Three-time Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist Charles Strouse, best known for the iconic musicals “Annie” and “Bye Bye Birdie,” died on Thursday at the age of 96.
The news was confirmed to The New York Times by family spokesperson Jim Byk.
Strouse’s prolific career spanned more than three decades and included the scores for over 30 musicals, with 14 productions reaching Broadway. His Broadway debut, “Bye Bye Birdie” (1960), earned him his first Tony Award and marked the beginning of a storied legacy in American musical theater.
His second Tony Award came for “Applause”, and his third and perhaps most celebrated win was for “Annie”. Collaborating with lyricist Martin Charnin and librettist Thomas Meehan, Strouse created a musical that ran for 2,377 performances and generated worldwide acclaim. Its unforgettable songs include “Tomorrow,” “It’s the Hard–Knock Life,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” and “I Don’t Need Anything But You.”
Born and raised in New York City, Strouse was the son of Ira and Ethel (Newman) Strouse. He studied at the Eastman School of Music and was later mentored by composers David Diamond, Aaron Copland, and Nadia Boulanger.
Strouse was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Theatre Hall of Fame. He also made a mark in television, writing the theme song “Those Were the Days” for the groundbreaking sitcom All in the Family, which ran for over 200 episodes.
His contributions extended beyond theater. In film, Strouse composed scores for titles including Bonnie & Clyde—earning him a Grammy nomination—as well as There Was a Crooked Man, The Night They Raided Minsky’s, Sidney Lumet’s Just Tell Me What You Want, and the animated feature All Dogs Go to Heaven.
Other stage highlights include “Golden Boy”, an adaptation of Clifford Odets’ work starring Sammy Davis Jr., which earned another Tony nomination, and “Rags” (1986), created in collaboration with Stephen Schwartz and starring opera legend Teresa Stratas.
In 2008, to mark his 80th birthday, Strouse published his autobiography, Put on a Happy Face: A Broadway Memoir, offering a personal look at his experiences in theater and film and his collaborations with stars like Sammy Davis Jr., Lauren Bacall, Mel Brooks, and Warren Beatty.
Charles Strouse is survived by his children: Victoria Strouse, Nicholas Strouse, and Will Strouse.
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