Hamlisch Respiratory Arrest Anoxic Brain Encephalopathy Hypertension, TMZ is reporting that legendary Hollywood composer Marvin Hamlisch suffered from brain damage in the weeks before his death on Aug. 6, but ultimately succumbed to lung failure, according to his death certificate. Hamlisch was principal pops conductor for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as well as several other orchestras nationwide and one of the few people in the world to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award. Hamlisch also had a Pulitzer Prize and several Golden Globes.
According to tmz.com, the death certificate, filed in Los Angeles, shows that Hamlisch died primarily from respiratory arrest (lung failure) caused by a combination of anoxic brain encephalopathy (failure of oxygen to reach the brain) and hypertension (high blood pressure). The document shows that Hamlisch suffered from A.B.E. in the weeks before his death, though it’s unclear if he was aware of the condition or exhibiting symptoms.
Hamlisch’s Oscar-winning film scores included those for The Way We Were and The Sting, and he also composed music for Sophie’s Choice, The Spy Who Loved Me and, of course Broadway’s A Chorus Line, for which he won a Tony and the Pulitzer Prize.
His last performances with the DSO were with singer Michael Feinstein, in June. Hamlisch, who also had suffered from diabetes, was 68.