Ben Lanzarone, best known for his compositions for famous TV shows, has died at the age of 85.
His wife, renowned actress Ilene Graff, confirmed his death and said he passed peacefully in his sleep. They’d worked together on several projects for many years after meeting on the set of “Grease.”
Lanzarone and Graff also once hosted a workshop for professionals in the entertainment industry. He’s survived by his wife and daughter, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, who paid an emotional tribute to her father with an Instagram post on Saturday.
Ben Lanzarone Died In His Sleep
Ben Lanzarone, whose music compositions graced many famous television shows, has died at the age of 85. His wife, Graff, revealed his death to a news outlet. He’d been battling lung cancer for an undisclosed period at the time of death.
Lanzarone is survived by Graff and their daughter, Nikka. Graff confirmed that she was with him at the time of his death. So far, there’s no further information on memorial plans for the successful composer.
In 1986, Lanzarone was honored with the ASCAP’s Most-Performed Underscore Award. His music compositions were the highlight of multiple hit TV shows from the ’70s, ’80s & ’90s. These included “The Love Boat,” “Happy Days, Dynasty, Mork and Mindy,” “Laverne and Shirley,” and many others.
The Composer’s Daughter, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Paid Tribute To Him
Lanzarone and Graff’s daughter, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, paid tribute to her father on Instagram on Saturday. She posted multiple photos, showing her with him as he played happily on the piano, him holding her as a baby and smiling happily, and a video of him playing alone.
The emotional caption on the post read: “Dad. You will always be a titan. Losing you is incalculable. Without words. Maybe the words will come. But until they do, we have the music.”
A comment read, “Oh, Nikka. I am so sorry for your immeasurable loss. Sending you so much love & light.” Another person wrote, “It was so nice to spend a bit of time with him. So much love to you and your mom.”
Another read, “I am so sorry for your loss, dear one. Holding you close. Sending love to you and your family.”
A fourth message of support read, “NO. Nikka, I am so sorry. Sending you so much love as you navigate this; it is one of the hardest things we go through in life.”
Ben Lanzarone And Ilene Graff Worked Together On Several Occasions
Lanzarone and Graff were married for over 45 years after first meeting on the set of “Grease.” At the time, he worked on the music video for the hit song “Summer Nights.” They later worked together again on “Mr. Belvedere,” where Graff played the role of Marsha Cameron Owens for over 100 episodes.
The couple worked together again in 2013 when they hosted a workshop for professionals in the entertainment industry. The program, which lasted for about two months, was a success and featured big names in the industry, like Tippi Hedren and Dee Wallace.
At the time, Graff spoke to Broadway World about the program. She said, “We work with everyone from novices to working professionals. Students not only learn from us, they learn from their classmates as they become a supportive, cohesive group. We focus on choosing a song, analyzing the lyric, the importance of storytelling, and understanding the music.”
Rest in peace, Ben Lanzarone.
