Thomas Newman, born October 20, 1955, is an acclaimed American composer, conductor, and orchestrator renowned for his evocative film scores. Over a career spanning more than forty years, he has earned six Grammy Awards, an Emmy, two BAFTA Film Awards, and received 15 Academy Award nominations. Newman's work includes memorable scores for films such as The Shawshank Redemption, American Beauty, Finding Nemo, WALL-E, Skyfall, 1917, and Elemental. He has also composed for television, notably the HBO series Six Feet Under and the miniseries Angels in America. Known for his collaborations with directors like Sam Mendes, Frank Darabont, and Steven Soderbergh, Newman is celebrated as one of the leading composers in contemporary cinema.