Born in New York City. He was a seaman on a China-bound freighter and a dance instructor at Arthur Murray's before beginning a long and successful career as a songwriter for films and recordings. Coupling his lyrics to Sammy Fain's music, many of his songs were nominated for Academy Awards and three -- "Secret Love" from CALAMITY JANE (1953), the title song from LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING (1955), and "The Shadow of Your Smile" from THE SANDPIPER (1965) -- won the coveted Oscars®. He also co-wrote the story that provided the basis for the script of NORA PRENTISS.  Nominated for Music Best Song 1944: MINSTREL MAN "Remember Me to Carolina" - Lyric  Music Best Song 1953: CALAMITY JANE "Secret Love" - Lyric  Music Best Song 1955: LOVE IS A MANY-SPLENDORED THING "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" - Lyric  Nominated for Music Best Song 1956: FRIENDLY PERSUASION "Friendly Persuasion (Thee I Love)" - Lyric  Nominated for Music Best Song 1957: APRIL LOVE "April Love" - Lyric  Nominated for Music Best Song 1958: A CERTAIN SMILE "A Certain Smile" - Lyric  Nominated for Music Best Song 1958: MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR "A Very Precious Love" - Lyric  Nominated for Music Best Song 1960: THE ALAMO "The Green Leaves of Summer" - Lyric  Nominated for Music Best Song 1961: EL CID "Love Theme from El Cid (The Falcon and the Dove)" - Lyric  Nominated for Music Best Song 1962: TENDER IS THE NIGHT "Tender Is the Night" - Lyric  Nominated for Music Best Song 1962: MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY "Love Song from Mutiny on the Bounty (Follow Me)" - Lyric  Nominated for Music Best Song 1963: 55 DAYS AT PEKING "So Little Time" - Lyric  Music Best Song 1965: THE SANDPIPER "The Shadow of Your Smile" - Lyric  Nominated for Music Best Song 1966: AN AMERICAN DREAM "A Time for Love" - Lyric  Nominated for Music Best Song 1972: THE STEPMOTHER "Strange Are the Ways of Love" - Lyric  Nominated for Music Best Song 1976: HALF A HOUSE "A World That Never Was" - Lyric 16 nominations, 3 Awards