George Fenton, Oscar-nominated British composer for more than 100 films, dies aged 76

George Fenton, the acclaimed British composer known for his scores in over 100 films, including Gandhi and Groundhog Day, has passed away at the age of 76. His family released a statement describing his death as "unexpected," though they did not disclose a cause. They noted that he is survived by family members and "a life of music."

Born George Howe in Bromley, Kent, in 1949, Fenton's passion for music began in childhood. He started by playing the guitar and later studied the organ. Aspiring to be on stage, he recorded a cover of Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, which became a Top 10 hit in Sweden. In 1968, he made his acting debut in Alan Bennett’s first West End production, Forty Years On, adopting the stage name George Fenton. He also had a recurring role on the TV soap Emmerdale Farm during the mid-1970s.

In 1974, Fenton was commissioned to compose music for a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Twelfth Night, marking the beginning of his collaborations with the RSC. By 1976, he ventured into television composition, starting with Stephen Poliakoff’s Hitting Town.