Jerry Goldsmith was an American composer and conductor whose five-decade career made him one of the most versatile and influential voices in film music. From avant-garde experiments to sweeping orchestral adventure, his scores helped define the sound of science fiction, horror, and action cinema.
Born Jerrald King Goldsmith on February 10, 1929 in Los Angeles, he studied piano with Jakob Gimpel and composition at the University of Southern California, where he was influenced by Miklós Rózsa. He began his career writing for CBS radio and television before moving into feature films in the late 1950s.
Across more than 200 film and television scores, Goldsmith continually pushed the boundaries of the orchestra. His atonal, percussion-driven score for Planet of the Apes (US, 1968) reimagined what film music could be, while Patton (US, 1970), Chinatown (US, 1974), Alien (US, 1979), Poltergeist (US, 1982), Total Recall (US, 1990), and L.A. Confidential (US, 1997) showcased his extraordinary range. His main theme for Star Trek: The Motion Picture (US, 1979) later became the signature melody of Star Trek: The Next Generation (US, 1987).
Nominated for eighteen Academy Awards, Goldsmith won a single competitive Oscar — for his choral horror score to The Omen (US, 1976) and its unforgettable Ave Satani. He also received five Emmy Awards and numerous Golden Globe nominations. He died on July 21, 2004 in Beverly Hills, California, leaving a body of work that continues to influence composers today.
Further reading: Jerry Goldsmith on Wikipedia.
Planet of the Apes (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
Germany / 1997-08-26
Colosseum Schallplatten VSD-5848
1xCD (Album) / 18 Tracks / 67:07 m:s
Players
United States / 2010-02-02
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 115
1xCD (Album) / 18 Tracks / 42:06 m:s
Poltergeist II: The Other Side
United States / 2013-08-26
Kritzerland
2xCD (Album)
Poltergeist II: The Other Side (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 1986
Intrada RVF 6002C
1xMC (Album) / 5 Tracks / 29:22 m:s
Poltergeist II: The Other Side (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 1986
Intrada RVF-6002
1xLP (Album) / 5 Tracks / 29:22 m:s
Poltergeist II: The Other Side (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 1993
Intrada VJF 5002D
1xCD (Album) / 13 Tracks / 53:14 m:s
Poltergeist II: The Other Side (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 1986
Intrada RVF 6002D
1xCD (Album) / 5 Tracks / 29:22 m:s
Poltergeist (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2013-02-22
Mondo Music MOND-004
1xLP (Album)
Powder
United States / 2016-03-29
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 351
1xCD (Album) / 27 Tracks / 64:42 m:s
Psycho II
United States / 2014-04-01
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 273
1xCD (Album) / 31 Tracks / 72:50 m:s
The Public Eye (The Unused Motion Picture Score)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2021-06-15
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 463
1xCD (Album) / 22 Tracks / 40:37 m:s
Pursuit / Crawlspace / The People Next Door (Original Television Scores)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2025-05-27
Intrada (Excalibur Collection) INT 7184
1xCD (Album) / 46 Tracks / 67:07 m:s
Pursuit (New Recording of the Television Score)
Jerry Goldsmith
United Kingdom / 2025-05-11
Klassik Film Music
Digital (Album)
Hi-Res
/ 14 Tracks / 23:11 m:s
QB VII
Belgium / 2013-12-18
Prometheus Records XPCD 175
2xCD (Album) / 33 Tracks / 94:27 m:s
Raggedy Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2019-03-15
Varèse Sarabande (Encore Series) VCL 0219 1193
1xCD (Album) / 8 Tracks / 33:46 m:s
Rambo
United States / 2008-02-05
Lions Gate Records 20014
1xCD (Album) / 20 Tracks / 76:04 m:s
Rambo: First Blood Part II (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2016-08-09
Intrada INT 7149
2xCD (Album) / 58 Tracks / 138:49 m:s
Rambo III (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2018-03-06
Intrada INT 7150
1xCD (Album) / 25 Tracks / 76:22 m:s
Rambo III (The Complete Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2005-02-07
Intrada MAF 7094
1xCD (Album) / 23 Tracks / 76:02 m:s
Rambo III (The Complete Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 1989
Intrada RVF 6006D
1xCD (Album) / 23 Tracks / 75:50 m:s
The Red Pony
United States / 2012-10-22
Varèse Sarabande (CD Club) VCL 1012 1139
1xCD (Album) / 17 Tracks / 49:47 m:s
The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (Original Music From The Motion Picture)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2018-12-03
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 421
1xCD (Album) / 36 Tracks / 62:48 m:s
Rent-a-Cop
United States / 2009-09-15
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 108
1xCD (Album) / 22 Tracks / 50:02 m:s
Rent-A-Cop (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 1988
Intrada MAF 7002
1xLP (Album) / 12 Tracks / 34:47 m:s
Rent-A-Cop (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 1988
Intrada MAF 7002D
1xCD (Album) / 12 Tracks / 34:44 m:s