Composer Robert Prince Passes, 78

Emmy Nominee Scored Dozens of Landmark
Series from the 1960s through the 1980s

Culver City, CA — Emmy-nominated composer Robert Prince, who scored dozens of landmark television series like Night Gallery, Streets of San Francisco and Wonder Woman, died March 4 in Los Angeles after a brief illness. He was 78.

Juilliard Grad Works with Johnny Mathis and
More Stars, Heads to Broadway

Born May 10, 1929, in New York City, Prince graduated from the illustrious Juilliard School. He then became a producer, composer and arranger at Decca and Columbia Records. He worked on recordings for stars such as Johnny Mathis and Paul Desmond.

He began working on Broadway productions, and wrote music for the “Opus Jazz” section of Jerome Robbins’ Ballet USA, which played on Broadway in 1958 and 1961. He also composed music for Robbins’ production of Arthur Kopit’s Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama’s Hung You in the Closet and I’m Feeling So Sad.

Other Broadway credits included Something More! in 1964, Half a Sixpence in 1965 and The American Dance Machine in 1978.

Moves to Los Angeles and into Film, Television

In the 1960s Prince moved to Los Angeles, where he scored a number of films, including Francis Ford Coppola’s early effort You’re a Big Boy Now.

He also became a prominent figure in the television industry. His numerous credits include episodes of such series as Mannix, Ironside, McCloud, Night Gallery, Mission: Impossible, The Streets of San Francisco and Wonder Woman.

In 1971 he shared an Emmy nomination with Billy Goldenberg for their work on the NBC adventure drama The Name of the Game.

Prince also composed scores for several made-for-TV movies, including A Cry in the Wilderness, Where Have All the People Gone? and The Chinese Prime Minister.

He is survived by his wife, a daughter, a son, three grandchildren and a great-grandson.