’s iconic score into the franchise.

Schifrin's music continued to resonate through subsequent films, with composers like Hans Zimmer and Michael Giacchino taking on scoring duties. Giacchino expressed his admiration for Schifrin’s work, recalling a nervous lunch meeting where he sought permission to reinterpret the beloved theme.

The "Mission: Impossible" theme won Grammys for best instrumental theme and best original score from a motion picture or TV show. In 2017, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

U2 members Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. covered the theme for the 1996 film's soundtrack, which reached No. 16 on the Billboard 200 chart. A memorable Lipton tea commercial in 2010 featured a young Schifrin composing the theme while drawing inspiration from the beverage.

Born Boris Claudio Schifrin in Buenos Aires to a Jewish family, he was classically trained in music and law. After studying at the Paris Conservatory under Olivier Messiaen, he returned to Argentina to form a concert band. His big break came when Gillespie invited him to be his pianist and arranger.

Schifrin's collaborations included performances with Ella Fitzgerald and Stan Getz, showcasing his ability to traverse genres seamlessly. He won a Grammy for "Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts" while also earning recognition for his work on "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." In 2018, he received an honorary Oscar statuette.

His extensive filmography includes scores for "Tango," "Rush Hour," and "Dirty Harry," where he famously chose to focus on the villain's theme rather than the hero's. “I wrote a theme for Scorpio,” he noted.

Schifrin conducted numerous prestigious orchestras worldwide and served as music director for Southern California’s Glendale Symphony Orchestra from 1989 to 1995. He also composed music for significant events like the Pan American Games and created operatic works in Indigenous languages.