Alan Bergman, Master Lyricist Behind ‘The Way We Were,’ Dies at 99.
Alan Bergman, the Oscar-winning lyricist who helped shape the soundscape of Hollywood with his wife and longtime writing partner Marilyn Bergman, died Thursday night at his Los Angeles home. He was 99. A family spokesperson said Bergman had been facing respiratory issues in recent months but continued to write until the end.
Over a career spanning more than six decades, Bergman, alongside Marilyn, crafted some of the most emotionally resonant lyrics in film and television history. Their words gave voice to heartbreak, memory, and longing — often set to music by legends like Marvin Hamlisch, Michel Legrand, and Quincy Jones.
Married in 1958, Alan and Marilyn Bergman remained an inseparable team until her death in 2022. Their songs were brought to life by iconic performers including Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, and Tony Bennett.
Among their most enduring works are The Way We Were, The Windmills of Your Mind, How Do You Keep the Music Playing?, and You Don’t Bring Me Flowers. Their music became a staple in films like Tootsie, Yentl, and The Thomas Crown Affair, as well as TV classics like Maude and Good Times.
Their signature ballad The Way We Were — sung by Streisand for the 1973 film — won them one of their three Academy Awards. Its iconic opening line, “Memories light the corners of my mind,” has become part of American pop culture vernacular. In total, the Bergmans earned 16 Oscar nominations, along with multiple Emmys, Grammys, and a host of lifetime achievement honors.
Beyond Hollywood, the couple also left their mark on Broadway with Ballroom and contributed lyrics to the patriotic orchestral work Visions of America. In 2011, Streisand paid tribute with a dedicated album What Matters Most, while Alan released his own collection Lyrically, Alan Bergman.
Though now both gone, the Bergmans’ lyrical legacy endures — timeless, poignant, and still playing in the minds of generations.
Comments are closed.