Prolific Hollywood wordsmith turned tunesmith who crossed over from Tin Pan Alley to Shubert Alley. As a Hollywood songwriter during the 1930s and 40s, Loesser penned the breezy lyrics for such standards as "The Boys in the Backroom" (with composer Frederick Hollander), "Small Fry" and "Two Sleepy People" (with Hoagy Carmichael), "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" (with Jule Styne) and "They're Either Too Young or Too Old" (with Arthur Schwartz). On Broadway from the late 1940s through the 60s, he displayed a knack for conveying characters and their vernacular by writing both the clever words and tuneful music for classic shows of Broadway's golden age: the 1948 Ray Bolger vehicle "Where's Charley" (filmed in 1952), the colorful 1950 Damon Runyon gambling fantasy, "Guys and Dolls" (filmed in 1955), and the Pulitzer prize-winning satire "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" (1967).

Loesser's musicals which did not make it to Hollywood include the near-operatic "The Most Happy Fella" (1956) and the whimsical "Greenwillow" (1960). One his richest scores was an original musical written directly for film, the charming fictional biography "Hans Christian Anderson" (1952) which introduced such classics as "Thumbelina", "Anywhere I Wander" and "Wonderful Copenhagen."

Red, Hot and Blue (1949) - as Hair-Do Lempke

Priorities on Parade (1942) - as Orig Scr

This Is 40 (2012) - Song

Master, The (2012) - Song

Silver Linings Playbook, The (2012) - Song

Jack and Jill (2011) - Song

127 Hours (2010) - Song

Julie & Julia (2009) - Song

Whatever Works (2009) - Song

Four Christmases (2008) - Song

Reign Over Me (2007) - Song

Savages, The (2007) - Song

Jackass: Number Two (2006) - Song

Superman Returns (2006) - Song

American Dreamz (2006) - Song

Mona Lisa Smile (2003) - Song

Elf (2003) - Song

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) - as Song ("I'Ve Never Been In Love Before")

Domestic Disturbance (2001) - as Song ("Two Sleepy People")

Curse of the Jade Scorpion, The (2001) - as Song ("Two Sleepy People")

Man on the Moon (1999) - as Song ("Jingle, Jangle, Jingle")

Snow Falling on Cedars (1999) - as Song ("Moon Over Burma")

Love Letter, The (1999) - as Song ("I'Ve Never Been In Love Before")

8 1/2 Women (1999) - as Song ("On A Slow Boat To China")

Payback (1999) - as Song ("Luck Be A Lady")

Faculty, The (1998) - as Song ("Guys And Dolls")

Dance With Me (1998) - as Song ("Let'S Get Lost")

Big Lebowski, The (1998) - as Song ("Standing On The Corner")

Slums of Beverly Hills, The (1998) - as Song ("Lucy Be A Lady")

Celebrity (1998) - as Song ("On A Slow Boat To China")

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) - as Song ("Luck Be A Lady")

Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993) - Song

Rich in Love (1993) - as Song ("I Hear Music")

Bronx Tale, A (1993) - as Song ("Say It (Over And Over Again)")

Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) - as Song ("Overture" From "Guys And Dolls")

Leap of Faith (1992) - as Song ("Sit Down You'Re Rockin' The Boat")

School Ties (1992) - as Song ("Dolores")

A League Of Their Own (1992) - as Song ("Two Sleepy People")

Hand That Rocks the Cradle, The (1992) - as Song Composer ("Say It (Over And Over Again)")

Long Day Closes, The (1992) - as Music Composer ("Once In Love With Amy""On A Slow Boat To China")

Bugsy (1991) - as Song ("On A Slow Boat To China")

For The Boys (1991) - as Song ("Baby It'S Cold Outside")

All I Want for Christmas (1991) - as Songs ("Baby It'S Cold Outside""Heart And Soul")

Company Business (1991) - as Song ("The Boys In The Back Room")

Stepping Out (1991) - as Song ("Heart And Soul")

Marrying Man, The (1991) - as Song ("'Murder' He Says")

The Freshman (1990) - as Song ("Heart And Body")

Crimes And Misdemeanors (1989) - as Songs ("I'Ve Got You""Murder He Says")

Let It Ride (1989) - as Song ("Fugue For Tinhorns")

Let's Get Lost (1989) - as Song ("Let'S Get Lost")

Big (1988) - as Song ("Heart And Soul")

September (1987) - as Song ("On A Slow Boat To China")

Radio Days (1987) - as Songs ("I Don'T Want To Walk Without You""They'Re Either Too Young Or Too Old")

Rebel (1986) - as Song ("Rumble Rumble Rumble")

Heartburn (1986) - as Song ("Baby It'S Cold Outside")

Summer Rental (1985) - Song

Lost in America (1985) - as Song ("Bubbles In The Wine")

Racing With The Moon (1984) - as Songs ("Heart And Soul""The Lady'S In Love With You""Says My Heart")

Raggedy Man (1981) - as Song ("The Lady'S In Love With You")

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967) - as Composer

The Party Crashers (1958) - as Composer

Jazz Ball (1958) - as Composer

Short Cut to Hell (1957) - as Composer

Guys and Dolls (1955) - as Composer

About Mrs. Leslie (1954) - as Composer

Money from Home (1954) - as Composer

Gunsmoke (1953) - as Composer

Hans Christian Andersen (1952) - as Composer

Because of You (1952) - as Composer

Where's Charley? (1952) - as Composer

The Marrying Kind (1952) - as Composer

With a Song in My Heart (1952) - as Composer

Flaming Feather (1952) - as Composer

Let's Dance (1950) - as Composer

Dark City (1950) - as Composer

Malaya (1950) - as Composer

Red, Hot and Blue (1949) - as Composer

Roseanna McCoy (1949) - as Composer

Neptune's Daughter (1949) - as Composer

Miss Tatlock's Millions (1948) - as Composer

Saigon (1948) - as Composer

A Miracle Can Happen (1948) - as Composer

I Walk Alone (1948) - as Composer

Variety Girl (1947) - as Composer

The Perils of Pauline (1947) - as Composer

Behind City Lights (1945) - as Composer

You Came Along (1945) - as Composer

Radio Stars on Parade (1945) - as Composer

Her Lucky Night (1945) - as Composer

The Old Texas Trail (1944) - as Composer

Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) - as Composer

Christmas Holiday (1944) - as Composer

Jam Session (1944) - as Composer

Moon Over Las Vegas (1944) - as Composer

See Here, Private Hargrove (1944) - as Composer

You Can't Ration Love (1944) - as Composer

Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) - as Composer

Swing Your Partner (1943) - as Composer

Happy Go Lucky (1943) - as Composer

Tornado (1943) - as Composer

Lost Canyon (1942) - as Composer

Little Joe, the Wrangler (1942) - as Composer

Seven Days' Leave (1942) - as Composer

Tortilla Flat (1942) - as Composer

Sweater Girl (1942) - as Composer

True to the Army (1942) - as Composer

This Gun for Hire (1942) - as Composer

Priorities on Parade (1942) - as Composer

Beyond the Blue Horizon (1942) - as Composer

The Forest Rangers (1942) - as Composer

Night in New Orleans (1942) - as Composer

Glamour Boy (1941) - as Composer

Mr. Bug Goes to Town (1941) - as Composer

Burma Convoy (1941) - as Composer

Sailors on Leave (1941) - as Composer

Man from Montana (1941) - as Composer

Hold Back the Dawn (1941) - as Composer

Kiss the Boys Goodbye (1941) - as Composer

Aloma of the South Seas (1941) - as Composer

Manpower (1941) - as Composer

Forced Landing (1941) - as Composer

Caught in the Draft (1941) - as Composer

The Parson of Panamint (1941) - as Composer

Sis Hopkins (1941) - as Composer

Las Vegas Nights--"The Last Frontier Town" (1941) - as Composer

Stick to Your Guns (1941) - as Composer

North West Mounted Police (1940) - as Composer

A Night at Earl Carroll's (1940) - as Composer

Youth Will Be Served (1940) - as Composer

Dancing on a Dime (1940) - as Composer

The Quarterback (1940) - as Composer

Seven Sinners (1940) - as Composer

Moon over Burma (1940) - as Composer

Those Were the Days! (1940) - as Composer

Typhoon (1940) - as Composer

Buck Benny Rides Again (1940) - as Composer

Johnny Apollo (1940) - as Composer

The Farmer's Daughter (1940) - as Composer

Destry Rides Again (1939) - as Composer

The Llano Kid (1939) - as Composer

Hawaiian Nights (1939) - as Composer

Man About Town (1939) - as Composer

Island of Lost Men (1939) - as Composer

The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939) - as Composer

Heritage of the Desert (1939) - as Composer

Some Like It Hot (1939) - as Composer

Cafe Society (1939) - as Composer

Saint Louis Blues (1939) - as Composer

Zaza (1939) - as Composer

Men with Wings (1938) - as Composer

Freshman Year (1938) - as Composer

Sing You Sinners (1938) - as Composer

Spawn of the North (1938) - as Composer

The Texans (1938) - as Composer

Stolen Heaven (1938) - as Composer

Cocoanut Grove (1938) - as Composer

College Swing (1938) - as Composer

The Hurricane (1937) - as Composer

Blossoms on Broadway (1937) - as Composer

Fight for Your Lady (1937) - as Composer

Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938 (1937) - as Composer

Mysterious Crossing (1936) - as Composer

The Man I Marry (1936) - as Composer

Flying Hostess (1936) - as Composer

Postal Inspector (1936) - as Composer

Yellowstone (1936) - as Composer

Heart & Soul: The Life and Music of Frank Loesser (2006) - Honoree

Most Happy Fella, The (1980) - as Book

Steve Wozniak: The Wizard of Apple (2000) - as Song ("How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying")

Guys and Dolls Off the Record (1992) - as Songs ("Luck Be A Lady""If I Were A Bell""Adelaide'S Lament""Sit Down, You'Re Rocking The Boat")

Evening With Maria Ewing, An (1990) - as Music

Baryshnikov on Broadway (1980) - as Song ("Guys And Dolls""Once In Love With Amy")

Most Happy Fella, The (1980) - as Lyrics, Music

If These Walls Could Talk (1996) - Song

Outer Critics Circle Citation - 1967

Pulitzer Prize in Drama - 1962

New York Drama Critics Circle Award - 1962

Tony - 1962

Grammy - 1961

New York Drama Critics Circle Award - 1957

New York Drama Critics Circle Award - 1951

Tony - 1951

Oscar - 1949

There is an official Web site located at www.frankloesser.com

WIFE - Lynn Garland. Singer, Broadway producer. Married in 1935; divorced in 1957; produced Loesser's musical, "The Most Happy Fella" (1956).

WIFE - Jo Sullivan. Singer, actor. Married from April 29, 1958 until his death in 1969; starred as Rosabella/Amy in original production of "The Most Happy Fella" (1956).

FATHER - Henry Loesser. Piano teacher; accompanist. German-born; married to Bertha Ehrlich from 1892 until her death in 1906; married her sister Julia in 1906; died on July 20, 1926.

MOTHER - Julia Loesser.

HALF-BROTHER - Arthur Loesser. Concert pianist, critic. Older; became the head of the piano division of the Cleveland Institute of Music; born in 1894; mother Bertha Ehrlich.

SISTER - Grace Loesser. Older; born in December 1906.

DAUGHTER - Susan Loesser. Author. Mother, Lynn Garland.

SON - John Loesser. Florida theater operator. Mother, Lynn Garland.

DAUGHTER - Emily Loesser. Actor, singer. Mother, Jo Sullivan.

DAUGHTER - Hannah Loesser. Artist. Mother, Jo Sullivan.