Composer
Laurie Johnson
Born 7 February 1927 · Hampstead, London, England, UK — died 16 January 2024
Laurie Johnson (1927–2024) was an English composer and bandleader from Hampstead, London. He wrote music for many British films and television series, and is especially remembered for his score to Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove and for brassy, jazz-inflected TV themes such as The Avengers and The Professionals.
Key films
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)On Cinespective
His best-known film score, for Kubrick's Cold War satire, a landmark of cinema.
Tiger Bay (1959)
An early major credit, scoring a acclaimed British thriller starring Hayley Mills.
First Men in the Moon (1964)
Showed his range in a colourful sci-fi adventure with special effects by Ray Harryhausen.
And Soon the Darkness (1970)
Provided music for a well-regarded British suspense thriller.
Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1973)
Scored a cult Hammer horror film that has gained a loyal following.
Key awards
No major awards are documented here.
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 30
- 1958The MoonrakerComposer
- 1959Tiger BayComposer
- 1959No Trees in the StreetComposer
- 1960I Aim at the StarsComposer
- 1964Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the BombComposer
- 1964First Men in the MoonComposer
- 1964East of SudanComposer
- 1965You Must Be JokingComposer
- 1968Hot MillionsComposer
- 1970And Soon the DarknessComposer
- 1970Mister JericoComposer
- 1973Captain Kronos: Vampire HunterComposer
- 1973A Place to DieComposer
- 1973An Echo of TheresaComposer
- 1974Diagnosis: MurderComposer
- 1974I'm the Girl He Wants to KillComposer
- 1975The MaidsComposer
- 1975HeddaComposer
- 1975Won't Write Home, Mom–I'm DeadComposer
- 1975Dial a Deadly NumberComposer
- 1975Night Is the Time for KillingComposer
- 1975Death in Deep WaterComposer
- 1975Kill Two BirdsComposer
- 1976It Shouldn't Happen to a VetComposer
- 1980Forced to LiveComposer
- 1987It's Alive III: Island of the AliveComposer
- 1987A Hazard of HeartsComposer
- 1988The Lady and the HighwaymanComposer
- 1990A Ghost in Monte CarloComposer
- 1992Duel of HeartsComposer
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.