Born in Vienna, Austria. Known for advancing the blending of popular themes with classical music in film scoring. Composer and musical director who entered American film as the composer of the score for Raoul Walsh's 1915 silent CARMEN at Fox. Working at Fox, Paramount and other studios, his other notable scoring credits include BEAU GESTE (1926), KING OF KINGS and SUNRISE (both 1927), TEMPEST (1928), TABU (1931), PECK'S BAD BOY and THE PRESIDENT VANISHES (both 1934), LITTLE MEN (1935), HEARTS IN BONDAGE and THE WHITE LEGION (both 1936), CIRCUS GIRL and MAKE A WISH (both 1937), TARZAN'S REVENGE, HAWAII CALLS and KING OF THE SIERRAS (all 1938). Riesenfeld died in 1939 after a lengthy illness. In 1925, he published an article in The American Hebrew entitled "The Advancement of Motion Picture Music."    Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Best Score) 1937: MAKE A WISH - Musical Director & Score 1 nomination