R.I.P. Robert Prince

[Hustler]

Composer Prince dies
Emmy nominee scored dozens of TV series

By VARIETY STAFF
Emmy-nommed composer Robert Prince
died March 4 in Los Angeles after a brief illness. He was 78.
Prince scored dozens of TV series from the 1960s to the 1980s and shared an Emmy nom for "The Name of the Game" in 1971.

Born in New York, he graduated Juillard School and became a producer, composer and arranger collaborating with Aram Avakian at Decca and Columbia Records. He worked on recordings for Johnny Mathis and Paul Desmond, and composed the score for Jerome Robbin's Ballet USA show "Opus Jazz."

Moving to Los Angeles, he composed scores for features including Francis Ford Coppola's "You're a Big Boy Now," "Claws" and "Squirm." He was known for capturing the musicians' personalities and styles in his scores, and had a lifelong appreciation for bass players.

Prince's extensive TV composing career started with "Mannix" and "Ironside," and continued with "McCloud," "Night Gallery," 'Mission Impossible," "The Streets of San Francisco" and "Wonder Woman." He also composed scores for numerous telepics such as "A Cry in the Wilderness," "Where Have All the People Gone?" and "The Chinese Prime Minister."

He continued working in the theater with commissions by the Center Theater Group at the Ahmanson Theater.

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