The world of film composing has lost one of its more unique talents today as Basil Poledouris has died in Los Angeles.
You may not know his name, but chances are you’ve heard his work – while he was likely best known for the stirring themes to Conan The Barbarian and Robocop, his music can also be heard on The Blue Lagoon, Starship Troopers and a swathe of other films.
Other favourites include his scores for The Hunt For Red October, Serial Mom and Red Dawn. And his gentler material can be heard gracing the soundtrack of classic TV Western miniseries Lonesome Dove.
Born in Kansas, he studied piano from the age of 9 and played in a high school folk group. Following a stint at USC studying film and music, he got a break working for TV, but then moved to movies thanks to former classmate John Milius, who brought him in to write the music for Big Wednesday.
He was 61.