Born in New Jersey, USA. Respected American arranger-composer from the theater who began as music director and arranger for Bette Midler's stage shows and music supervisor on her films, DIVINE MADNESS! (1980), BIG BUSINESS (1988) and BEACHES (1988), before composing his first film score for MISERY (1990). As a record producer, Shaiman also won a gold record for the movie soundtrack album for WHEN HARRY MET SALLY... (1989). He made his onscreen debut as one of the news theme writers in BROADCAST NEWS (1987). Since 1990 Shaiman has worked regularly providing or producing scores for such directors as Rob Reiner (MISERY, 1990, A FEW GOOD MEN, 1992, NORTH, 1994), Barry Sonnenfeld (THE ADDAMS FAMILY, 1991, ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES, 1993) and Ron Underwood (CITY SLICKERS, 1991, HEART AND SOULS, 1993, SPEECHLESS, 1994). Other later (non-nominated) credits include FORGET PARIS (1995), BOGUS, MOTHER and GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI (all 1996), GOERGE OF THE JUNGLE and IN & OUT (both 1997), MY GIANT and SIMON BIRCH (both 1998), THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS and THE STORY OF US (both 1999), THE KID and "Bette" (TV series) (both 2000), GET OVER IT (songs), ONE NIGHT AT McCOOL'S, "61*" (TV) and WHAT'S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN? (add'l music) (all 2001), DOWN WITH LOVE, ALEX & EMMA, MARCI X (songs) and THE CAT IN THE HAT (also songs) (all 2003), RUMOR HAS IT... (2005), and HAIRSPRAY (also songs) and THE BUCKET LIST (both 2007).  Nominated for Achievement in Music - Original Song 1993: SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE "A Wink and a Smile" - Music & Lyric  Nominated for Achievement in Music - Original Musical or Comedy Score 1995: THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT  Nominated for Achievement in Music - Original Musical or Comedy Score 1996: FIRST WIVES CLUB  Nominated for Achievement in Music - Original Musical or Comedy Score 1998: PATCH ADAMS  Nominated for Achievement in Music - Original Song 1999: SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT "Blame Canada" - Music & Lyric (w. Trey Parker) 5 nominations