Born in New Haven, Connecticut. Prolific, versatile figure who began his career as Mae West's piano accompanist before joining 20th Century-Fox as a rehearsal pianist in 1943. Newman stayed with Fox for more than 40 years, working in various capacities on over 250 films. He wrote the score for Elvis Presley's first film, LOVE ME TENDER (1956), and won an Academy Award for the Barbra Streisand vehicle, HELLO, DOLLY! (1969). His brother Alfred was also a prolific film composer, and his second brother, Emil, also composed scores at Fox in the 1940s before freelancing in the 1950s and 60s. Lionel was uncle to Alfred's sons, composers Thomas Newman and David Newman. Composer/songwriter Randy Newman is the son of the fourth Newman brother, Irving -- a Hollywood physician and occasional songwriter.

Nominated for Music Best Song 1938: THE COWBOY AND THE LADY "Cowboy and the Lady" - Music  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Musical Picture) 1950: I'LL GET BY  Nominated for Music Best Song 1951: GOLDEN GIRL "Never" - Music  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Musical Picture) 1954: THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS (w. Alfred Newman)  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Musical Picture) 1956: THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Musical Picture) 1958: MARDI GRAS  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Musical Picture) 1959: SAY ONE FOR ME  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Musical Picture) 1960: LET'S MAKE LOVE (w. Earle H. Hagen)  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of Music adaptation or treatment) 1965: THE PLEASURE SEEKERS (w. Alexander Courage)  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of Music adaptation or treatment) 1967: DOCTOR DOLITTLE (w. Alexander Courage)  Music Scoring Awards (Best Score of a Musical Picture original or adaptation) 1969: HELLO, DOLLY! (w. Lennie Hayton) 11 nominations, 1 Award