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Alan Bergman, Oscar-winning ‘The Way We Were’ and ‘The Windmills of Your Mind’ lyricist, dies at 99

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Legendary songwriter Alan Bergman, known for composing timeless melodies such as “The Windmills of Your Mind,” “The Way We Were,” and “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” alongside his spouse Marilyn Bergman over a span of seventy years, has passed away at the age of 99.

On Friday, it was officially announced that Bergman passed away in his Los Angeles residence on Thursday night. His representative, Ken Sunshine, confirmed this to The Times. Despite struggling with breathing problems over the past few months, Bergman continued writing songs right up until his final moments.

Originally from Brooklyn, Bergman gained recognition primarily for his creative partnership with his spouse, Marilyn. This partnership covered realms such as music, television, and film throughout their career together. They first connected through composer Lew Spence, and tied the knot in 1958. As a duo, they composed songs for numerous renowned artists like Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, John Williams, and Barbra Streisand. Over time, Streisand became their artistic inspiration.

Music

93-year-old Marilyn Bergman, a recipient of an Academy Award for co-writing the lyrics to ‘The Windmills of Your Mind’ and ‘The Way We Were,’ has passed away.

This version maintains the original structure and information but is written in a more conversational and easy-to-understand style.

The Bergmans, a duo, were awarded three Oscars. They received their first Oscar in 1969 for the song “Windmills of Your Mind,” which was part of “The Thomas Crown Affair” and was also won by French composer Michel Legrand. Their subsequent two Oscar wins were for projects involving Barbra Streisand: the theme song from “The Way We Were” in 1974, shared with Marvin Hamlisch, and the score for “Yentl” in 1984, which they also shared with Michel Legrand.

These composers frequently competed for Oscars due to their movie scores in films like “The Happy Ending,” “Tootsie,” “Yes, Giorgio” and the 1995 reboot of Billy Wilder’s “Sabrina.” Additionally, they received nominations from the Academy. On television, they lent their unique style to numerous series throughout the ’70s to ’90s, composing theme music for shows such as “Good Times,” “Alice,” “In the Heat of the Night” and Norman Lear’s “Maude.

Beyond their Oscars, the Bergmans collected four Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe trophies, and two Grammy statuettes, with one of those Grammy wins being the “Song of the Year” honor for “The Way We Were.

Alan Bergman, born on September 11, 1925, in Brooklyn, was the son of a salesman and developed a love for songwriting from an early age. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and furthered his education in music at UCLA. For a brief period, he worked as a television director for WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, but he eventually returned to Los Angeles to focus entirely on songwriting, following the advice of mentor Johnny Mercer.

Alan and Marilyn Bergman are esteemed songwriters who have been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 1997, they were bestowed with the Johnny Mercer Award by this prestigious hall. Over their long and successful career, they received numerous accolades, including the Grammy Trustee Award for lifetime achievement, the National Academy of Songwriters Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Music Publishers Assn. Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music and the University of Massachusetts. In 2011, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recognized Bergman with a distinguished alumnus award.

Marilyn Bergman passed away in January 2022 due to respiratory issues at the age of 93. Following her demise, Alan Bergman, her partner, has chosen to carry on with his work. Recently, he’s been working alongside jazz guitarist Pat Metheny. Metheny intends to record nine songs that Marilyn and Alan co-wrote later this year for an upcoming album.

Alan Bergman leaves behind his daughter Julie Bergman and granddaughter Emily Sender. A private burial ceremony will mark his final resting place. Earlier this month, Ruth Price’s Jazz Bakery announced plans to honor Bergman with a tribute concert at Santa Monica’s Broad Stage in September. As reported by The Times, the concert will proceed as scheduled.

Instead of making general donations, the family prefers contributions in memory of Bergman to be directed towards either the ASCAP Foundation’s Alan and Marilyn Bergman Lyric Award or the Johnny Mercer Foundation.

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2025-07-18 23:01

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