Together with his brother Robert, Richard Sherman composed over 150 songs for the Walt Disney Company, leaving an indelible mark on the world of music.
The celebrated younger half of the Sherman Brothers, Richard M. Sherman, whose musical genius earned the duo two Oscars and two Grammys, passed away on Saturday in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 95. His passing was confirmed by the Walt Disney Company. Richard’s brother, Robert, passed away in 2012.
A New York native, born on June 12, 1928, Sherman relocated to Beverly Hills, California, with his family at the tender age of 9. His father, Al Sherman, himself a renowned songwriter, encouraged Richard and his elder brother Robert to collaborate, a partnership that would flourish into a legendary songwriting duo.
The Sherman Brothers’ first recorded song by Gene Autry in 1951, “Gold Can Buy You Anything But Love,” paved the way for their breakthrough hit “Tall Paul,” capturing the attention of Walt Disney. Subsequently, they were appointed as staff songwriters for the Walt Disney Studios. Among their most famous creations was “It’s a Small World After All,” initially composed for the 1964 New York World’s Fair and subsequently becoming a beloved anthem within Disney theme parks worldwide.
In 1965, the Sherman Brothers were awarded two Oscars® for their contributions to “Mary Poppins,” winning Best Original Score and Best Original Song for “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” further cementing their legacy in cinematic history.
Along with his brother, he was nominated seven more times throughout the 1970s for other films including “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” “The Jungle Book,” and “Bedknobs and Broomsticks.” He also won a Grammy Award® for Best Original Score for “Mary Poppins.”
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Harry Laverne Anderson was born on October 14, 1952. He is best known for his role as Judge Harry Stone on the 1984–1992 television series Night Court. He later starred in the sitcom Dave's World from 1993 to 1997.
In addition to eight appearances on Saturday Night Live between 1981 and 1985, Anderson had a recurring guest role as con man Harry "The Hat" Gittes on Cheers. He toured extensively as a magician, and did several magic/comedy shows for broadcast, including Harry Anderson's Sideshow (1987). He played Richie Tozier in the 1990 miniseries It, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. In late January 2018, Anderson had a bout of influenza and subsequently suffered several strokes. On April 16, 2018, he died in his sleep of a stroke due to influenza and heart disease at his home in Asheville, North Carolina, at the age of 65. -
