Trivia

He is the only individual to be nominated for an Academy Award in each of the last six decades: the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

He was nominated for Academy Awards 14 times but won only once, ironically for one of his less acclaimed scores - Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967).

Following his death, his family has requested that, in lieu of flowers or other remembrances, a charitable donation be sent to:

Young Musicians Foundation 195 South Beverly Drive, #415 Beverly Hills, CA 90212.

A special scholarship fund will be established in his name. Since 1955, Young Musicians Foundation (YMF) has provided encouragement and recognition to gifted young musicians from around the country through financial assistance, performance opportunities, and music education programs.

In 1953, he was doing scores for budget films such as Robot Monster (1953) and Cat-Women of the Moon (1953). He was doing the score for Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments (1956) three years later.

He was conductor for one season of the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra. It is generally considered to be that orchestra's most successful season and that it showed Bernstein to be a very capable conductor. The orchestra consisted of various musicians, including members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and studio musicians. Some of Bernstein's own film scores were even being used as parts of the the orchestra's programming. He also got to help in the founding of Varese Sarabande Records, where recordings of some of film scores and music by other composers such as Miklós Rózsa were produced.

In his scores, especially in the 1980s, he often used the Ondes Martenot, an early electronic instrument, invented in France in 1928. Its ethereal singing sound can be prominently heard, for example, on My Left Foot (1989) and Ghostbusters (1984).

During World War II, he arranged musical numbers for Glenn Miller and the Army Air Force Band.

Bernstein wrote unused scores for Last Man Standing (1996), The Journey of Natty Gann (1985), The Scarlet Letter (1995) and Gangs of New York (2002). All have been released on CD.

Father of Peter Bernstein, Emilie A. Bernstein, writer Gregory Bernstein and Elizabeth Bernstein.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on March 28, 1996.

Was nominated for three Tony Awards: two in 1968 for "How Now, Dow Jones". as Best Composer and Lyricist, with his collaborator Carolyn Leigh, and for his music as part of a Best Musical nomination; and in 1983 for "Merlin", as Best Score, his music with lyrics by Don Black.

Vice-President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) from 1963 - 1969.

Before settling on a musical career, he trained as a dancer, actor and painter.

He did the music for the short 'For Toy Trains'.

Graduated from NYU Steinhardt School.

Father-in-law of Sara Bernstein.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 35-37. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.