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John Debney
Debney at ComicCon 2013
John Debney
Background information
Born August 18, 1956 (1956-08-18) (age 68)
Birthname John Cardon Debney
Birthplace Glendale, California, U.S.
Died
Deathplace
Also known as
Occupation(s) Composer, conductor
Origin
Genres Film scores, soundtracks
Member of
Formerly of
Members
Past members
Years active 1977-present
Spouse(s)
Partner(s)
Background
Labels
Instruments Piano, guitar
Associated acts Jerry Goldsmith, Louis Febre, Danny Elfman
Notable Instruments


John Cardon Debney (born August 18, 1956) is an American composer and conductor of film, television, and video game scores.[1] His work encompasses a variety of mediums and genres including comedy, horror, thriller, and action-adventure. He is a long-time collaborator of The Walt Disney Company, having written music for their films, television series, and theme parks.

Debney has been the recipient of three Primetime Emmy Awards, and an Academy Award nomination for his score for Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ (2004).

Early life and education[]

The son of Disney Studios producer Louis Debney (Zorro, The Mickey Mouse Club), John was born and raised in Glendale, California, nearby to Disney. He began guitar lessons at age six and played in rock bands in college. Debney earned his B.A. degree in Music Composition from the California Institute of Arts in 1979.

Career[]

After ending his career with Disney, Debney worked for Mike Post. Debney furthered his hands-on training by working with Hanna-Barbera composer Hoyt Curtin. After this, Debney went on to score television projects as diverse as Disneyland, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, SeaQuest DSV, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, The Cape, The Lazarus Man, Piggsburg Pigs!, The Further Adventures of SuperTed, Doctor Who, Cagney and Lacey, Tiny Toon Adventures, The Young Riders, The New Yogi Bear Show, Police Academy: The Animated Series, Fame, Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future, Dragon's Lair, Freshman Dorm, Pop Quiz and Dink, the Little Dinosaur, for which he won an Emmy for Best Main Title. In the early 1990s, Debney began to score indie films and Disneyland attractions. In 1991, Debney composed the music for Phantom Manor and It's a Small World in Disneyland Paris and SpectroMagic at Magic Kingdom. In 1993, he scored his first studio feature, the Disney comedy Hocus Pocus starring Bette Midler.

In 1994, Debney wrote Friends Forever with Greg Scelsa from Greg & Steve's album We All Live Together, Vol. 5

Debney has since gone on to have a career composing scores for many films including: The Passion of the Christ, Bruce Almighty, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Elf, Sin City, Chicken Little, Liar Liar, Spy Kids, The Scorpion King, The Princess Diaries[2] and Predators.[3]

Debney has also composed scores for the video games Lair and The Sims Medieval. In 2010, he composed the theme music for the Nickelodeon television series Supah Ninjas.

He composed some of Disney Parks's Nighttime Spectaculars, including: World Of Color Celebrate! in Disney's California Adventure, The Magic, The Memories And You! and Celebrate the Magic in Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom and Celebrate! Tokyo Disneyland in Tokyo Disneyland, as well as an arrangement of "When You Wish Upon A Star" as a fanfare for the Walt Disney Pictures logo from 1985 to 2006.

Filmography[]

Film[]

1980s[]

Year Title Director(s) Notes
1987 The Wild Pair Beau Bridges Composed with Michel Colombier
1988 The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck David Keith
Seven Hours to Judgment Beau Bridges
Not Since Casanova Brett Thompson
1989 Trenchcoat in Paradise Martha Coolidge

1990s[]

Year Title Director(s) Notes
1990 Jetsons: The Movie William Hanna
Joseph Barbera
1993 Hocus Pocus Kenny Ortega
1994 Gunmen Deran Sarafian
White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf Ken Olin
Little Giants Duwayne Dunham
1995 Chameleon Michael Pavone Direct-to-video
Houseguest Randall Miller
Runaway Brain Chris Bailey Short film
Cutthroat Island Renny Harlin
Sudden Death Peter Hyams 1st collaboration with Hyams
1996 Getting Away with Murder Harvey Miller
Carpool Arthur Hiller
1997 The Relic Peter Hyams 2nd collaboration with Hyams
Liar Liar Tom Shadyac Themes by James Newton Howard 1st collaboration with Shadyac
I Know What You Did Last Summer Jim Gillespie
1998 Paulie John Roberts Nominated- IFMCA Award for Best Original Score for a Comedy Film
I'll Be Home for Christmas Arlene Sanford
1999 My Favorite Martian Donald Petrie
Lost & Found Jeff Pollack
Inspector Gadget David Kellogg
Dick Andrew Fleming
Komodo Michael Lantieri
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland Gary Halvorson
End of Days Peter Hyams 3rd collaboration with Hyams

2000s[]

Year Title Director(s) Notes
2000 Michael Jordan to the Max James D. Stern
Don Kempf
Documentary film
Relative Values Eric Styles
The Replacements Howard Deutch
The Emperor's New Groove Mark Dindal Nominated- Annie Award for Music in a Feature Production
2001 See Spot Run John Whitesell
Heartbreakers David Mirkin Themes by Danny Elfman
Spy Kids Robert Rodriguez Composed with Danny Elfman, Heitor Pereira, Robert Rodriguez, Los Lobos, Gavin Greenaway and Harry Gregson-Williams
Cats & Dogs Lawrence Guterman
The Princess Diaries Garry Marshall 1st collaboration with Marshall
Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius John A. Davis
2002 Snow Dogs Brian Levant
Dragonfly Tom Shadyac 2nd collaboration with Shadyac
The Scorpion King Chuck Russell
Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams Robert Rodriguez Composed with Robert Rodriguez
Swimfan John Polson Composed with Louis Febre
The Tuxedo Kevin Donovan Composed with Christophe Beck
The Hot Chick Tom Brady
2003 Most Bobby Garabedian Short film
Malibu's Most Wanted John Whitesell Composed with John Van Tongeren
Bruce Almighty Tom Shadyac 3rd collaboration with Shadyac
Elf Jon Favreau 1st collaboration with Favreau
Looney Tunes: Back in Action Joe Dante Additional music only.
Score composed by Jerry Goldsmith.
2004 Welcome to Mooseport Donald Petrie
The Passion of the Christ Mel Gibson Nominated- Academy Award for Best Original Score
Nominated- IFMCA Award for Best Original Score for a Drama Film
The Whole Ten Yards Howard Deutch
Raising Helen Garry Marshall 2nd collaboration with Marshall
Spider-Man 2 Sam Raimi Additional music
Score composed by Danny Elfman
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Garry Marshall 3rd collaboration with Marshall
Christmas with the Kranks Joe Roth
2005 The Pacifier Adam Shankman
Sin City Robert Rodriguez Composed with Robert Rodriguez & Graeme Revell
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D
Duma Carroll Ballard Composed with George Acogny
Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo Mike Bigelow Theme music only
Score composed by James L. Venable
Dreamer John Gatins
The Seed Joe Hahn Short film
Composed with Unkle & Mike Shinoda
Venom Jim Gillespie Theme music only
Score composed by James L. Venable
Chicken Little Mark Dindal
Zathura: A Space Adventure Jon Favreau 2nd collaboration with Favreau
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 Adam Shankman
2006 Keeping Up with the Steins Scott Marshall
The Ant Bully John A. Davis Nominated- Annie Award for Music in a Feature Production
Nominated- IFMCA Award for Best Original Score for an Animated Film
Barnyard Steve Oedekerk
Idlewild Bryan Barber
Everyone's Hero Colin Brady
Dan St. Pierre
Christopher Reeve
2007 Spider-Man 3 Sam Raimi Additional music
Score composed by Christopher Young
Georgia Rule Garry Marshall
Evan Almighty Tom Shadyac Nominated- IFMCA Award for Best Original Score for a Comedy Film 4th collaboration with Shadyac
Big Stan Rob Schneider Theme music only
Score composed by John Hunter
2008 Meet Dave Brian Robbins
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Rob Cohen Additional music
Score composed by Randy Edelman
Swing Vote Joshua Michael Stern
The Stoning of Soraya M. Cyrus Nowrasteh
My Best Friend's Girl Howard Deutch
2009 Hotel for Dogs Thor Freudenthal
Hannah Montana: The Movie Peter Chelsom
Aliens in the Attic John Schultz
Old Dogs Walt Becker

2010s[]

Year Title Director(s) Notes
2010 Valentine's Day Garry Marshall
Snowmen Robert Kirbyson
Iron Man 2 Jon Favreau 3rd collaboration with Favreau
Predators Nimród Antal Themes by Alan Silvestri
Yogi Bear Eric Brevig Replaced Andrew Lockington
2011 No Strings Attached Ivan Reitman
The Change-Up David Dobkin Composed with Theodore Shapiro
Dream House Jim Sheridan
The Double Michael Brandt
New Year's Eve Garry Marshall
2012 A Thousand Words Brian Robbins
The Three Stooges Farrelly brothers
Alex Cross Rob Cohen
2013 The Call Brad Anderson
Jobs Joshua Michael Stern
2014 Draft Day[4] Ivan Reitman
Walk of Shame Steven Brill
The Road Within Gren Wells Theme music only
Score composed by The Newton Brothers & Josh Debney
The Cobbler Tom McCarthy
Stonehearst Asylum Brad Anderson
2015 The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water[4] Paul Tibbitt
Careful What You Wish For Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum Theme music only
Score composed by The Newton Brothers & Josh Debney
Broken Horses Vidhu Vinod Chopra
2016 The Young Messiah Cyrus Nowrasteh
The Jungle Book Jon Favreau 4th collaboration with Favreau

Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Score in a Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Film
Nominated- Satellite Award for Best Original Score
Nominated- IFMCA Award for Best Original Score for Action/Adventure Film

Mother's Day Garry Marshall
Ice Age: Collision Course Mike Thurmeier Replaced John Powell and Mark Mothersbaugh
League of Gods Koan Hui
Vernie Yeung
2017 Home Again Hallie Meyers-Shyer
The Greatest Showman Michael Gracey Composed with Joseph Trapanese

Nominated- Saturn Award for Best Music

2018 Beirut Brad Anderson
Brian Banks Tom Shadyac
2019 Isn't It Romantic Todd Strauss-Schulson
The Beach Bum Harmony Korine
Dora and the Lost City of Gold James Bobin Composed with Germaine Franco
Sextuplets Michael Tiddes
Lake of Death Nini Bull Robsahm

2020s[]

Year Title Director(s) Notes
2020 Come Away Brenda Chapman
I Still Believe Erwin Brothers
Asteroid Hunters W.D. Hogan Documentary film
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey David E. Talbert Nominated- Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Score
2021 Clifford the Big Red Dog Walt Becker
Home Sweet Home Alone Dan Mazer Original Home Alone themes by John Williams
American Underdog Erwin Brothers
2022 Marry Me Kat Coiro
Luck Peggy Holmes
Hocus Pocus 2 Anne Fletcher

Television[]

Years Title Notes
1982 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color 2 episodes
1984 Dragon's Lair 13 episodes
1984–1985 Disney Family Album 5 episodes
1985–1987 Fame 30 episodes
1986 The Twilight Zone Episode: "The Storyteller/Nightsong"
Cagney & Lacey Episode: "The Marathon"
1987 Sport Goofy in Soccermania Special
CBS Summer Playhouse Episode: "Changing Patterns"
ABC Afterschool Special Episode: "The Day My Kid Went Punk"
1988–1991 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo 27 episodes
1988 Police Academy 14 episodes
1989 The Further Adventures of SuperTed 13 episodes
Trenchcoat in Paradise Television film
Nightmare Classics Episode: "The Eyes of the Panther"
1989–90 Dink, the Little Dinosaur 5 episodes
1989–92 The Young Riders 6 episodes

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series
Nominated- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music

1990 The Yum Yums: The Day Things Went Sour Television film
The Face of Fear
Tiny Toon Adventures 2 episodes: "Gang Busters" and "Hollywood Plucky"
Piggsburg Pigs! Episode: "Mummies From Outer Space"
1991 A Seduction in Travis County Television film
Vidiots
Into the Badlands
1992 Do Not Bring That Python in the House
Still Not Quite Human
Sunstroke
The Plucky Duck Show Episode: "Hollywood Plucky"
1993 I Yabba-Dabba Do! Television film
Jonny's Golden Quest
Class of '61
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 2 episodes: The Nagus, Progress
Jack's Place 3 episodes
Praying Mantis Television film
For Love and Glory
The Halloween Tree
The Town Santa Forgot
Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby
1993–94 SeaQuest DSV 19 episodes

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music

1994 Star Trek: The Next Generation Episode: "The Pegasus"
1995 In Pursuit of Honor Television film
Kansas
1996 Doctor Who
The Cape Episode: "Pilot"

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series
Nominated- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music

1997 Justice League of America Television film
2000 Running Mates
G-Saviour
2012 Hatfields & McCoys Miniseries
Composed with Tony Morales

Nominated- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series or Special

2013 Bonnie & Clyde Miniseries
2014 The After Television film
Houdini Miniseries
2014–15 Forever 22 episodes
2015 Point of Honor Television film
American Odyssey 13 episodes
Texas Rising Miniseries
Composed with Bruce Broughton

Nominated- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music
Nominated- Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Main Title Music in a TV Series
Nominated- IFMCA Award for Best Original Score for Television

2016 Game of Silence 4 episodes
2017 Flint Television film
2017–19 Santa Clarita Diet 10 episodes
2017–present The Orville 19 episodes

IFMCA Award for Best Original Score for Television

Young Sheldon 3 episodes
Composed with Jeff Cardoni
2021–present The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers 10 episodes

Video games[]

Year Title Notes
2007 Lair
2011 The Sims Medieval
2018 Madden NFL 19

Awards and nominations[]

Template:Unrefsect

Year Award Result
2015 Emmy AwardOutstanding Original Main Title Theme Music: Texas Rising (with Bruce Broughton) (2015) Nominated
2012 Emmy AwardOutstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special (Original Dramatic Score): Hatfields & McCoys: Part 1 (with Tony Morales) (2012) Nominated
2005 Academy AwardBest Original Score: The Passion of the Christ (2004) Nominated
1997 Emmy AwardOutstanding Original Main Title Theme Music: The Cape (1996) Nominated
1997 Emmy AwardOutstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore): The Cape: Pilot (with Louis Febre) (1996) Won
1994 Emmy AwardOutstanding Original Main Title Theme Music: SeaQuest DSV (1993) Won
1991 Emmy AwardOutstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore): The Young Riders: Kansas (1989) Won
1990 Emmy AwardOutstanding Original Main Title Theme Music: The Young Riders (1989) Nominated

References[]

External links[]

v - e - dAwards for John Debney

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