- Born
- Died
- Birth nameEarle Harry Hagen
- Earle Hagen was born on July 9, 1919 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for I Spy (1965), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and Tango & Cash (1989). He was married to Laura Roberts (Gunn) and Lou Sidwell. He died on May 26, 2008 in Rancho Mirage, California, USA.
- SpousesLaura Roberts (Gunn)(January 9, 2005 - May 26, 2008) (his death)Lou Sidwell(1943 - 2002) (her death, 2 children)
- Children
- He is the whistler heard in the theme music on The Andy Griffith Show (1960)..
- He composed music for more than 3,000 TV-show episodes and TV movies.
- He played with top bands of the swing era, and wrote one of the first textbooks on composing for movies.
- After recovering from a near-fatal illness, he worked as a staff trombonist for CBS, until his enlistment in the Army Air Corps in 1942 (stationed in Santa Ana with the Radio Production Unit). During the 1940s and early 1950s he worked as arranger and conductor for 20th Century-Fox under the auspices of Alfred Newman. He left in 1953, encouraged by producer Sheldon Leonard to pursue a career as a writer for television.
- Made up his middle name, Harry, as a tribute to his favorite uncle.
- It was hard work with long hours and endless deadlines; but being able to write something one day and hear it a few days later appealed to me. (on composing for television)
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