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.
The Don Is Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2020-08-25
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 454
1xCD (Album) / 25 Tracks / 52:44 m:s
Dr. Kildare
United States / 2009-04-02
Film Score Monthly FSMCD Vol. 12, No. 6
3xCD (Album)
The Edge
United States / 2010-06-15
La-La Land Records LLLCD 1131
1xCD (Album) / 23 Tracks / 65:23 m:s
Escape From The Planet Of The Apes
United States / 2009-09-28
Varèse Sarabande (CD Club) VCL 0909 1098
1xCD (Album) / 14 Tracks / 28:10 m:s
Executive Decision: The Deluxe Edition (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2016-02-29
Varèse Sarabande (CD Club) VCL 0216 1164
1xCD (Album) / 29 Tracks / 74:41 m:s
Executive Decision: The Deluxe Edition (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2021-12-10
Varèse Sarabande
Digital (Album) / 29 Tracks / 74:27 m:s
Exodus
United Kingdom / 2009-09-07
Tadlow Music TADLOW 007
2xCD (Album) / 39 Tracks / 132:48 m:s
Explorers
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2011-09-06
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 180
1xCD (Album) / 33 Tracks / 74:12 m:s
Explorers (Music From the Motion Picture)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2026-06-09
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 534
2xCD (Album) / 55 Tracks / 140:47 m:s
Extreme Prejudice
United States / 2005-02-22
La-La Land Records LLLCD 1028
1xCD (Album) / 20 Tracks / 64:03 m:s
Extreme Prejudice (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 1987
Intrada MAF 7001
1xLP (Album) / 12 Tracks / 49:59 m:s
Extreme Prejudice (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 1987
Intrada MAF 7001D
1xCD (Album) / 12 Tracks / 49:59 m:s
Extreme Prejudice (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2021-07-13
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 467
2xCD (Album) / 37 Tracks / 116:24 m:s
Face of a Fugitive (Original Music From The Motion Picture)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2021-03-23
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 466
1xCD (Album) / 21 Tracks / 38:48 m:s
Fimucité 2: Closing Night Gala 2008
Various Artists
United States / 2010-09-20
Varèse Sarabande (CD Club) VCL 0910 1113
1xDVD (Album) / 16 Tracks / 68:47 m:s
Fimucité 3 - Alien: A Biomechanical Symphony
Elliot Goldenthal
United States / 2012-05-14
Varèse Sarabande (CD Club) VCL 0512 1135
1xDVD 1xCD (Album) / 14 Tracks / 45:40 m:s
First Blood
United States / 1988
Intrada (Film Music Treasury) FMT 8001D
1xCD (Album) / 12 Tracks / 39:21 m:s
First Blood (Complete Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2010-11-23
Intrada MAF 7111
2xCD (Album) / 33 Tracks / 85:07 m:s
First Blood (Complete Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2025-05-06
Intrada INT 7185
2xCD (Album) / 34 Tracks / 90:45 m:s
First Blood (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
Germany / 2000-09-26
Colosseum Schallplatten CVS 6155.2
1xCD (Album) / 12 Tracks / 39:20 m:s
First Blood (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2000-09-26
Varèse Sarabande 302 066 155
1xCD (Album) / 12 Tracks / 39:20 m:s
First Blood (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
Japan / 2007-01-24
Geneon Universal Entertainment GNCE-4021
1xCD (Album) / 12 Tracks / 39:24 m:s
First Knight
United States / 1995-07-04
Epic Soundtrax EK 67270
1xCD (Album) / 10 Tracks / 40:08 m:s
First Knight (Expanded Original Motion Picture Score)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2011-04-12
La-La Land Records LLLCD 1168
2xCD (Album) / 41 Tracks / 145:09 m:s
The Flim-Flam Man / A Girl Named Sooner (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2000-01
Film Score Monthly (Silver Age Classics) FSMCD Vol.2 No.9
1xCD (Album) / 33 Tracks / 63:43 m:s