Trivia

Was reassigned to the band unit shortly after he joined the U.S. Army in World War II. This actually saved his life, as the unit to which he'd originally been assigned was wiped out to a man in the Battle of the Bulge.

For Hatari! (1962), he wrote a brief piece of incidental music to accompany a scene where a baby elephant is taken for a walk. To Mancini's astonishment, it became an international hit as "Baby Elephant Walk," and was re-recorded by a large number of artists and in many styles.

Pictured on a 37¢ USA commemorative stamp issued in his honor, 13 April 2004. The titles of the following films and TV shows, for which Mancini wrote the score and/or songs, are listed on the stamp: Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961); Days of Wine and Roses (1962); Charade (1963); Peter Gunn (1958)'; The Pink Panther (1963); Two for the Road (1967); Touch of Evil (1958); Hatari! (1962); The Great Race (1965); Experiment in Terror (1962); Victor/Victoria (1982); Dear Heart (1964) and The Thorn Birds (1983). The Pink Panther cartoon character is in the lower left corner, pointing to Mancini.

Father, with Ginny Mancini, of twin daughters: singer Monica Mancini, Felice Mancini (head of Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation) and son Chris Mancini.

No less prolific a recording artist than he was a film/TV composer, his many albums, mostly for RCA, sold in the millions, and included: "Music from 'Peter Gunn'" (1958), "Music from 'Mr. Lucky'" and "The Mancini Touch" (1959), "Combo" and "Mr. Lucky Goes Latin" (1960), "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961), "Our Man in Hollywood" and "Charade" (1963), "The Concert Sound of Henry Mancini", "The Best of Mancini" and "The Pink Panther" (1964), "'The Second Time Around' and Other Favorites" (1966), "Mancini '67" and "Encore!: More of the Concert Sound of Henry Mancini" (1967), "A Warm Shade of Ivory" (1968), "Six Hours Past Sunset" (1969), and "Big Screen - Little Screen" (1972). He also had a Number 1 single with "Love Theme from 'Romeo and Juliet'" in 1969.

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984.

Composed a full score for Alfred Hitchcock's "Frenzy", but it was replaced in its entirety by a new score composed by Ron Goodwin.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6821 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

The film Blind Date starring Bruce Willis was the 24th film that he composed the music for. which resulted in 12 Academy Award nominations and 4 Oscars.

He and Jeff Chandler wrote the title song for the film Fox Fire and Jeff sang it.

He and Jeff Chandler wrote the title song for the film Foxfire and Jeff sang it.

He and Jeff Chandler wrote the title song for the film Foxfire and Jeff sang it and also the title song in Six Bridges to Cross.