Danny Elfman
Awards & Honours
55
Awards Won
4
Honours
3
Rankings
4
Covers
3
Records
Danny Elfman's career is marked by extraordinary achievements. He has won three Emmy Awards, a Grammy, and seven Saturn Awards for Best Music, more than any other composer in that category. His score for Batman redefined superhero film music and set a new standard for the genre. He has received four Oscar nominations and was inducted as a Disney Legend in 2015. In 2022, he received the Society of Composers & Lyricists Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his profound influence on film music. His theme for The Simpsons is one of the most recognizable TV themes ever, and his work on The Nightmare Before Christmas has become a cultural phenomenon, with the soundtrack selling millions of copies.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Disney Legend
Inducted for his contributions to Disney films including The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award
Awarded for lifetime achievement in film scoring.
SCL Lifetime Achievement Award
Honored for his enduring impact on film and television music.
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Received a star at 7000 Hollywood Blvd for his work in film.
Rankings & Lists
Top 10 Film Composers of All Time
50 Greatest Film Scores of All Time
10 Best TV Theme Songs Ever
Magazine Covers
Rolling Stone
1989-08
Danny Elfman's Big Adventure
Film Score Monthly
1990-03
The Elfman Effect
Keyboard Magazine
1990-06
Danny Elfman: From Oingo Boingo to Batman
The Hollywood Reporter
2015-10
Danny Elfman: The Music Man of Hollywood
Records & Feats
Most Saturn Awards for Best Music
Elfman has won seven Saturn Awards for Best Music, more than any other composer in the category's history.
First composer to win Emmy for both main title theme and underscore for the same series
He won Emmys for both the main title theme (2005) and original dramatic score (2006) for Desperate Housewives.
Longest-running theme song on television
The Simpsons theme, composed by Elfman, has been used continuously since 1989, making it one of the longest-running TV themes.