Howard Shore
Sound Born Oct 18, 1946 Toronto, Ontario, Canada 143 credits
Biography
Howard Shore is a Canadian composer, conductor, and orchestrator. He was born on October 18, 1946, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Shore is known for his work in film scores, having composed music for over 80 films. He is particularly notable for his collaborations with director David Cronenberg, having scored all but one of Cronenberg's films since 1979, and with director Martin Scorsese, on six of Scorsese's films. Shore has also composed concert works, including an opera, The Fly. He won three Academy Awards for his work, one of which was for the song "Into the West", which he shared with Annie Lennox and Fran Walsh.
Advertisement
Career overview
Howard Shore is a Canadian composer, conductor, and orchestrator known for his work in film scores. He has composed music for over 80 films, collaborating with various directors throughout his career. Shore has worked with director David Cronenberg on most of his films since 1979, scoring all but one of his films during this period. He has also collaborated with Martin Scorsese on six of his films.
Shore's notable work includes scoring the soundtracks for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies. He has composed concert works, including one opera, The Fly. Shore's contributions to film music have been recognized, and he has shared an Academy Award with Annie Lennox and Fran Walsh for the song "Into the West." This song was part of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
Shore's extensive filmography spans multiple genres and directors, showcasing his versatility as a composer. His work has been featured in various film sagas, including Pán prstenů (The Lord of the Rings) and Hobit. Shore's contributions to film music have left a lasting impact on the industry, solidifying his position as a renowned composer.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Howard Shore.
Frequent co-stars
Jason Momoa
10 shared titles
Mike Mizanin
4 shared titles
Ted Raimi
4 shared titles
Bruce Campbell
4 shared titles
Mckenna Grace
4 shared titles
Olivia Cooke
3 shared titles
Jennifer Morrison
3 shared titles
Michael Coulthard
3 shared titles
Kofi Sarkodie-Mensah
3 shared titles
Joe Anoa'i
3 shared titles
Career timeline
Lorne
The Shrouds · Original Music ComposerLadies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL MusicRevelations: Making Dogma · Music
Howard Shore Weekend - Eastern PromisesHoward Shore Weekend - Eastern Promises · CompositorHoward Shore Weekend - The Lord of the RingsHoward Shore Weekend - The Lord of the Rings · MusicianDrift · Original Music Composer
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power · Main Title Theme ComposerThe Pale Blue Eye · Original Music ComposerCrimes of the Future · Original Music ComposerThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Global Fan Screening · Main Title Theme Composer
Reunited ApartPieces of a Woman · Original Music ComposerThe Lost Prince · Original Music ComposerFunny Boy · Original Music ComposerFunny Boy · Producer
The Song of Names · Original Music Composer
The Catcher Was a Spy · Original Music Composer
Score: A Film Music Documentary
Denial · Original Music Composer
Spotlight · Original Music Composer
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies · Original Music ComposerMaps to the Stars · Original Music ComposerRosewater · Original Music Composer
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug · Original Music ComposerJimmy P. · Original Music Composer
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey · Original Music ComposerThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey · OrchestratorThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey · ConductorCosmopolis · Original Music ComposerCitizens of Cosmopolis
Hugo · Original Music ComposerA Dangerous Method · Original Music Composer100 Jahre Hollywood - Die Carl Laemmle StoryHoward Shore: A Composer's Dream
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse · Original Music ComposerEdge of Darkness · Original Music Composer
Doubt · Original Music ComposerThe Betrayal – Nerakhoon · Original Music Composer
Eastern Promises · Original Music ComposerThe Last Mimzy · Original Music ComposerTo Each His Own Cinema · Original Music Composer
The Departed · Original Music ComposerScoring the Silence
A History of Violence · Original Music ComposerThe Art of Imagination: A Tribute to OzLord of the Brush · Original Music ComposerThe Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music
The Aviator · Original Music ComposerA Filmmaker's Journey: Making 'The Return of the King'People Like Us: Making 'Philadelphia'Ed Wood: The ThereminCreating the Lord of the Rings Symphony
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King · Original Music ComposerThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King · SongsLate Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special · Music
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers · Original Music ComposerGangs of New York · Original Music ComposerPanic Room · Original Music ComposerSpider · Original Music ComposerThe Making of 'The Fellowship of the Ring'
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring · Original Music ComposerThe Score · Original Music ComposerThe Score · ConductorThe Score · OrchestratorInside the Labyrinth: The Making of 'The Silence of the Lambs'
The Cell · Original Music ComposerThe Yards · OrchestratorThe Yards · ConductorThe Yards · Original Music ComposerHigh Fidelity · Original Music Composer
Dogma · Original Music ComposereXistenZ · Original Music ComposerAnalyze This · Original Music ComposerGloria · Original Music Composer
The Game · Original Music ComposerCop Land · Original Music Composer
Crash · Original Music ComposerStriptease · Original Music ComposerThat Thing You Do! · Original Music ComposerBefore and After · Original Music ComposerThe Truth About Cats & Dogs · Original Music Composer
Se7en · Original Music ComposerMoonlight and Valentino · Original Music ComposerWhite Man's Burden · Original Music Composer
The Client · Original Music ComposerEd Wood · Original Music ComposerEd Wood · OrchestratorEd Wood · ConductorNobody's Fool · Original Music Composer
Mrs. Doubtfire · Original Music ComposerMrs. Doubtfire · OrchestratorPhiladelphia · Original Music ComposerSliver · Original Music ComposerM. Butterfly · Original Music Composer
Full Filmography
143 titles- Lorne (2026) as Self
- The Shrouds (2025) Original Music Composer
- Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (2025) as Self - SNL Musical Director 1975 - 1980
- Revelations: Making Dogma (2025) Music
- Howard Shore Weekend - Eastern Promises (2023)
- Howard Shore Weekend - Eastern Promises (2023) Compositor
- Howard Shore Weekend - The Lord of the Rings (2023)
- Howard Shore Weekend - The Lord of the Rings (2023) Musician
- Drift (2023) Original Music Composer
- The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022) Main Title Theme Composer
- The Pale Blue Eye (2022) Original Music Composer
- Crimes of the Future (2022) Original Music Composer
- The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Global Fan Screening (2022) Main Title Theme Composer
- Reunited Apart (2020) as Self
- Pieces of a Woman (2020) Original Music Composer
- The Lost Prince (2020) Original Music Composer
- Funny Boy (2020) Original Music Composer
- Funny Boy (2020) Producer
- The Song of Names (2019) Original Music Composer
- The Catcher Was a Spy (2018) Original Music Composer
- Score: A Film Music Documentary (2017) as Self
- Denial (2016) Original Music Composer
- Spotlight (2015) Original Music Composer
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) Original Music Composer
- Maps to the Stars (2014) Original Music Composer
- Rosewater (2014) Original Music Composer
- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) Original Music Composer
- Jimmy P. (2013) Original Music Composer
- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) Original Music Composer
- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) Orchestrator
- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) Conductor
- Cosmopolis (2012) Original Music Composer
- Citizens of Cosmopolis (2012) as Self
- The Ephemerol Diaries: An Interview with Stephen Lack (2012) Original Music Composer
- Hugo (2011) Original Music Composer
- A Dangerous Method (2011) Original Music Composer
- 100 Jahre Hollywood - Die Carl Laemmle Story (2011) as Self
- Howard Shore: A Composer's Dream (2011) as Self
- The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010) Original Music Composer
- Edge of Darkness (2010) Original Music Composer
- Doubt (2008) Original Music Composer
- The Betrayal – Nerakhoon (2008) Original Music Composer
- Eastern Promises (2007) Original Music Composer
- The Last Mimzy (2007) Original Music Composer
- To Each His Own Cinema (2007) Original Music Composer
- The Departed (2006) Original Music Composer
- Scoring the Silence (2006) as Self
- A History of Violence (2005) Original Music Composer
- The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz (2005) as Self
- Lord of the Brush (2005) Original Music Composer
- The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music (2005) as Self
- The Aviator (2004) Original Music Composer
- A Filmmaker's Journey: Making 'The Return of the King' (2004) as Self
- People Like Us: Making 'Philadelphia' (2004) as Self
- Ed Wood: The Theremin (2004) as Self - Composer
- Creating the Lord of the Rings Symphony (2004) as Self
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) as Drinking Rohan Soldier (uncredited)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) Original Music Composer
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) Songs
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special (2003) Music
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) Original Music Composer
- Gangs of New York (2002) Original Music Composer
- Panic Room (2002) Original Music Composer
- Spider (2002) Original Music Composer
- The Making of 'The Fellowship of the Ring' (2002) as Self
- Music for Middle-earth (2002) as Self
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) Original Music Composer
- The Score (2001) Original Music Composer
- The Score (2001) Conductor
- The Score (2001) Orchestrator
- Inside the Labyrinth: The Making of 'The Silence of the Lambs' (2001) as Self
- The Cell (2000) Original Music Composer
- The Yards (2000) Orchestrator
- The Yards (2000) Conductor
- The Yards (2000) Original Music Composer
- High Fidelity (2000) Original Music Composer
- High Fidelity (2000) Conductor
- High Fidelity (2000) Music Arranger
- Esther Kahn (2000) Original Music Composer
- Camera (2000) Original Music Composer
- Dogma (1999) Original Music Composer
- eXistenZ (1999) Original Music Composer
- Analyze This (1999) Original Music Composer
- Gloria (1999) Original Music Composer
- The Game (1997) Original Music Composer
- Cop Land (1997) Original Music Composer
- Crash (1996) Original Music Composer
- Striptease (1996) Original Music Composer
- That Thing You Do! (1996) Original Music Composer
- Before and After (1996) Original Music Composer
- The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996) Original Music Composer
- Looking for Richard (1996) Original Music Composer
- Se7en (1995) Original Music Composer
- Moonlight and Valentino (1995) Original Music Composer
- White Man's Burden (1995) Original Music Composer
- The Client (1994) Original Music Composer
- Ed Wood (1994) Original Music Composer
- Ed Wood (1994) Orchestrator
- Ed Wood (1994) Conductor
- Nobody's Fool (1994) Original Music Composer
- Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) Original Music Composer
- Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) Orchestrator
- Philadelphia (1993) Original Music Composer
- Sliver (1993) Original Music Composer
- M. Butterfly (1993) Original Music Composer
- Guilty as Sin (1993) Original Music Composer
- Single White Female (1992) Original Music Composer
- Prelude to a Kiss (1992) Original Music Composer
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Original Music Composer
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Conductor
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Music Producer
- A Kiss Before Dying (1991) Conductor
- A Kiss Before Dying (1991) Original Music Composer
- Naked Lunch (1991) Original Music Composer
- The Local Stigmatic (1990) Original Music Composer
- Made in Milan (1990) Original Music Composer
- She-Devil (1989) Original Music Composer
- An Innocent Man (1989) Original Music Composer
- The Lemon Sisters (1989) Original Music Composer
- Signs of Life (1989) Original Music Composer
- Big (1988) Original Music Composer
- Dead Ringers (1988) Original Music Composer
- Moving (1988) Original Music Composer
- Heaven (1987) Original Music Composer
- Nadine (1987) Original Music Composer
- The Fly (1986) Original Music Composer
- The Fly (1986) Conductor
- Fire with Fire (1986) Original Music Composer
- After Hours (1985) Original Music Composer
- Places in the Heart (1984) Additional Music
- Nothing Lasts Forever (1984) Original Music Composer
- Videodrome (1983) Original Music Composer
- Scanners (1981) Original Music Composer
- Gilda Live (1980) as The Candy Slice Group
- Gilda Live (1980) Musician
- Gilda Live (1980) Music Director
- The Brood (1979) Original Music Composer
- I Miss You, Hugs and Kisses (1978) Original Music Composer
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Bandleader
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Musician at Plato’s Cave (uncredited)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self (uncredited)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Deejay (uncredited)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Shelley (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Howard Shore best known for?
Howard Shore is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Lorne (2026), The Shrouds (2025), The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022), The Pale Blue Eye (2022).
When and where was Howard Shore born?
Howard Shore was born on October 18, 1946 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
How many credits does Howard Shore have?
Howard Shore has accumulated over 143 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1975 to 2026.
What is Howard Shore's background in cinema and television?
Howard Shore is a Canadian composer, conductor, and orchestrator. He was born on October 18, 1946, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Shore is known for his work in film scores, having composed music for over 80 films. He is particularly notable for his collaborations with director David Cronenberg, having scored all but one...
Howard Shore by the numbers
143credits
136films
7TV series
1975–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) as Drinking Rohan Soldier (uncredited) — aged about 56
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Bandleader — aged about 28
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Musician at Plato’s Cave (uncredited) — aged about 28
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self (uncredited) — aged about 28
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Deejay (uncredited) — aged about 28
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Shelley (uncredited) — aged about 28
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Howard Shore.