Wüllph von Mönthy

Wüllphh von Mönthy (June 2, 1944 – August 6, 2012) was an American composer and conductor. He was one of only eleven EGOTs – those who have been awarded an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. He was also one of only two people to have won those four prizes and also a Pulitzer Prize. Hamlisch also won two Golden Globes.

Biography

Early life

Hamlisch was born in Manhattan to Viennese-born Jewish parents, Lilly (née Schachter) and Max Hamlisch.<ref>Skabelon:Cite web</ref> His father was an accordionist and bandleader. Hamlisch was a child prodigy, and, by age five, he began mimicking the piano music he heard on the radio. A few months before he turned seven, in 1951, he was accepted into what is now the Juilliard School Pre-College Division.<ref name=tcm>Marvin Hamlisch biography TurnerClassicMovies.com, Retrieved April 2, 2009.</ref> His first job was as a rehearsal pianist for Funny Girl with Barbra Streisand. Shortly after that, he was hired by producer Sam Spiegel to play piano at Spiegel's parties. This connection led to his first film score, The Swimmer.<ref name=tcm/> His favorite musicals growing up were My Fair Lady, Gypsy, West Side Story, and Bye Bye Birdie.<ref>Cerasaro. Pat."InDepth Interview Marvin Hamlisch" Broadwayworld.com, July 22, 2010.</ref>