Who was Stephen Sondheim?

STEPHEN Sondheim is synonymous with some of the most well-known plays and musicals.

On November 26 it was reported Sondheim had passed away at the age of 91.

GettyStephen Sondheim passed away at the age of 91[/caption]

Who was Stephen Sondheim?

Sondheim was the mastermind behind the lyrics in the songs of musicals like West Side Story and Gypsy.

He went on to compose other popular plays like Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods.

Sondheim got his start in New York City where he was born in 1930. His parents were a dress manufacturer and a designer. His parents divorced when he was just 10 years old.

He knew Oscar Hammerstein, the lyricist behind plays like Oklahoma! and The Sound of Music. He went on to study music at Williams College. He worked in television before he got the opportunity of a lifetime to collaborate with Leonard Bernstein on West Side Story.

Throughout his career, Sondheim was rewarded for his achievements. He has won multiple Tony Awards and Grammy Awards. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Barack Obama in 2015. He also received a lifetime achievement award from the Kennedy Center Honors in 1993.

He lived in Manhattan.

When did Stephen Sondheim pass away?

The New York Times reported Sondheim passed away at his residence in Roxbury, Connecticut, on Friday, November 26.

F. Richard Pappas, a friend of Sondheim’s, told the outlet the composer’s death was “sudden.” He was celebrating Thanksgiving the day prior, he said.

More information on his death was not immediately available.

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