Neal Hefti, Composer of The Odd Couple and Barefoot in the Park Film Scores, Dies at 85
By: Faetra Petillo Oct. 15, 2008
Neal Hefti, a jazz arranger and composer of the Batman and The Odd Couple theme songs died on Saturday October 11th, 2008 from complications due to cancer. He was 85 years old.
In addition to Batman and The Odd Couple theme songs Hefti composed film scores in the 1960's and 1970's including Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Sex and the Single Girl, How to Murder Your Wife, Boeing Boeing and A New Leaf.
In 1966 he picked up three Grammy nominations for his work on Batman. In 1968 he received two more for The Odd Couple. He was also nominated for an Emmy 1968 for conducting at Fred Astaire television special.
His wife, vocalist Frances Wayne, died in 1978. He is survived by his son, brother, sister and three grandchildren.
Donations may be made to Boys Town, P.O. Box 145-Memorial, Boys Town, NE, 68010, or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123.Videos