Ben Lanzarone, a composer, arranger, musical director, and pianist who wrote music for numerous hit television episodes, including “The Love Boat,” “Happy Days,” and “Dynasty,” died of lung cancer on February 16, 2024, in his Los Angeles home.
His wife, the actress and singer Ilene Graff, and their daughter, the Broadway performer Nikka Graff Lanzarone, survived him at the age of 85.
Ben Lanzarone Cause of Death
Ben Lanzarone, a composer, died on February 16, 2024, at age 85. The cause of death was lung cancer. He was best known for creating unforgettable tunes for popular television shows such as “The Love Boat” and “Happy Days.”
Actress Ilene Graff’s Husband, Composer Ben Lanzarone Dead at 85 | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/gIiM0dlzIV
— TMZ (@TMZ) February 18, 2024
Ben Lanzarone Funeral Details
Lanzarone’s family has announced that his funeral will take place on February 23, 2024, at Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary in Los Angeles. The service will be private and invitation-only. Lanzarone’s family has asked that donations be made in his memory to the Actors Fund or the Lung Cancer Foundation of America.
A Long and Diverse Career in Music
Lanzarone had a lengthy and eclectic career in music, ranging from classical to pop, jazz, and disco. He began as a classical pianist and made his solo debut at Carnegie Recital Hall.
He then worked as an arranger and musical director for singers including Frank Sinatra, Art Garfunkel, Petula Clark, and Lainie Kazan. He also travelled with them as a pianist and conductor.
Lanzarone was also a famous film and television composer and scorer. He won ASCAP’s “Most Performed Composer Award” for his work on television shows like “The Tracy Ullman Show,” “The Jay Leno Comedy Hour,” and “Mr. Belvedere.”
He has composed music for other shows produced by Aaron Spelling and Doug Cramer, including “The Love Boat,” “Dynasty,” “Vegas,” “Matt Houston,” “The Colbys,” and “Hotel.” He also wrote music for various episodes of “Happy Days,” “Laverne and Shirley,” and “Mork and Mindy.”
Lanzarone also served as musical director and arranger for Broadway and off-Broadway musicals. He was the musical director for the first production of “Grease” and the arranger for “Via Galactica” and “Truckload”.
He has also organized and composed for the off-Broadway production “How to Steal an Election” and the Los Angeles Shakespeare Festival’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream.”. Lanzarone also worked with Bob Crewe and Charles Fox on various projects, including the CD “In Classic Form,” which displayed his abilities as a classical and jazz pianist.
He also orchestrated more of Crewe’s projects, including records by Bobby Darin, Vikki Carr, and The Bob Crewe Generation. He also arranged the soundtrack for “Grease” and The Brothers dance group.
Lanzarone also composed and arranged for several commercials, recordings, and soundtracks, earning him a position on the NARAS Board of Governors.
A Loving Husband and Father
Lanzarone has been married to actress and singer Ilene Graff for 46 years. They met on the set of “Grease” and formed a professional and personal partnership that included stage, screen, live concerts, and recording. They also won a Grammy nomination for their CD “Baby’s Broadway Lullabies”.
Lanzarone and Graff also presented a popular class called “Making the Song Your Own” to assist vocalists discover the joy of music and performance. They also gave cabaret shows in New York City and Los Angeles with their daughter, Broadway veteran Nikka Graff Lanzarone.
