Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersIndependent Spirit AwardsWomen's History MonthSXSWSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Biography
  • Awards
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Howard Shore(I)

  • Music Department
  • Composer
  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Howard Shore at an event for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
Howard Shore is a Canadian composer, born in Toronto. He was born in a Jewish family. He started studying music when 8-years-old, and played as a member of bands by the time he was 13-years-old. He was interested in a professional career in music as a teenager. He studied music at the Berklee College of Music, a college of contemporary music located in Boston.

For a few years in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Shore was a member of Lighthouse, a jazz fusion band. In the 1970s, Shore mainly composed music for theatrical performances and a few television shows. His most notable work was composing the music for the one-man-act show of stage magician Doug Henning. He also served as a musical director in then-new television show "Saturday Night Live" (1975-). He was hired by the show's producer Lorne Michaels, who was a close friend of Shore since their teen years.

In 1978, Shore started his career as a film score composer, with scoring the B-movie " I Miss You, Hugs and Kisses" (1978). His next film score was composed for the horror film "The Brood" (1979). Shore had a good working relationship with the film's director David Cronenberg. Cronenberg would continue to use Shore as the composer of most of his films, with the exception of "The Dead Zone" (1983).

In the 1980s, Shore also composed the film scores of works by other directors, such as "After Hours" (1985) by Martin Scorsese, and "Big" (1988) by Penny Marshall. He received more acclaim for composing the film score for "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991), a major hit of its era. Shore was nominated for a BAFTA award for this film score.

By the 1990s, Shore was an established composer of high repute and worked in an ever increasing number of films. Among his better known works were the film scores for comedy film "Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993) and crime thriller "Seven" (1995). Shore received even more critical acclaim in the 2000s, when he composed the film score for fantasy film "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001). He won an Academy Award and a Grammy for the film score, and received nominations for a BAFTA award and a Golden Globe.

Shore continued his career with the film scores of acclaimed films "Gangs of New York" (2002), "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" (2002), and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (2003). He received his second Academy Award for the film score of "The Return of the King", and his third Academy Award as the composer of hit song "Into the West". He won several other major awards for these film scores. His film scores for "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy are considered the most famous and successful works of his career.

For the rest of the 2000s, Shore closely collaborated with director Martin Scorsese. Shore won a Golden Globe for the film score of Scorsese's "The Aviator" (2004). In the 2010s, Shore continues to work regularly, mostly known for composing film scores for works by directors David Cronenberg, Martin Scorsese, and Peter Jackson. He was the main composer for "The Hobbit" trilogy by Peter Jackson, and the fantasy film "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" (2010) by David Slade.
BornOctober 18, 1946
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornOctober 18, 1946
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Won 3 Oscars
    • 96 wins & 121 nominations total

Photos28

Peter Jackson and Howard Shore in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Peter Jackson and Howard Shore in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Julianne Moore, David Cronenberg, Howard Shore, Martin Katz, Bruce Wagner, and Michel Merkt at an event for Maps to the Stars (2014)
Howard Shore at an event for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
Stephen Fry, Peter Jackson, Howard Shore, Richard Armitage, Manu Bennett, Orlando Bloom, Philippa Boyens, Martin Freeman, Dean O'Gorman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Ryan Gage, and Ed Sheeran at an event for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
Howard Shore
Howard Shore
Howard Shore at an event for Hugo (2011)
David Cronenberg and Howard Shore
Howard Shore
Howard Shore
Howard Shore

Known for

Liv Tyler, Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, and John Rhys-Davies in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
8.8
  • Music Department(uncredited)
  • 2001
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
5.0
  • Music Department
  • 2010
Viggo Mortensen, Kristen Stewart, and Léa Seydoux in Crimes of the Future (2022)
Crimes of the Future
5.9
  • Music Department
  • 2022
Leonardo DiCaprio in The Aviator (2004)
The Aviator
7.5
  • Music Department(score)
  • 2004

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Music Department

  • Charles Edwards, Lloyd Owen, Sophia Nomvete, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Owain Arthur, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo, and Markella Kavenagh in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
    The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
    • main title theme by
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Viggo Mortensen, Kristen Stewart, and Léa Seydoux in Crimes of the Future (2022)
    Crimes of the Future
    • score produced by
    • 2022
  • Level Up Norge (2016)
    Level Up Norge
    • composer: stock music (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 2018
  • Paul Rudd in The Catcher Was a Spy (2018)
    The Catcher Was a Spy
    • score producer
    • 2018
  • Timothy Spall, Rachel Weisz, and Tom Wilkinson in Denial (2016)
    Denial
    • conductor
    • orchestrator
    • 2016
  • Michael Keaton, Liev Schreiber, Brian d'Arcy James, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel McAdams in Spotlight (2015)
    Spotlight
    • score produced by
    • 2015
  • Gymnasiearbetet: En Introduktion (2015)
    Gymnasiearbetet: En Introduktion
    • stock music
    • Short
    • 2015
  • Martin Freeman in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
    The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
    • conductor
    • orchestrator
    • 2014
  • John Cusack, Julianne Moore, Robert Pattinson, and Mia Wasikowska in Maps to the Stars (2014)
    Maps to the Stars
    • music producer
    • 2014
  • Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Martin Freeman, Lee Pace, Evangeline Lilly, and Luke Evans in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
    The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
    • conductor
    • orchestrator
    • 2013
  • Benicio Del Toro and Mathieu Amalric in Jimmy P: Psychotherapy Of A Plains Indian (2013)
    Jimmy P: Psychotherapy Of A Plains Indian
    • conductor
    • orchestrator
    • 2013
  • Martin Freeman in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
    • conductor
    • orchestrator
    • 2012
  • Robert Pattinson in Cosmopolis (2012)
    Cosmopolis
    • music producer
    • 2012
  • Asa Butterfield in Hugo (2011)
    Hugo
    • conductor
    • orchestrator
    • 2011
  • Viggo Mortensen, Keira Knightley, and Michael Fassbender in A Dangerous Method (2011)
    A Dangerous Method
    • conductor
    • music adaptation
    • orchestrator
    • 2011

Composer

  • Christian Bale in The Pale Blue Eye (2022)
    The Pale Blue Eye
    • Composer
    • 2022
  • Viggo Mortensen, Kristen Stewart, and Léa Seydoux in Crimes of the Future (2022)
    Crimes of the Future
    • Composer (music by)
    • 2022
  • Funny Boy (2020)
    Funny Boy
    • Composer
    • 2020
  • Vanessa Kirby in Pieces of a Woman (2020)
    Pieces of a Woman
    • Composer
    • 2020
  • Omar Sy in The Lost Prince (2020)
    The Lost Prince
    • Composer
    • 2020
  • Thierry Genovese in Cine Chalom (2019)
    Cine Chalom
    • Composer (music by)
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2020
  • Tim Roth in The Song of Names (2019)
    The Song of Names
    • Composer
    • 2019
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - The Complete Recordings (2018)
    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - The Complete Recordings
    • Composer
    • Video
    • 2018
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - The Complete Recordings (2018)
    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - The Complete Recordings
    • Composer
    • Video
    • 2018
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - The Complete Recordings (2018)
    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - The Complete Recordings
    • Composer
    • Video
    • 2018
  • Level Up Norge (2016)
    Level Up Norge
    • Composer
    • TV Series
    • 2018
  • Paul Rudd in The Catcher Was a Spy (2018)
    The Catcher Was a Spy
    • Composer
    • 2018
  • Timothy Spall, Rachel Weisz, and Tom Wilkinson in Denial (2016)
    Denial
    • Composer
    • 2016
  • Michael Keaton, Liev Schreiber, Brian d'Arcy James, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel McAdams in Spotlight (2015)
    Spotlight
    • Composer
    • 2015
  • The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies - Extended Edition Scenes (2015)
    The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies - Extended Edition Scenes
    • Composer
    • Video
    • 2015

Actor

  • Andy Serkis and Naomi Watts in King Kong (2005)
    King Kong
    • Orchestra Pit Conductor (uncredited)
    • 2005
  • Liv Tyler, Sean Astin, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, and Andy Serkis in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
    • Drinking Rohan Soldier (uncredited)
    • 2003
  • Unspeakable (2000)
    Unspeakable
    • Lucio Crisco
    • Video
    • 2000
  • Saturday Night Live (1975)
    Saturday Night Live
    • Shelley
    • Drummer
    • Deejay (uncredited) ...
    • TV Series
    • 1975–1980
  • Gilda Live (1980)
    Gilda Live
    • The Candy Slice Group
    • 1980

Videos1

Crash
Trailer 1:58
Crash

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Facebook
    • Official Site
  • Alternative names
    • Howard Shore and his Bobby Blue Band
  • Height
    • 5′ 10½″ (1.79 m)
  • Born
    • October 18, 1946
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Spouse
    • Elizabeth CotnoirAugust 3, 1990 - present
  • Other works
    Unused score: Ransom (1996)
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Interview
    • 1 Article
    • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    In 2004, a new rule for the Academy Awards that disallowed film scores, which contained work from previous films resulted in the score to The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) being ineligible for submission to the Academy. The new rule proved very unpopular with both Academy members and the general public - and had it been present in years past, would have invalidated many other nominated scores, such as the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" sequels. Because of the debacle, the Academy returned to its original position for future years' films.
  • Trademarks
      Often works with directors David Cronenberg and Peter Jackson

Related news

Contribute to this page

Suggest an edit or add missing content
  • Learn more about contributing
Edit page

More to explore

Recently viewed

Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
Get the IMDb App
Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
  • Get the IMDb App
  • Help
  • Site Index
  • IMDbPro
  • Box Office Mojo
  • IMDb Developer
  • Press Room
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices
IMDb, an Amazon company

© 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.