Born in Milwaukee, WI. He began composing for varsity shows while a student at the University of Wisconsin. He composed for Broadway from the early 20s and scored a huge success with the operetta Rose Marie, which he co-wrote with Rudolf Friml. He composed his first film score in 1928, providing the music for the US presentation of the Soviet silent film THE END OF ST. PETERSBURG. He subsequently scored or orchestrated almost 150 films exclusively for MGM, winning an Academy Award for the original score of THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939). Some of Stothart's notable non-nominated film scoring credits include his first film, DYNAMITE (1929), THE ROGUE SONG (songs), THE SONG OF THE FLAME and THE FLORODORA GIRL (all 1930), THE SQUAW MAN, THE CUBAN LOVE SONG and THE PRODIGAL (all 1931), RASPUTING AND THE EMPRESS (1932), PEG O' MY HEART, GOING HOLLYWOOD and QUEEN CHRISTINA (all 1933), RIPTIDE, VIVA VILLA!, TREASURE ISLAND and THE BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET (all 1934), NAUGHTY MARIETTA, ANNA KARENINA, A NIGHT AT THE OPERA, AH, WILDERNESS! and A TALE OF TWO CITIES (all 1935), ROSE-MARIE, ROMEO AND JULIET, THE GORGEOUS HUSSY, THE DEVIL IS A SISSY, CAMILLE and AFTER THE THIN MAN (all 1936), THE GOOD EARTH and CONQUEST (both 1937), OF HUMAN HEARTS (1938), IDIOT'S DELIGHT and BALALAIKA (both 1939), NORTHWEST PASSAGE, EDISON, THE MAN and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (all 1940), ZIEGFELD GIRL and BLOSSOMS IN THE DUST (both 1941), RIO RITA, MRS. MINIVER and CAIRO (all 1942), A GUY NAMED JOE and THE HUMAN COMEDY (both 1943), THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER, DRAGON SEED, THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO and NATIONAL VELVET (all 1944), THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY and THEY WERE EXPENDABLE (both 1945) and THE GREEN YEARS and THE YEARLING (both 1946). Recovering from a severe heart attack in 1947, he composed "Heart Attack: A Symphonic Poem." Two years later he died of cancer.  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Best Score) 1935: MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY - Score  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Best Score) 1937: MAYTIME - Score  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Original Score) 1938: MARIE ANTOINETTE  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Best Score) 1938: SWEETHEARTS  Music Scoring Awards (Original Score) 1939: THE WIZARD OF OZ  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Original Score) 1940: WATERLOO BRIDGE  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Musical Picture) 1941: THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) 1942: RANDOM HARVEST  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Musical Picture) 1943: THOUSANDS CHEER  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) 1943: MADAME CURIE  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) 1944: KISMET  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) 1945: THE VALLEY OF DECISION 12 nominations, 1 Award