Navigate to News section

Marvin Hamlisch (1944-2012)

The widely-celebrated composer was 68.

by
Rachel Shukert
August 07, 2012

Tragedy has again unexpectedly struck the post-war generation of urbane Jewish tastemakers and those who love them. Legendary composer of “A Chorus Line” and genuine EGOT Marvin Hamlisch has died, at the alarmingly young(ish) age of 68, after what his family has termed a “brief illness.” The kick line in Heaven will be especially precise tonight.

I’ll have lots more on Hamlisch and his unique genius in my Tattler column this Friday. For now, console yourselves with this account from our friend Michael Schulman at the New Yorker—someone who never knew Marvin but desperately wanted to–and the terrific clip below of Hamlisch playing a medley of his songs.

Think you can guess my favorite? Leave your speculations in the comment. Winner gets a copy of this.

Rachel Shukert is the author of the memoirs Have You No Shame? and Everything Is Going To Be Great,and the novel Starstruck. She is the creator of the Netflix show The Baby-Sitters Club, and a writer on such series as GLOW and Supergirl. Her Twitter feed is @rachelshukert.