View source for John Williams

{{Short description|American composer and conductor (born 1932)}}
{{About|the composer|other people named John Williams}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| image              = John Williams 2024.jpg
| caption            = Williams in 2024
| birth_name         = John Towner Williams
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1932|2|8}}
| birth_place        = [[Queens]], New York City, U.S.
| alma_mater         = [[University of California, Los Angeles]]<br>[[Juilliard School]]
| occupation         = {{hlist|Composer|conductor|orchestrator|arranger}}
| years_active       = 1952–present
| spouse             = {{unbulleted list|{{marriage|[[Barbara Ruick]]|1956|1974|end=died}}|{{marriage|Samantha Winslow|1980}}}}
| children           = 3, including [[Joseph Williams (musician)|Joseph]]
| father             = [[Johnny Williams (drummer)|Johnny Williams]]
| relatives          = [[The Belle Brigade|Ethan Gruska and Bobby Gruska]] (grandchildren)<br>[[Jay Gruska]] (son-in-law)
| signature          = John Williams Signature.png
| works              = [[List of compositions by John Williams|List of compositions]]
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by John Williams|Full list]]
}}

'''John Towner Williams''' (born February 8, 1932)<ref name="Wboi11-2022">{{Cite web |last=Nylund |first=Rob |date=2022-11-15 |title=Classical Connection review: Nov. 12, Fort Wayne Philharmonic |url=https://www.wboi.org/arts-culture/2022-11-15/classical-connection-review-nov-12-fort-wayne-philharmonic |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=WBOI - NPR News & Diverse Music in Northeast Indiana |language=en}}</ref><ref name="nyt90"/><ref name="CTVe1">{{Cite web |last=Dyer |first=Steven |date=2022-04-23 |title=From Jaws to Star Wars, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra celebrates John Williams |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/from-jaws-to-star-wars-edmonton-symphony-orchestra-celebrates-john-williams/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=CTVNews |language=en}}</ref> is an American composer and conductor. Over his seven-decade career, he has composed many of the best known [[film score|score]]s in [[History of film|film history]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nominee Facts |url=http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/help/statistics/Gen-NomsFacts.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20160402095027/http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/help/statistics/Gen-NomsFacts.pdf |archive-date=2016-04-02 |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=awardsdatabase.oscars.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Golding |first=Dan |date=February 7, 2022 |title=From Jaws to Star Wars to Harry Potter: John Williams, 90 today, is our greatest living composer |url=http://theconversation.com/from-jaws-to-star-wars-to-harry-potter-john-williams-90-today-is-our-greatest-living-composer-176245 |access-date=December 31, 2023 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US |archive-date=December 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231032409/http://theconversation.com/from-jaws-to-star-wars-to-harry-potter-john-williams-90-today-is-our-greatest-living-composer-176245 |url-status=live}}</ref> His compositional style blends [[Romantic music|romanticism]], [[Impressionism in music|impressionism]], and [[Atonality|atonal music]] with complex [[orchestration]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lehman |first=Frank |title=A Guide to John Williams's Musical Universe: Revised and Expanded |url=https://franklehman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Star-Wars-Thematic-Catalogue.pdf |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=franklehman.com}}</ref> Best known for his collaborations with [[George Lucas]] and [[Steven Spielberg]], he has received [[List of awards and nominations received by John Williams|numerous accolades]], including 26 [[Grammy Awards]], five [[Academy Awards]], seven [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Awards]], three [[Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy Awards]], and four [[Golden Globe Awards]]. With a total of 54 Academy Award nominations, he is the second-most nominated person in the award's history, after [[Walt Disney]].{{efn|59 nominations, 22 awards}} He is also the [[List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees|oldest Academy Award nominee]] in any category, receiving a nomination at 91 years old.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=January 23, 2024 |title=John Williams & Martin Scorsese Make Oscar History As Oldest Nominees, Set Records For Most Noms |url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/john-williams-martin-scorsese-oscar-history-oldest-nominees-1235801856/ |access-date=January 23, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=January 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123172228/https://deadline.com/2024/01/john-williams-martin-scorsese-oscar-history-oldest-nominees-1235801856/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Williams's early work as a film composer includes ''[[None but the Brave]]'' (1965), ''[[Valley of the Dolls (film)|Valley of the Dolls]]'' (1967), ''[[Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969 film)|Goodbye, Mr. Chips]]'' (1969), ''[[Images (film)|Images]]'' and ''[[The Cowboys]]'' (both 1972), ''[[The Long Goodbye (film)|The Long Goodbye]]'' (1973) and ''[[The Towering Inferno]]'' (1974). He has collaborated with Spielberg since ''[[The Sugarland Express]]'' (1974), composing music for all but five of his feature films. He received five [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Academy Awards for Best Score/Best Score Adaptation]] for ''[[Fiddler on the Roof (film)|Fiddler on the Roof]]'' (1971); score adaptation of the original music by [[Jerry Bock]]), ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'' (1975), ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977), ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'' (1982) and ''[[Schindler's List]]'' (1993). Other memorable collaborations with Spielberg include ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]'' (1977), the [[Indiana Jones|''Indiana Jones'' franchise]] (1981–2023), ''[[Hook (film)|Hook]]'' (1991), ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]'' (1993) and its sequel ''[[The Lost World: Jurassic Park]]'' (1997), ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'' (1998), ''[[Catch Me If You Can]]'' (2002), ''[[War Horse (film)|War Horse]]'' (2011), ''[[Lincoln (film)|Lincoln]]'' (2012), and ''[[The Fabelmans]]'' (2022).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Burlingame|first1=Jon|title=AFI Honoree John Williams Looks Back on Six Decades of Iconic Themes|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/spotlight/john-williams-afi-1201792072-1201792072/|access-date=July 11, 2016|work=Variety|date=June 9, 2016|archive-date=June 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611013729/http://variety.com/2016/film/spotlight/john-williams-afi-1201792072-1201792072/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also scored ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman]]'' (1978) and two of its sequels, the first two [[Home Alone (franchise)|''Home Alone'' films]] (1990–1992), and the first three [[Harry Potter (film series)|''Harry Potter'' films]] (2001–2004).  Outside of his long-term collaborations with Spielberg and Lucas, Williams has composed the scores for films directed by [[William Wyler]], [[Clint Eastwood]], [[Alfred Hitchcock]], [[Brian De Palma]], [[John Badham]], [[George Miller (filmmaker)|George Miller]], [[Oliver Stone]], [[Chris Columbus (filmmaker)|Chris Columbus]], [[Ron Howard]], [[Barry Levinson]], [[John Singleton]], [[Alan Parker]], [[Alfonso Cuarón]], and [[Rob Marshall]].

Williams has also composed numerous classical concertos and other works for orchestral [[Musical ensemble|ensembles]] and solo instruments. He served as the [[Boston Pops]]' principal conductor from 1980 to 1993 and is its [[laureate]] conductor.<ref>[https://www.bso.org/g-m/john-williams-boston-pops-laureate-conductor.aspx "Boston Pops – John Williams"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204141402/https://www.bso.org/g-m/john-williams-boston-pops-laureate-conductor.aspx |date=February 4, 2017}}, bso.org; retrieved November 29, 2015.</ref> Other works by Williams include theme music for the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Summer Olympic]] Games; ''[[NBC Sunday Night Football]];'' "[[The Mission (theme music)|The Mission]]" theme (used by [[NBC News]] and [[Seven News]] in Australia); [[PBS]]'s ''[[Great Performances]]'' and the television series ''[[Lost in Space]]'', ''[[Land of the Giants]]'' and [[Amazing Stories (1985 TV series)|''Amazing Stories'']].<ref>{{cite web |title=John Williams – Lost in Space [Original Soundtrack] Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |website=[[AllMusic]] |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/lost-in-space-original-soundtrack--mw0000774532 |language=en |access-date=December 27, 2023 |archive-date=December 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227212840/https://www.allmusic.com/album/lost-in-space-original-soundtrack--mw0000774532 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=John Williams: The Last Movie Maestro|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/12/17/john-williams-the-last-movie-maestro/|access-date=July 11, 2016|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=December 17, 2011|archive-date=August 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821131843/http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/12/17/john-williams-the-last-movie-maestro/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Williams received the [[Kennedy Center Honors|Kennedy Center Honor]] in 2004, the [[National Medal of Arts|National Medal of the Arts]] in 2009, and the [[AFI Life Achievement Award]] in 2016.{{Efn|Was the first to be awarded outside of the acting and directing fields}} He was inducted into the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] in 1998, the [[Hollywood Bowl]]'s [[List of halls and walks of fame|Hall of Fame]] in 2000 and the [[American Classical Music Hall of Fame and Museum|American Classical Music Hall of Fame]] in 2004. He has composed the scores for nine of the top 25 [[List of highest-grossing films|highest-grossing films]] at the U.S. box office.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Lifetime Adjusted Grosses |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/chart/top_lifetime_gross_adjusted/?adjust_gross_to=2020 |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> In [[2022 Special Honours|2022]], Williams was awarded an [[honorary knighthood]] by [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]], "for services to film music". In 2005, the [[American Film Institute]] placed Williams' score to ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' first on its list [[AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores]]; his scores for ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'' and ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'' also made the list. The [[Library of Congress]] entered the [[Star Wars (soundtrack)|''Star Wars'' soundtrack]] into the [[National Recording Registry]] for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref>{{cite web|title=Star Wars Score Named To National Recording Register|url=http://www.filmbuffonline.com/News/2005/Starwarsscore.htm|website=Film Buff Online|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=October 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021193006/http://www.filmbuffonline.com/News/2005/Starwarsscore.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Early life==
John Towner Williams was born on February 8, 1932, in [[Queens]], New York,<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/14/nytnow/in-new-star-wars-john-williams-returns-too.html|title = In New 'Star Wars,' John Williams Returns, Too|last = Hassan|first = Adel|date = December 14, 2015|accessdate = August 18, 2025|newspaper = [[The New York Times]]|url-access = limited|quote = Mr. Williams, born in Queens in 1932}}</ref> to Esther (née Towner) and [[Johnny Williams (drummer)|Johnny Williams]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-12-12 |title=John Williams: the maestro behind some of cinema's most iconic soundtracks |url=https://www.classical-music.com/features/composers/john-williams |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Classical Music |language=en}}</ref> a jazz drummer and percussionist who played with the [[Raymond Scott]] Quintet. He has an older sister, Joan,<ref name=":0" /> and two younger brothers, Jerry and Don, who play on his film scores.<ref name=":0" /> Williams said of his lineage: "My father was a [[Maine]] man—we were very close. My mother was from [[Boston]]. My father's parents ran a department store in [[Bangor, Maine]], and my mother's father was a cabinetmaker."<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Thomas|first1=David|title=The King of Popcorn|journal=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=October 25, 1997|page=10s}}</ref> John Williams collaborated with [[Bernard Herrmann]], and his son sometimes joined him in rehearsals.<ref>{{cite magazine| last=Ross| first=Alex| title=The Force Is Still Strong With John Williams| date=July 21, 2020| magazine=[[The New Yorker]]| url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/persons-of-interest/the-force-is-still-strong-with-john-williams| access-date=August 24, 2020| archive-date=November 1, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101005324/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/persons-of-interest/the-force-is-still-strong-with-john-williams| url-status=live}}</ref> Like his father, he was also known as Johnny Williams into his young adult life, but he later went by John Williams. 

In 1948, the Williams family moved to [[Los Angeles]]. John attended [[North Hollywood High School]] and graduated in 1950. He attended the [[University of California, Los Angeles]], and studied composition privately with the Italian composer [[Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco]].<ref name="sony classical williams biography">{{cite web|url=http://sonyclassical.com/artists/williams_composer/adbio.html |title=Sony Classical Williams Biography |access-date=October 12, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012155709/http://sonyclassical.com/artists/williams_composer/adbio.html |archive-date=October 12, 2007}} at Sony Classical; retrieved September 29, 2007. During his time in college, Williams was a pianist at a local club.</ref> Williams also attended [[Los Angeles City College]] for one semester to play for the school's studio [[Jazz Band|jazz band]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=News Release: John Williams visits LACC |url=http://www.lacitycollege.edu/public/news/j-williams.htm |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130531111249/http://www.lacitycollege.edu/public/news/j-williams.htm |archive-date=2013-05-31 |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=www.lacitycollege.edu}}</ref> 

In 1951, Williams joined the [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]], where he played the piano and bass, as well as conducted and arranged music for the [[United States Air Force Band|U.S. Air Force Band]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.airforcemag.com/article/0408draft/|title=When the Draft Calls Ended|website=Air Force Magazine|access-date=August 22, 2021|archive-date=August 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822142222/https://www.airforcemag.com/article/0408draft/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SW">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/star-wars-composer-john-williams-first-score-a-1952-newfoundland-film-1.3241603|title=Star Wars composer John Williams's first score a 1952 Newfoundland film|first=Heather|last=Barrett|publisher=CBC News|date=September 30, 2015|access-date=December 31, 2015|archive-date=January 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105021139/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/star-wars-composer-john-williams-first-score-a-1952-newfoundland-film-1.3241603|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.music.af.mil/Bands/The-United-States-Air-Force-Band/About-Us/News/Article/861692/watch-interview-with-composer-john-williams/|title=WATCH—Interview with Composer John Williams|first=Eric|last=Sullivan|publisher=U.S. Air Force Bands|date=June 7, 2016|access-date=August 25, 2019|archive-date=August 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825220050/https://www.music.af.mil/Bands/The-United-States-Air-Force-Band/About-Us/News/Article/861692/watch-interview-with-composer-john-williams/|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 1952, he was assigned to the [[Northeast Air Command]] 596th Air Force Band and was stationed at [[Pepperrell Air Force Base]] in [[St. John's, Newfoundland]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.classicfm.com/composers/williams/news/first-ever-soundtrack/|title=John Williams' first ever soundtrack unearthed|website=ClassicFM/|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724165555/https://www.classicfm.com/composers/williams/news/first-ever-soundtrack/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also attended music courses at the [[University of Arizona]] during his service.<ref>{{cite news|title=Interview with John Williams|url=https://www.bmi.com/special/john_williams|access-date=February 8, 2018|publisher=BMI|archive-date=February 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208182806/https://www.bmi.com/special/john_williams|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-24 |title=#VeteranOfTheDay Air Force Veteran John Williams - VA News |url=https://news.va.gov/109181/veteranoftheday-air-force-john-williams/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=news.va.gov |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1955, following his service, Williams moved to [[New York City]] and was accepted into [[Juilliard School|Juilliard]], where he studied piano with [[Rosina Lhévinne]].<ref name="sony classical williams biography" /> He originally planned on becoming a concert pianist, but after hearing contemporary pianists like [[John Browning (pianist)|John Browning]] and [[Van Cliburn]] perform, he switched his focus to composition, recalling that he "could write better than [he] could play."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lunden |first1=Jeff |title=John Williams's Inevitable Themes |url=https://www.apr.org/post/john-williams-inevitable-themes |website=Alabama Public Radio |date=November 10, 2012 |access-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-date=October 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028164603/http://apr.org/post/john-williams-inevitable-themes |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Our American Roots Program Notes |url=https://newwestsymphony.org/arpn/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=New West Symphony |language=en-US}}</ref> During his studies, Williams found work in many of the city's jazz clubs as a pianist.<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Williams: Compositions, movies, age and awards revealed |url=https://www.classicfm.com/composers/williams/guides/facts-williams/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=Classic FM |language=en}}</ref>

==Career==
===Early career===
Following his studies at Juilliard and the [[Eastman School of Music]], Williams moved to Los Angeles, where he began working as an [[Orchestration|orchestrator]] at film studios.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Herbert J. |title=The Blogs: Kosher Movies: Music By John Williams |url=https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/kosher-movies-music-by-john-williams/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |language=en-US}}</ref> During this period, Williams worked with such composers as [[Franz Waxman]], [[Bernard Herrmann]] and [[Alfred Newman]], and with fellow orchestrators [[Conrad Salinger]] and Bob Franklyn.<ref>''Films & Filming'', vol. 24, 1977, p. 32</ref>

Williams was also a studio pianist and session musician, performing scores by [[Jerry Goldsmith]], [[Elmer Bernstein]] and [[Henry Mancini]]. One of his first jobs was working under mentor Alfred Newman with an uncredited orchestral role for ''[[Carousel (film)|Carousel]]'' (1956), which coincidentally starred his soon-to-be wife [[Barbara Ruick]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 31, 2019 |title=Legacy Conversations: David Newman |url=https://thelegacyofjohnwilliams.com/2019/05/31/david-newman-podcast/ |access-date=August 5, 2024 |website=The Legacy of John Williams |language=en}}</ref>

With Mancini, he recorded the scores of ''[[Peter Gunn]]'' (1959), [[Breakfast at Tiffany's (film)|''Breakfast at Tiffany's'']] (1961), [[Days of Wine and Roses (film)|''Days of Wine and Roses'']] (1962) and [[Charade (1963 film)|''Charade'']] (1963), and played the piano part of the guitar-piano [[ostinato]] in Mancini's [[The Music from Peter Gunn|''Peter Gunn'' title theme]].<ref>Tribute to John Williams, ca. 1991.</ref><ref name="King2023" /> With Elmer Bernstein, he performed the scores for [[Alexander Mackendrick]]'s ''[[Sweet Smell of Success]]'' (1957) and [[Robert Mulligan]]'s [[To Kill a Mockingbird (film)|''To Kill a Mockingbird'']] (1962). Williams was also the pianist of [[Billy Wilder]]'s ''[[The Apartment]]'' (1960), [[Jerome Robbins]] and [[Robert Wise]]'s [[West Side Story (1961 film)|''West Side Story'']] (1961) and [[Blake Edwards]]'s ''[[The Great Race]]'' (1966).<ref name="Los Angeles Times">{{cite web |last1=Greiving |first1=Tim |date=July 18, 2018 |title=John Williams' early life: How a NoHo kid and UCLA Bruin became the movie music man |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-john-williams-early-life-20180718-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206065718/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-john-williams-early-life-20180718-story.html |archive-date=February 6, 2019 |access-date=July 15, 2021 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

He released several jazz albums under the name Johnny Williams, including ''Jazz Beginnings'', ''World on a String'' and ''The John Towner Touch''.<ref name="Los Angeles Times"/> Williams also served as music arranger and bandleader for a series of popular music albums alongside [[Ray Vasquez]] and [[Frankie Laine]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fiA0zbl1LcoC&pg=PA14|title=A Musical Biography of John Williams|first=Tom|last=Barton|access-date=December 31, 2015|archive-date=November 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115135130/https://books.google.com/books?id=fiA0zbl1LcoC&pg=PA14#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dizlCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT394|title=100 Things Star Wars Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die|first=Dan|last=Casey|publisher=Triumph Books|date=November 1, 2015|access-date=December 31, 2015|isbn=978-1-63319-345-1|archive-date=November 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115135241/https://books.google.com/books?id=dizlCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT394#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Film and television scoring===
{{further|List of compositions by John Williams}}
[[File:Johnwilliams2006.JPG|thumb|upright=0.95|Williams at the Boston Symphony Hall after conducting the Boston Pops, May 2006]]
==== 1954–1973: Rise to prominence ====
In 1952, Williams wrote his first film composition while stationed at [[Pepperrell Air Force Base]] for ''You Are Welcome'', a promotional film created for the [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Province of Newfoundland and Labrador]] tourist information office.<ref name="SW" /> Williams' first feature film composition was for ''[[Daddy-O (film)|Daddy-O]]'' (1958), followed two years later by ''[[Because They're Young]]''. Williams also composed music for television, including ''[[Bachelor Father (American TV series)|Bachelor Father]]'' (1957–59), the ''[[Kraft Suspense Theatre]]'' (1963–65), ''[[Lost in Space]]'' (1965–68), ''[[The Time Tunnel]]'' (1966–67) and ''[[Land of the Giants]]'' (1968-70), the latter three created by producer [[Irwin Allen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iann.net/giants/|title=Deanna Lund Meets John Williams At Lincoln Party|publisher=Irwin Allen News Network|access-date=December 31, 2015|archive-date=January 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111124919/http://www.iann.net/giants/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also worked on several episodes of ''[[M Squad]]'' (1957-1960) and ''[[Checkmate (American TV series)|Checkmate]]'' (1960–1962) and the pilot episode of ''[[Gilligan's Island]]'' (1964–67).<ref>"Marooned" credits (unaired pilot, October 16, 1962)</ref><ref>RCA Victor PL-45929</ref>

The American-Japanese anti-war epic [[None but the Brave|''None'' ''but the Brave'']] (1965) marked the beginning of Williams' full transition from television to major Hollywood film composing, and shaped his style for future blockbusters. A [[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'']] reviewer highlighted his score for providing "excellent background". The film was also Williams' first collaboration with [[Frank Sinatra]], who directed and starred in it. He later conducted for Sinatra at venues such as a [[Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]] gala.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |last=Eldridge |title=None but the Brave (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |date=2009 |url=https://archive.org/details/cd_none-but-the-brave-original-motion-picture_john-williams/ |pages=4-6 |publisher=[[Film Score Monthly]] |first=Jeff}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= March 28, 2025|title=''None But the Brave'' |url=https://thelegacyofjohnwilliams.com/works/films/none-but-the-brave/ |access-date=September 8, 2025 |website=The Legacy of John Williams |language=en}}</ref>

Williams called [[William Wyler]]'s ''[[How to Steal a Million]]'' (1966) "the first film [he] ever did for a major, super-talent director".<ref name="King2023" /> He received his first Academy Award nomination for his score for [[Valley of the Dolls (film)|''Valley of the Dolls'']] (1967), and was once again nominated for [[Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969 film)|''Goodbye, Mr. Chips'']] (1969). His first Oscar was for [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Scoring: Adaptation and Original Song Score]] for [[Fiddler on the Roof (film)|''Fiddler on the Roof'']] (1971). He scored [[Robert Altman]]'s psychological thriller [[Images (film)|''Images'']] (1972) and his [[neo-noir]] [[The Long Goodbye (film)|''The Long Goodbye'']] (1973). Of the latter, [[Pauline Kael]] wrote, "Williams' music is a parody of the movies' frequent overuse of a theme, and a demonstration of how adaptable a theme can be."<ref>{{cite magazine| last=Kael| first=Pauline| author-link=Pauline Kael| title=Movieland—The Bum's Paradise| date=October 14, 1973| magazine=[[The New Yorker]]| url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1973/10/22/movieland-the-bums-paradise| access-date=November 30, 2023| archive-date=December 8, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208194930/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1973/10/22/movieland-the-bums-paradise| url-status=live}}</ref> Altman, known for giving actors free rein, had a similar approach to Williams, telling him to "do whatever you want. Do something you haven't done before."<ref name="King2023">{{cite news| last=King| first=Darryn| title=John Williams on 'Indiana Jones' and His Favorite Film Scores| date=June 24, 2023| work=[[The New York Times]]| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/24/movies/john-williams-indiana-jones-dial-of-destiny.html| access-date=November 29, 2023| archive-date=November 30, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130161730/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/24/movies/john-williams-indiana-jones-dial-of-destiny.html| url-status=live}}</ref> 

His prominence grew in the early 1970s thanks to his work for Irwin Allen's [[disaster film]]s, such as [[The Poseidon Adventure (1972 film)|''The Poseidon Adventure'']] (1972), ''[[The Towering Inferno]],'' and [[Earthquake (1974 film)|''Earthquake'']] (both 1974). Williams named his ''Images'' score as a favorite; he recalls "the score used all kinds of effects for piano, percussion, and strings... if I had never written film scores, if I had proceeded writing concert music, it might have been in this vein".{{Sfn|Ross|2020}} As it happened, Williams' scores for [[The Reivers (film)|''The Reivers'']] (1969) and ''[[The Cowboys]]'' (1972) shaped the direction of his career.

==== 1974–present: Collaborations with Steven Spielberg ====
Williams' scores for ''The Reivers'' and ''The Cowboys'' impressed a young [[Steven Spielberg]], who was getting ready to direct his feature debut, ''[[The Sugarland Express]]'' (1974), and requested Williams. Williams recalled, "I met what looked to be this seventeen-year-old kid, this very sweet boy, who knew more about film music than I did—every [[Max Steiner]] and [[Dimitri Tiomkin]] score. We had a meeting in a fancy Beverly Hills restaurant, arranged by executives. It was very cute—you had the feeling Steven had never been in a restaurant like that before. It was like having lunch with a teenage kid, but a brilliant one".{{Sfn|Ross|2020}} They reunited a year later for [[Jaws (film)|''Jaws'']]. Spielberg used Williams' theme for ''Images'' as a [[temp track]] while editing ''Jaws''. When Williams played his main theme for ''Jaws'', based on the alternation of two notes, Spielberg initially thought it was a joke. Williams explained in reply, "the sophisticated approach you would like me to take isn't the approach you took with the film I just experienced". After hearing variations on the theme, Spielberg agreed: "sometimes the best ideas are the most simple ones".<ref>{{cite book| last=Audissino| first=Emilio| title=The Film Music of John Williams| year=2021}}</ref> The score earned Williams his second Academy Award, his first for [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]].<ref name="oscars">{{cite web|url=http://www.johnwilliams.org/reference/awards.html|title=Academy Awards and Nominations|publisher=John Williams Web Pages|access-date=December 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331123940/http://www.johnwilliams.org/reference/awards.html|archive-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref> Its ominous two-note [[ostinato]] has become a shorthand for approaching danger.<ref>{{cite news| last=MacKay| first=Robbie| title=45 years on, the 'Jaws' theme manipulates our emotions to inspire terror| date=April 27, 2020| work=The Conversation| url=https://theconversation.com/45-years-on-the-jaws-theme-manipulates-our-emotions-to-inspire-terror-136462| access-date=November 28, 2023| archive-date=June 24, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203142/https://theconversation.com/45-years-on-the-jaws-theme-manipulates-our-emotions-to-inspire-terror-136462| url-status=live}}</ref>

Shortly thereafter, Spielberg and Williams began a two-year collaboration on ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]''. They crafted the distinctive five-note motif that functions both in the score and in the story as the [[recognition signal|communications signal]] of the film's [[extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrials]]. Darryn King writes: "One moment in that film captures some of Spielberg and Williams' alchemy: the musical dialogue between the humans and the otherworldly visitors, itself an artistic collaboration of sorts".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-24 |title=John Williams on 'Indiana Jones' and His Favorite Scores (Published 2023) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/24/movies/john-williams-indiana-jones-dial-of-destiny.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-08-31 |language=en}}</ref> Pauline Kael wrote of the scene in ''[[The New Yorker]]'': "the earthlings are ready with a console, and they greet the great craft with an oboe solo variation on the five-note theme; the craft answers in deep, tuba tones. The dialogue becomes blissfully garrulous ... there is a conversational duet: the music of the spheres".<ref>{{cite magazine| last=Kael| first=Pauline| author-link= Pauline Kael| date=November 20, 1977| title=The Greening of the Solar System| url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1977/11/28/the-greening-of-the-solar-system| magazine=[[The New Yorker]]| access-date=November 17, 2023| archive-date=November 17, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117231711/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1977/11/28/the-greening-of-the-solar-system| url-status=live}}</ref> Williams says the surprise of the final two notes comes from the fact that the first three notes of the theme are already resolved, adding "I realized that twenty years after the fact".<ref name="King2023" />

Spielberg chose Williams to score [[1941 (film)|''1941'']] (1979), and with [[George Lucas]], for ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'' (1981).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-30 |title=Raiders At 40: Creating A Legend, Part Three |url=https://littlebitsofgaming.com/2021/06/30/raiders-at-40-creating-a-legend-part-three/ |access-date=2025-09-06 |website=Little Bits of Gaming & Movies |language=en}}</ref> For the latter, Williams wrote "[[Raiders of the Lost Ark (soundtrack)|The Raiders March]]" for the film's hero, [[Indiana Jones (character)|Indiana Jones]], as well as separate themes to represent the eponymous [[Ark of the Covenant]], Jones's love interest [[Marion Ravenwood]] and the Nazi villains. Additional themes were written and featured in his scores for ''[[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom]]'' (1984), ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]'' (1989), ''[[Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull]]'' (2008) and ''[[Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny]]'' (2023). Spielberg emphasized the importance of Williams' score to the Indiana Jones pictures: "Jones did not perish, but [he] listened carefully to the ''Raiders'' score. Its sharp rhythms told him when to run. Its slicing strings told him when to duck. Its several integrated themes told adventurer Jones when to kiss the heroine or smash the enemy. All things considered, Jones listened... and lived."{{Sfn|Tylski|1999}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-28 |title=Why John Williams is the beating heart of the Indiana Jones series whynow |url=https://whynow.co.uk/read/why-john-williams-is-the-beating-heart-of-the-indiana-jones-series |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=whynow |language=en-GB}}</ref> Williams' score for Spielberg's ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'' (1982) won him a fourth Oscar.<ref name="oscars" /> Spielberg liked Williams' music for the climactic chase so much that he edited the film to match it.<ref>{{cite video | people=John Williams| title=A Conversation with John Williams | medium=DVD | publisher=Universal |year=2002}}</ref>

[[File:John Williams scoring Raiders.jpg|thumb|left|John Williams conducting the score to ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' in the Avery Fisher Hall in 2007]]

The Spielberg-Williams collaboration resumed in 1987 with [[Empire of the Sun (film)|''Empire of the Sun'']] and continued with [[Always (1989 film)|''Always'']] (1989), [[Hook (film)|''Hook'']] (1991), [[Jurassic Park (film)|''Jurassic Park'']] (1993) and its sequel ''[[The Lost World: Jurassic Park]]'' (1997), [[Amistad (film)|''Amistad'']] (1997) and ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'' (1998). Williams also contributed the theme music for, and scored several episodes of, Spielberg's anthology television series [[Amazing Stories (1985 TV series)|''Amazing Stories'']] (1985). ''[[Schindler's List]]'' (1993) proved to be a challenge for Williams; after viewing the rough cut with Spielberg, he was so overcome with emotion that he was hesitant to score the film. He told Spielberg, "I really think you need a better composer than I am for this film". Spielberg replied, "I know, but they're all dead".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Daniloff |first1=Caleb |title=Williams surprises Spielberg |url=https://www.bu.edu/articles/2009/williams-surprises-spielberg/ |website=BU Today |date=May 18, 2009 |publisher=Boston University |access-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715175325/https://www.bu.edu/articles/2009/williams-surprises-spielberg/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Williams asked classical violinist [[Itzhak Perlman]] to play the main theme for the film. Williams garnered his fourth Oscar for Best Original Score, his fifth overall. 

Williams composed the music for the opening logo to the [[DreamWorks Pictures]] film studio, which was co-founded by Spielberg. The logo made its debut in DreamWorks Pictures' first release ''[[The Peacemaker (1997 film)|The Peacemaker]]'', released on September 26, 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/dream-schemes-1116674326/|title=Dream schemes|first=Dan|last=Cox|date=September 18, 1997}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/song/the-theme-from-dreamworks-pictures-logo/1699860120|title=The Theme From DreamWorks Pictures Logo by Geek Music on Apple Music|date=August 1, 2023|via=music.apple.com}}</ref> In 2001, Williams scored Spielberg's ''[[A.I. Artificial Intelligence]]'', which was based on an unfinished project [[Stanley Kubrick]] asked Spielberg to direct. [[A. O. Scott]] argued that the movie represented new directions Williams, writing that Spielberg created "a mood as layered, dissonant and strange as John Williams' unusually restrained, modernist score".<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=A. O. |title=Do Androids Long For Mom? |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 29, 2001 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/29/movies/film-review-do-androids-long-for-mom.html |access-date=November 27, 2023 |archive-date=October 23, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023130713/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/29/movies/film-review-do-androids-long-for-mom.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Per Kubrick's request, Williams included a quotation of [[Richard Strauss]]' ''[[Der Rosenkavalier]]'' in his score.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicweb-international.com/film/2001/Aug01/Artificial_Intelligence.html |title=John WILLIAMS: A.I. Artificial Intelligence : Film Music CD Reviews- August 2001 MusicWeb(UK) |publisher=Musicweb-international.com |accessdate=March 7, 2010 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704202251/http://www.musicweb-international.com/film/2001/Aug01/Artificial_Intelligence.html |archivedate=July 4, 2008}}</ref> Williams' jazz-inspired score for Spielberg's ''[[Catch Me If You Can]]'' (2002) alluded to works by [[Henry Mancini]]. For ''[[The Terminal]]'' (2004), Williams wrote a national anthem for the fictional nation of Krakozhia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/c/catch_me.html |last=Berardinelli |first=James |publisher=ReelViews.net |title=Catch Me If You Can |access-date=July 3, 2008 |archive-date=December 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203183542/http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/c/catch_me.html |url-status=live}}</ref> His score for Spielberg's [[War of the Worlds (2005 film)|''War of the Worlds'']] (2005) took inspiration from scores for classic monster movies. That same year, he scored Spielberg's [[Epic film|epic]] historical drama film [[Munich (2005 film)|''Munich'']].

In 2011, after a three-year hiatus from film scoring, Williams composed the scores for Spielberg's [[The Adventures of Tintin (film)|''The Adventures of Tintin'']] and [[War Horse (film)|''War Horse'']]. The former was his first score for an animated film, and he employed various styles, including "1920s, 1930s European jazz" for the opening credits and "pirate music" for the maritime battles. The Oscar nominations were Williams' 46th and 47th, making him the most nominated musician in Academy Award history, previously tied with [[Alfred Newman (composer)|Alfred Newman]]'s 45 nominations, and the second most nominated overall, behind [[Walt Disney]]. Williams won an [[Annie Awards|Annie Award]] for his score for ''Tintin''. In 2012, he scored Spielberg's [[Lincoln (film)|''Lincoln'']], for which he received his 48th Academy Award nomination.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.johnwilliams.org/reference/awards|title=John Williams {{!}} Awards|website=Johnwilliams.org|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-date=January 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117075634/http://www.johnwilliams.org/reference/awards|url-status=live}}</ref> He was also set to write the score for [[Bridge of Spies (film)|''Bridge of Spies'']] that year, but in March 2015, it was announced that [[Thomas Newman]] would score it instead, as Williams' schedule was interrupted by a minor health issue.<ref>{{cite news|title=Thomas Newman Replaces Williams on 'Bridge of Spies'|url=http://www.jwfan.com/?p=7446|access-date=March 18, 2015|website=John Williams Fan Network|date=March 18, 2015|archive-date=March 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320152957/http://www.jwfan.com/?p=7446|url-status=live}}</ref> This was the first Spielberg film since [[The Color Purple (1985 film)|''The Color Purple'']] (1985) not scored by Williams.<ref name="The Verge">{{cite web|title=John Williams won't score a Steven Spielberg film for the first time in 30 years|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/3/18/8243915/john-williams-not-scoring-spielberg-film|access-date=June 8, 2015|website=The Verge|date=March 18, 2015|archive-date=June 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607111901/http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/18/8243915/john-williams-not-scoring-spielberg-film|url-status=live}}</ref> Williams composed the scores for Spielberg's fantasy [[The BFG (2016 film)|''The BFG'']] and his drama [[The Post (film)|''The Post'']] (2017).<ref name="Silvestri">{{cite news|last1=Burlingame|first1=Jon|title=John Williams and Alan Silvestri to Score Steven Spielberg's Next Films (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/john-williams-alan-silvestri-steven-spielberg-ready-player-one-the-papers-1202490105/|access-date=July 8, 2017|work=Variety|date=July 7, 2017|archive-date=July 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709055735/https://variety.com/2017/film/news/john-williams-alan-silvestri-steven-spielberg-ready-player-one-the-papers-1202490105/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2019, Williams served as music consultant for Spielberg's [[West Side Story (2021 film)|''West Side Story'']] (2021)<ref>{{cite news|last=Burlingame|first=Jon|date=December 10, 2021|title=How 'West Side Story's' First-Class Music Team Preserved the Authenticity of Leonard Bernstein's Score|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2021/artisans/news/west-side-story-john-wiliams-leonard-bernstein-1235131071/|access-date=December 14, 2021|archive-date=December 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214191116/https://variety.com/2021/artisans/news/west-side-story-john-wiliams-leonard-bernstein-1235131071/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Bouzereau|first1=Laurent|url=https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/west-side-story_9781419750632|title=''West Side Story'' the Making of the Steven Spielberg Film|year=2021|publisher=Abrams, Incorporated|isbn=978-1-4197-5063-2|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=October 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009165148/https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/west-side-story_9781419750632/|url-status=live}}</ref> and scored his semi-autobiographical ''[[The Fabelmans]]'' (2022).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Burlingame|first=Jon|date=February 7, 2022|title=As John Williams Turns 90, No Signs of Slowing Down, With ''Fabelmans'', ''Indiana Jones'' and Birthday Gala in the Offing|url=https://variety.com/2022/artisans/news/john-williams-turns-90-celebrating-1235172996/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=February 7, 2022|archive-date=September 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928124850/https://variety.com/2022/artisans/news/john-williams-turns-90-celebrating-1235172996/|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2022, Williams announced that ''[[Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny]]'', scheduled for a 2023 release, would likely be his last film score as he planned to retire from film and focus on solely composing concert music.<ref name="nyt90">{{Cite news |last=Hernández |first=Javier C. |date=February 8, 2022 |title=John Williams, Hollywood's Maestro, Looks Beyond the Movies |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/arts/music/john-williams-hollywood-film.html |access-date=June 22, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622153203/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/arts/music/john-williams-hollywood-film.html |url-status=live}} This article explicitly confirms that Williams was born on February 8, 1932; "Williams, who turned 90 on Tuesday".</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Radio |first=Sveriges |date=2022-06-24 |title=Kompositören John Williams går i pension - Kulturnytt |url=https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/kompositoren-john-williams-gar-i-pension |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=www.sverigesradio.se |language=sv}}</ref> However, he reversed this decision by January 2023, stating that he had at least "10 more years to go. I'll stick around for a while!". He compared the decision to Spielberg's father [[Arnold Spielberg|Arnold]], who had worked in his field until he was 100.<ref name="comicbook.com">{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/john-williams-walks-back-retirement-claims/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ |title=John Williams Walks Back Retirement Claims |date=January 13, 2023 |access-date=August 17, 2023 |archive-date=January 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114194920/https://comicbook.com/movies/news/john-williams-walks-back-retirement-claims/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Burlingame |first1=Jon |date=June 9, 2016 |title=AFI Honoree John Williams Looks Back on Six Decades of Iconic Themes |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/spotlight/john-williams-afi-1201792072-1201792072/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611013729/http://variety.com/2016/film/spotlight/john-williams-afi-1201792072-1201792072/ |archive-date=June 11, 2016 |access-date=July 11, 2016 |work=Variety}}</ref>

==== George Lucas'', Star Wars,'' and other franchises ====
Spielberg recommended Williams to his friend George Lucas, who needed a composer for his [[space opera]] ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977). Williams delivered a grand symphonic score influenced by [[Gustav Holst]]'s orchestral suite ''[[The Planets]]'', as well as [[Richard Strauss]], [[Antonín Dvořák]], and [[Classical Hollywood cinema|Golden Age]] Hollywood composers [[Max Steiner]] and [[Erich Wolfgang Korngold]]. The [[Star Wars (Main Title)|Star Wars theme]] is among the most widely recognized in film history, and the "[[Music of Star Wars#Star Wars (A New Hope)|Force Theme]]" and "[[Music of Star Wars#Star Wars (A New Hope)|Princess Leia's Theme]]" are well-known examples of leitmotif. The score was immensely successful—it remains the highest grossing non-[[popular music]] recording of all time—and won Williams a second [[Academy Award for Best Original Score]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moviefone.com/2013/05/01/star-wars-episode-7-john-williams/|title='Star Wars Episode 7': John Williams Will Probably Score the Sequel, According to J. J. Abrams|publisher=Moviefone|date=May 1, 2013|access-date=December 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073622/http://www.moviefone.com/2013/05/01/star-wars-episode-7-john-williams/|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> In 1980, Williams returned to score ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'', introducing "[[The Imperial March]]" as the theme for [[Darth Vader]] and the [[Galactic Empire (Star Wars)|Galactic Empire]], "[[Music of Star Wars#The Empire Strikes Back|Yoda's Theme]]", and "[[Music of Star Wars#The Empire Strikes Back|Han Solo and the Princess]]". The original ''Star Wars'' trilogy concluded with ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'', for which Williams provided the "[[Music of Star Wars#Return of the Jedi|Emperor's Theme]]", "[[Music of Star Wars#Return of the Jedi|Parade of the Ewoks]]", and "[[Music of Star Wars#Return of the Jedi|Luke and Leia]]". Both scores earned him Academy Award nominations.<ref name="oscars" />

In 1999, Lucas launched the first of three prequels to the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy. Williams was asked to score all three, starting with ''[[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace|The Phantom Menace]]''. Along with themes from the previous films, Williams created new themes for 2002's ''[[Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones|Attack of the Clones]]'' and 2005's ''[[Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith|Revenge of the Sith]]''. Most notable of these was "[[Duel of the Fates]]", an aggressive choral composition in the style of [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi's]] [[Requiem (Verdi)|''Requiem'']],<ref>[http://h2g2.com/approved_entry/A563942 "John Williams – Film Composer']. ''h2g2''. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927020241/http://h2g2.com/approved_entry/A563942 |date=September 27, 2016}} Accessed June 1, 2019. "Reminiscent of the 'Dies Irae' from Verdi's Requiem, 'Duel of the Fates' was written to accompany the climactic lightsaber battle in the first of the ''Star Wars'' prequels. While much of the film failed to meet the expectations generated by its hype, this scene stood out as a dazzling work of fight choreography, and the score was an important part of that."</ref>{{user-generated inline|date=January 2024}} using harsh [[Sanskrit]] lyrics that broadened the style of music used in the ''Star Wars'' films. The use of vocal melodies was unusual for Williams, who generally preferred brass instruments. Also of note was "Anakin's Theme", which begins as an innocent childlike melody and morphs insidiously into a quote of the sinister "Imperial March". For ''Attack of the Clones'', Williams composed "Across the Stars", a love theme for [[Padmé Amidala]] and [[Anakin Skywalker]] (mirroring in part the love theme composed for ''The Empire Strikes Back'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmmusicnotes.com/celebrating-star-wars-themes-part-4-of-6-duel-of-the-fates/|title=Celebrating Star Wars Themes Part 4|first=Mark|last=Richards|publisher=Film Music Notes|date=November 30, 2015|access-date=December 31, 2015|archive-date=January 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105121607/http://www.filmmusicnotes.com/celebrating-star-wars-themes-part-4-of-6-duel-of-the-fates/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmmusicnotes.com/celebrating-star-wars-themes-part-5-of-6-across-the-stars//|title=Celebrating Star Wars Themes Part 5|first=Mark|last=Richards|publisher=Film Music Notes|date=November 30, 2015|access-date=December 31, 2015|archive-date=January 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120202505/http://www.filmmusicnotes.com/celebrating-star-wars-themes-part-5-of-6-across-the-stars/|url-status=live}}</ref> The final installment ''Revenge of the Sith'' combined many of the themes created for the series' previous films, including "The Emperor's Theme", "The Imperial March", "Across the Stars", "Duel of the Fates", "The Force Theme", "Rebel Fanfare", "Luke's Theme", and "Princess Leia's Theme", as well as new themes for [[General Grievous]] and the film's climax, titled "Battle of the Heroes".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmmusicnotes.com/celebrating-star-wars-themes-part-6-of-6-battle-of-the-heroes/|title=Celebrating Star Wars Themes Part 6|first=Mark|last=Richards|publisher=Film Music Notes|date=November 30, 2015|access-date=December 31, 2015|archive-date=January 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119213527/http://www.filmmusicnotes.com/celebrating-star-wars-themes-part-6-of-6-battle-of-the-heroes/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Williams also scored the first three film adaptations of [[J. K. Rowling]]'s ''[[Harry Potter]]'' series. The most important theme from Williams' scores for the ''Harry Potter'' films, "[[Hedwig's Theme]]", was used in each of the subsequent films in the series. Like the main themes from ''Jaws'', ''Star Wars'', ''Superman'', and ''Indiana Jones'', fans have come to identify the ''Harry Potter'' films with Williams' themes. Williams was asked to return to score the film franchise's final installment, ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2]]'', but director [[David Yates]] said that "their schedules simply did not align", as he would have had to provide Williams with a rough cut of the film sooner than was possible.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mugglenet.com/2010/11/first-notes-from-deathly-hallows-part-1-junket-in-london/|title=First notes from Deathly Hallows – Part 1 junket in London|date=November 12, 2010|website=MuggleNet|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-date=December 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212073023/http://www.mugglenet.com/2010/11/first-notes-from-deathly-hallows-part-1-junket-in-london/|url-status=live |author1=Mugglenet}}</ref>

In early 2013, Williams expressed interest in working on the [[Star Wars sequel trilogy|''Star Wars'' sequel trilogy]], saying: "Now we're hearing of a new set of movies coming in 2015, 2016... so I need to make sure I'm still ready to go in a few years for what I hope would be continued work with George."<ref>{{cite web|title=Williams Says He 'Hopes' to Work on New Star Wars Trilogy|website=John Williams Fan Network|date=February 11, 2013|access-date=February 12, 2013|url=http://www.jwfan.com/?p=5407/|archive-date=August 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825233807/http://www.jwfan.com/?p=5407%2F|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, Williams scored ''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens]]'', earning him his 50th Academy Award nomination.<ref>{{cite web|title=Williams confirms he will score Episode VII|website=John Williams Fan Network|date=May 23, 2013|access-date=May 23, 2013|url=http://www.jwfan.com/?p=5671/|archive-date=November 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103234754/http://www.jwfan.com/?p=5671/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Oscar Nominations 2016: Star Wars: The Force Awakens|website=Oscars|date=January 14, 2016|access-date=January 14, 2015|url=http://oscar.go.com/nominees/music-original-score/star-wars-the-force-awakens|archive-date=January 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117135812/http://oscar.go.com/nominees/music-original-score/star-wars-the-force-awakens|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, he wrote the music for ''[[Star Wars: The Last Jedi]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/8/16/12497252/john-williams-scoring-star-wars-episode-8|title=John Williams confirms he's working on the score for Star Wars: Episode VIII|last=McCormick|first=Rich|work=The Verge|date=August 16, 2016|access-date=August 16, 2016|archive-date=August 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816191424/http://www.theverge.com/2016/8/16/12497252/john-williams-scoring-star-wars-episode-8|url-status=live}}</ref> the eighth episode of the saga. Williams contributed "The Adventures of Han" and several additional demos for the 2018 standalone ''Star Wars'' film ''[[Solo: A Star Wars Story]]'', while [[John Powell (film composer)|John Powell]] wrote the film's original score and adapted Williams' music.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/john-williams-star-wars-composer-han-solo-movie-theme-1202650282/|title='Solo' Locks In Key 'Star Wars' Veteran|last=Burlingame|first=Jon|date=December 30, 2017|work=Variety|access-date=December 30, 2017|archive-date=December 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230173800/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/john-williams-star-wars-composer-han-solo-movie-theme-1202650282/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=October 20, 2020|title='Solo: A Star Wars Story' Deluxe Edition Soundtrack Album Details|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2020/10/20/solo-a-star-wars-story-deluxe-edition-soundtrack-album-details/|access-date=November 21, 2020|website=Film Music Reporter|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120091142/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2020/10/20/solo-a-star-wars-story-deluxe-edition-soundtrack-album-details/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|date=November 20, 2020|title=John Powell also revealed which cues include JW's own pieces he composed to picture as 'demos'|user=thelegacyofjw|number=1329794708466524160|access-date=November 21, 2020|author=The Legacy of John Williams}}</ref>

In March 2018, Williams announced that following ''[[Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker]]'' (2019), he would retire from composing music for the ''Star Wars'' franchise: "We know [[J. J. Abrams]] is preparing one ''Star Wars'' movie now that I will hopefully do next year for him. I look forward to it. It will round out a series of nine, that will be quite enough for me."<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaye|first=Ben|title=John Williams to retire from Star Wars films following Episode IX|url=https://consequence.net/2018/03/john-williams-to-retire-from-star-wars-films-following-episode-ix/|access-date=March 7, 2018|work=[[Consequence of Sound]]|date=March 7, 2018|archive-date=June 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625081506/https://consequence.net/2018/03/john-williams-to-retire-from-star-wars-films-following-episode-ix/|url-status=live}}</ref> Williams also makes a cameo in the film as Oma Tres, a [[List of Star Wars planets and moons|Kijimi]] bartender.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/12/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-cameos-who-were-the-jedi-voices-jodie-comer-reys-mom|title=25 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Cameos You Might Have Missed|last1=Breznican|first1=Anthony|last2=Robinson|first2=Joanna|date=December 20, 2019|magazine=Vanity Fair|access-date=December 24, 2019|archive-date=December 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201234554/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/12/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-cameos-who-were-the-jedi-voices-jodie-comer-reys-mom|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2018, Williams composed the main musical theme for [[Disneyland]] and [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]] theme park attraction ''[[Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge]]''. [[William Ross (composer)|William Ross]], who conducted the symphonic recording of the theme with the [[London Symphony Orchestra]] on Williams' behalf, additionally arranged Williams' original composition in different musical contexts for use, recording nearly an hour of musical material at [[Abbey Road Studios]] in November 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Burlingame|first1=Jon|date=May 20, 2019|title=John Williams in Disneyland: The Story Behind His 'Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge' Theme|url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/john-williams-new-theme-music-star-wars-galaxys-edge-disneyland-1203220959/|access-date=November 21, 2020|website=Variety|archive-date=May 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520191631/https://variety.com/2019/music/news/john-williams-new-theme-music-star-wars-galaxys-edge-disneyland-1203220959/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Nyren|first1=Erin|date=November 18, 2018|title=John Williams to Compose New 'Star Wars' Music for Disney Parks Attractions|url=https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/star-wars-land-disneyland-john-williams-new-attractions-1203031846/|access-date=November 21, 2020|website=Variety|archive-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203152122/https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/star-wars-land-disneyland-john-williams-new-attractions-1203031846/|url-status=live}}</ref> Williams won the [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition]] for his ''Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite''. In 2022, he contributed the theme music for the ''Star Wars'' miniseries [[Obi-Wan Kenobi (TV series)|''Obi-Wan Kenobi'']], which was subsequently adapted further by William Ross.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Burlingame|first=Jon|date=February 17, 2022|title=John Williams Returns to 'Star Wars' Universe with 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' Theme (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2022/artisans/news/john-williams-obi-wan-kenobi-theme-star-wars-series-1235185228/|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=Variety|archive-date=February 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217231822/https://variety.com/2022/artisans/news/john-williams-obi-wan-kenobi-theme-star-wars-series-1235185228/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Other film and television works ====
Williams scored [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s final film, ''[[Family Plot]]'' (1976), as well as [[John Guillermin]]'s ''[[The Towering Inferno]]'' (1974), [[Clint Eastwood]]'s [[The Eiger Sanction (film)|''The Eiger Sanction'']] (1975), [[John Frankenheimer]]'s [[Black Sunday (1977 film)|''Black Sunday'']] (1977), [[John Badham]]'s [[Dracula (1979 film)|''Dracula'']] (1979), [[Allan Arkush]]'s ''[[Heartbeeps]]'' (1981) and [[Frank Perry]]'s [[Monsignor (film)|''Monsignor'']] (1982). He also contributed the [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] and [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe]] nominated song "If We Were in Love" (with lyrics by [[Alan and Marilyn Bergman]]) to [[Franklin J. Schaffner]]'s ''[[Yes, Giorgio]]'' (1982).

For ''Family Plot'', Hitchcock told Williams to remember one thing: "Murder can be fun". Taking inspiration from Hitchcock's frequent composer, [[Bernard Herrmann]], Hitchcock was pleased with the result. Williams followed a similar approach when scoring [[Brian de Palma]]'s [[The Fury (1978 film)|''The Fury'']] (1978). Kael called Williams "a major collaborator" on the film, writing that he had "composed what may be as apt and delicately varied a score as any horror movie has ever had. He scares us without banshee melodramatics. He sets the mood under the opening titles: otherworldly, seductively frightening. The music cues us in".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kael |first=Pauline |date=March 20, 1978 |title=Shivers |magazine=The New Yorker}}</ref>

That same year, Williams scored [[Richard Donner]]'s [[Superman (1978 film)|''Superman'']] (1978). Donner reportedly interrupted the demo premiere of the opening title by running onto the soundstage, exclaiming, "The music actually says 'Superman'!"<ref>Commentary track, ''Superman: The Movie''</ref> King writes that "Donner had a theory that the three-note motif in the main theme—the one that makes you want to punch the air in triumph—is a musical evocation of 'SU-per-MAN!{{'"}}. When asked if there was anything to that, Williams replied "There's ''everything'' to that."<ref name="King2023" /> The score's heroic and romantic themes, particularly the main march, the Superman fanfare and the love theme, "Can You Read My Mind?", appeared in the subsequent Salkind/Cannon film sequels as well as ''[[Superman Returns]]'' (2006). The main march returned as part of [[John Murphy (composer)|John Murphy]] and [[David Fleming (composer)|David Fleming]]'s [[Superman (2025 soundtrack)|score]] to [[James Gunn]]'s ''[[Superman (2025 film)|Superman]]'' (2025), the first film of the [[DC_Universe_(franchise)|DC Universe]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/dc-movies/james-gunn-says-he-is-bringing-back-that-iconic-john-williams-score-in-superman-to-pay-tribute-to-when-he-first-heard-it-as-a-child/ |title=James Gunn says he is bringing back that iconic John Williams score in Superman to "pay tribute" to when he first heard it as a child |date=December 19, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Umberto |date=December 17, 2024 |title=James Gunn's 'Superman' Takes Flight: No Universe-Building, 'Top Gun'-Style Action and Why the Trunks Won Out |url=https://www.thewrap.com/james-gunn-superman-reboot-universe-building-action-casting/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |website=[[TheWrap]]}}</ref>

In 1985, [[NBC]] commissioned Williams to compose a [[television news music]] package for various network news spots. The package, which Williams named "[[The Mission (theme music)|The Mission]]", consists of four [[Movement (music)|movements]], two of which are still used heavily by NBC today for ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today]]'', ''[[NBC Nightly News]]'' and ''[[Meet the Press]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaplan |first1=Peter |date=September 10, 1985 |title=John Williams Creates Themes for NBC News |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/10/arts/john-williams-creates-themes-for-nbc-news.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715180315/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/10/arts/john-williams-creates-themes-for-nbc-news.html |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |access-date=July 15, 2021 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> In 1987, Williams scored [[George Miller (filmmaker)|George Miller]]'s [[The Witches of Eastwick (film)|''The Witches of Eastwick'']] (1987). In his Oscar-nominated score for [[Lawrence Kasdan]]'s [[The Accidental Tourist (film)|''The Accidental Tourist'']] (1988),<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 61st Academy Awards, 1989 |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1989 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417063017/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1989 |archive-date=April 17, 2018 |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |date=October 5, 2014 |language=en}}</ref> Williams developed the two main theme sections in different ways, turning the mood lighter or darker through orchestration and an unexpected use of [[Synthesizer|synthesizers]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Southall |first=James |date=2008 |title=Williams: The Accidental Tourist |url=http://www.movie-wave.net/titles/accidental_tourist.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811213155/http://www.movie-wave.net/titles/accidental_tourist.html |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=Movie Wave}}</ref>

Other frequent collaborations with directors include [[Martin Ritt]] (''[[Pete 'n' Tillie]]'' (1972), ''[[Conrack]]'' (1974) and ''[[Stanley & Iris]]'' (1990)), [[Mark Rydell]] ([[The Reivers (film)|''The Reivers'']] (1969), ''[[The Cowboys]]'' (1972), ''[[Cinderella Liberty]]'' (1973) and [[The River (1984 film)|''The River'']] (1984), [[Oliver Stone]] ([[Born on the Fourth of July (film)|''Born on the Fourth of July'']] (1989), [[JFK (film)|''JFK'']] (1991) and [[Nixon (film)|''Nixon'']] (1995)), and [[Chris Columbus (filmmaker)|Chris Columbus]] (the first two [[Home Alone (franchise)|''Home Alone'' films]] (1990–1992), [[Stepmom (1998 film)|''Stepmom'']] (1998) and the first two [[Harry Potter (film series)|''Harry Potter'' films]] (2001-2002). Additional films Williams scored during this period include [[Harry Winer]]'s ''[[SpaceCamp]]'' (1986), [[Alan J. Pakula]]'s [[Presumed Innocent (film)|''Presumed Innocent'']] (1990), [[Ron Howard]]'s ''[[Far and Away]]'' (1992), [[Sydney Pollack]]'s [[Sabrina (1995 film)|''Sabrina'']] (1995), [[Barry Levinson]]'s [[Sleepers (film)|''Sleepers'']] (1996), [[John Singleton]]'s [[Rosewood (film)|''Rosewood'']] and [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]]'s [[Seven Years in Tibet (1997 film)|''Seven Years in Tibet'']] (1997), [[Alan Parker]]'s [[Angela's Ashes (film)|''Angela's Ashes'']] (1999), [[Roland Emmerich]]'s [[The Patriot (2000 film)|''The Patriot'']] (2000) and [[Rob Marshall]]'s [[Memoirs of a Geisha (film)|''Memoirs of a Geisha'']] (2005).

Williams scored the 2013 film ''[[The Book Thief (film)|The Book Thief]]'',<ref>{{cite web |date=August 6, 2013 |title=John Williams to Score 'The Book Thief' |url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2013/08/06/john-williams-to-score-the-book-thief/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208123731/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2013/08/06/john-williams-to-score-the-book-thief/ |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=August 6, 2013 |publisher=Film Music Reporter}}</ref> his first collaboration with a director other than Spielberg since 2005. The score earned him an Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations and a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition. It was his 44th nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] (and 49th overall), setting a new record for the most nominations in that category (he tied [[Alfred Newman (composer)|Alfred Newman]]'s record of 43 nominations in 2013).<ref name="oscars" /><ref>[http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/help/helpMain.jsp?helpContentURL=statistics/indexStats.html "Nominee Facts – Most nominations and Awards"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701093205/http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/help/helpMain.jsp?helpContentURL=statistics%2FindexStats.html|date=July 1, 2016}}, ''Academy Awards Database'', Retrieved November 30, 2015</ref> In 2017, Williams scored the animated short film ''[[Dear Basketball]]'', directed by [[Glen Keane]] and based on a poem by [[Kobe Bryant]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=May 5, 2016 |title=Kobe Bryant Inks Sports Illustrated Deal for 'Dear Basketball' Animated Film |url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/kobe-bryant-dear-basketball-film-sports-illustrated-1201767225/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608064159/http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/kobe-bryant-dear-basketball-film-sports-illustrated-1201767225/ |archive-date=June 8, 2016 |access-date=June 10, 2016 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Burlingame |first=Jon |date=January 11, 2018 |title=Kobe Bryant Scores With Composer John Williams for 'Dear Basketball' |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/spotlight/kobe-bryant-scores-with-composer-john-williams-for-dear-basketball-1202662215/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113093030/http://variety.com/2018/film/spotlight/kobe-bryant-scores-with-composer-john-williams-for-dear-basketball-1202662215/ |archive-date=January 13, 2018 |access-date=January 12, 2018 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> In 2023, he was commissioned by [[ESPN]] to write an original composition titled "Of Grit and Glory" for the [[2023 College Football Playoff National Championship]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Amanda |date=January 9, 2023 |title=Legendary Composer John Williams Creates Original Score for ESPN's College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2023/01/legendary-composer-john-williams-creates-original-score-for-espns-college-football-playoff-national-championship-presented-by-att/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Classical works and conducting===
[[File:Williamsautograph.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|Williams signing an autograph after a concert in 2006]]

==== Boston Pops Orchestra ====
From 1980 to 1993, Williams served as the [[Boston Pops Orchestra|Boston Pops]]' principal conductor, succeeding [[Arthur Fiedler]]. Williams never met Fiedler in person but spoke to him by telephone. His arrival as the Pops' new leader in the spring of 1980 allowed him to devote part of the Pops' first [[PBS]] broadcast of the season to presenting his new compositions for ''The Empire Strikes Back''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Knight |first1=Michael |title=John Williams Opens Season With Pops; Meredith and C-3PO Divided Into Thirds Redecorating the Old House |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/04/30/archives/john-williams-opens-season-with-pops-meredith-and-c3po-divided-into.html |access-date=July 15, 2021 |agency=The New York Times |date=April 30, 1980 |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715180118/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/04/30/archives/john-williams-opens-season-with-pops-meredith-and-c3po-divided-into.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Williams almost ended his tenure with the Pops in 1984 when some players hissed while sight-reading a new Williams composition in rehearsal; Williams abruptly left the session and tendered his resignation.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holland |first=Bernard |date=June 14, 1984 |title=Boston Pops Conductor Resigns Abruptly |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/14/arts/boston-pops-conductor-resigns-post-abruptly.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513050536/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/14/arts/boston-pops-conductor-resigns-post-abruptly.html |archive-date=May 13, 2022 |access-date=May 13, 2022 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> He initially cited mounting conflicts with his film composing schedule but later admitted a perceived lack of discipline in, and respect from, the Pops' ranks, culminating in this latest instance. After entreaties by the management and personal apologies from the musicians, Williams withdrew his resignation and continued as principal conductor for nine more years.<ref name="NYT2_JW">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/01/arts/at-100-the-boston-still-packs-them-in.html|title=At 100, the Boston Still Packs Them In|date=May 1, 1985|access-date=May 13, 2022|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Dudley|last=Clendinen|archive-date=May 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513050535/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/01/arts/at-100-the-boston-still-packs-them-in.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1995, he was succeeded by [[Keith Lockhart]], the former associate conductor of the [[Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra]] and [[Cincinnati Pops Orchestra]].<ref>{{cite news |title=New Conductor Appointed for Boston Pops Orchestra |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/07/arts/new-conductor-appointed-for-boston-pops-orchestra.html |access-date=November 19, 2020 |agency=The New York Times |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 7, 1995 |archive-date=May 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526142116/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/07/arts/new-conductor-appointed-for-boston-pops-orchestra.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Williams is now the Pops' laureate conductor, thus maintaining his affiliation with its parent [[Boston Symphony Orchestra]]. Williams leads the Pops on several occasions each year, particularly during their Holiday Pops season and typically for a week of concerts in May. He conducts an annual Film Night at both Boston Symphony Hall and [[Tanglewood]], where he frequently enlists the [[Tanglewood Festival Chorus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theberkshireedge.com/review-tanglewood-film-night-without-john-williams/|title=Tanglewood Film Night Without John Williams?|first=David Noel|last=Edwards|publisher=The Berkshire Edge|date=August 25, 2015|access-date=December 31, 2015|archive-date=April 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415172737/http://theberkshireedge.com/review-tanglewood-film-night-without-john-williams/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Compositions ====
[[File:John Williams Hollywood Bowl.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.9|Williams conducting at Hollywood Bowl in 2009]]
Williams has written many concert pieces, including a symphony; a sinfonietta for wind ensemble; a concerto for horn written for Dale Clevenger, the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]]'s principal horn; a concerto for clarinet written for [[Michele Zukovsky]], the [[Los Angeles Philharmonic]]'s principal clarinetist, in 1991;<ref name="TMP_JW">{{cite web|url=http://www.mytempo.com/williams.htm|title=Concerto for Clarinet|year=1991|access-date=September 17, 2007|website=MyTempo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928095405/http://www.mytempo.com/williams.htm|archive-date=September 28, 2007}}</ref> a cello concerto premiered by [[Yo-Yo Ma]] and the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood in 1994; concertos for the flute and violin recorded by the [[London Symphony Orchestra]]; and a trumpet concerto, which was premiered by [[Cleveland Orchestra|The Cleveland Orchestra]] and their principal trumpet Michael Sachs in September 1996.<ref name="concert-works">{{cite web|url=http://www.jwfan.com/?page_id=3750|title=Concert Works|publisher=John Williams Fan Network|year=2015|access-date=December 31, 2015|archive-date=December 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226010054/http://www.jwfan.com/?page_id=3750|url-status=live}}</ref> His bassoon concerto, ''[[The Five Sacred Trees]]'', which was premiered by the [[New York Philharmonic]] and principal bassoon player [[Judith LeClair]] in 1995, was recorded for Sony Classical by Williams with LeClair and the London Symphony Orchestra. His "[[Violin Concerto No. 2 (Williams)|Violin Concerto No. 2]]" was written for and premiered by [[Anne-Sophie Mutter]] and the [[Boston Symphony Orchestra]] at [[Tanglewood]] in 2021, with Williams conducting.<ref>{{Cite news |author=A. Z. Madonna |date=July 25, 2021 |title=At Tanglewood, a showcase of John Williams's strengths |newspaper=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/07/25/arts/tanglewood-super-salute-john-williams-man-scores/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 16, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Sharon |date=March 11, 2022 |title=World Premiere Recording Of John Williams' 'Violin Concerto No. 2' Announced |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/classical-news/john-williams-violin-concerto-no-2/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=uDiscover Music |language=en-US}}</ref>

Williams composed the ''[[Liberty Fanfare]]'' for the [[Statue of Liberty]]'s rededication; "We're Lookin' Good!" for the Special Olympics in celebration of the 1987 International Summer Games; and themes for the 1984, 1988, 1996 and 2002 Olympic Games. One of his concert works, ''Seven for Luck'', for soprano and orchestra, is a seven-piece song cycle based on the texts of former U.S. poet laureate [[Rita Dove]]. It had its world premiere by the Boston Symphony under Williams with soprano [[Cynthia Haymon]].<ref name="concert-works" />

[[File:John Williams with Boston Pops-1.jpg|thumb|left| Williams in 2011, conducting the [[Boston Pops Orchestra]]]]
Williams makes annual appearances with the [[Los Angeles Philharmonic]] at the [[Hollywood Bowl]], and took part as conductor and composer in the orchestra's opening gala concerts for the [[Walt Disney Concert Hall]] in 2003, which included the premiere of his piece ''Soundings''. In 2004, he served as the Grand Marshal for the [[Rose Parade]] and conducted "[[The Star Spangled Banner]]" at the [[Rose Bowl Game]]. In April 2005, Williams and the Boston Pops performed the "Throne Room Finale" from ''Star Wars'' at opening day in [[Fenway Park]] as the [[Boston Red Sox]], having won their first [[World Series]] championship since 1918, received their championship rings. For Game 1 of the 2007 World Series, Williams conducted a [[brass]]-and-drum [[Musical ensemble|ensemble]] in a new [[consonance and dissonance|dissonant]] [[arrangement]] of "The Star Spangled Banner".<ref name="videos">[http://jwfan.com/index.php?Itemid=50&id=791&option=com_content&task=view "John Williams: Videos"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806135553/http://www.jwfan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=791&Itemid=50|date=August 6, 2010}} from the John Williams Fan Network, June 2, 2007.</ref> He composed the [[quartet]] ''[[Air and Simple Gifts]]'' for the first inauguration of [[Barack Obama]]. The piece is based on the hymn "[[Simple Gifts]]", made famous by [[Aaron Copland]] in ''[[Appalachian Spring]]''. Williams chose the theme because he knew Obama admired Copland. It was performed by Yo-Yo Ma, violinist [[Itzhak Perlman]], pianist [[Gabriela Montero]] and clarinetist [[Anthony McGill (musician)|Anthony McGill]].<ref>{{cite news| last=Burlingame| first=Jon| title=Williams' music to Obama's ears| date=January 15, 2009| work=Variety| url=https://variety.com/2009/music/markets-festivals/williams-music-to-obama-s-ears-1117998645/| access-date=December 11, 2023| archive-date=December 11, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211032719/https://variety.com/2009/music/markets-festivals/williams-music-to-obama-s-ears-1117998645/| url-status=live}}</ref>

Williams has guest conducted "[[The President's Own]]" United States Marine Band on several occasions, who commissioned him in 2013 to write "Fanfare for The President's Own" (his first concert band work since his sinfonietta for wind ensemble) in honor of their 215th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 16, 2013 |title=New Williams Fanfare to Premiere Next Week – JOHN WILLIAMS Fan Network – JWFAN |url=https://jwfan.com/?p=5611 |access-date=April 16, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2023, Williams was made an honorary [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine]] at the conclusion of his fifth concert with the Marine Band at the [[Kennedy Center]] in Washington DC.<ref>{{Cite AV media |publisher=United States Marine Band |date=July 18, 2023 |title=Maestro John Williams: Honorary Marine |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfEsHB3iuZw|access-date=April 17, 2024 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

In 2021, Williams conducted the world premiere of "Overture to the Oscars" at Tanglewood's 2021 "Film Night".<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 19, 2021 |title=Tanglewood's 'Film Night' 2021: Reviews, Photos and More ('Overture to the Oscars' World Premiere) – JOHN WILLIAMS Fan Network – JWFAN |url=https://jwfan.com/?p=13444 |access-date=April 16, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref> This was followed in 2022 by a "Fanfare for Solo Trumpet", written for the reopening of [[David Geffen Hall]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 23, 2022 |title=VIDEO: 'Fanfare for Solo Trumpet' – New Williams Work for David Geffen Hall Reopening – JOHN WILLIAMS Fan Network – JWFAN |url=https://jwfan.com/?p=13829 |access-date=April 16, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref> and "Centennial Overture", written in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the [[Hollywood Bowl]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 4, 2022 |title=VIDEO: John Williams Conducts New Fanfare 'Centennial Overture' at the Hollywood Bowl (World Premiere) – JOHN WILLIAMS Fan Network – JWFAN |url=https://jwfan.com/?p=14022 |access-date=April 16, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref> He is currently completing a piano concerto for [[Emanuel Ax]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Coghlan |first=Alexandra |date=April 16, 2024 |title=John Williams, film's greatest composer — I'm 91 and haven't retired |newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/john-williams-maestro-of-the-melodic-spark-0w6mbp5fm |access-date=April 16, 2024 |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

==== Conductor ====
[[File:John Williams tux.jpg|thumb|left|Williams at Avery Fisher Hall in 2004]]
In February 2004, April 2006, and September 2007, Williams conducted the [[New York Philharmonic]] at [[Avery Fisher Hall]] in New York City. The initial program was intended to be a one-time special event, and featured Williams' medley of Oscar-winning film scores first performed at the previous year's [[Academy Award]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jwfan.com/?p=2252|title=John Williams: the Art of the Score (review)|website=John Williams Fan Network|first=Johnny|last=Ecks|date=February 12, 2004|access-date=May 22, 2013|archive-date=February 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225074806/http://www.jwfan.com/?p=2252|url-status=live}}</ref> Its unprecedented popularity led to two concerts in 2006, fundraising gala events featuring personal recollections by [[Martin Scorsese]] and [[Steven Spielberg]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/26/arts/music/26will.html|title=Philharmonic and Film: Sound to Bring Pictures to Life|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 26, 2006|access-date=May 22, 2013|first=Allan|last=Kozinn|archive-date=January 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111055154/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/26/arts/music/26will.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Chris Matthew Sciabarra, [http://www.nyu.edu/projects/sciabarra/notablog/archives/001129.html "John Williams & the NY Philharmonic"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304125445/http://www.nyu.edu/projects/sciabarra/notablog/archives/001129.html |date=March 4, 2016}} from ''Notablog'', May 16, 16, 2006.</ref> Continued demand fueled three more concerts in 2007, which all sold out. These featured a tribute to the musicals of [[Stanley Donen]] and served as the New York Philharmonic season's opening event.<ref name=NYP_JW>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/arts/music/09classicallistweb.html|title=Classical: Just in Time for Timeless Melodies|access-date=May 22, 2013|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Allan|last=Kozinn|date=September 9, 2007|archive-date=June 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605042556/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/arts/music/09classicallistweb.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Anthony Tommasini, [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/17/arts/music/17will.html "John Williams: NY Philharmonic (review)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116200431/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/17/arts/music/17will.html |date=January 16, 2018}} from ''New York Times'', September 17, 2007.</ref> After a three-season absence, Williams conducted the Philharmonic once again in October 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/john-williams-makes-movie_b_1032296|title=John Williams Makes Movie Music Come Alive|work=Huffington Post|last=Groner|first=Danny|date=October 26, 2011|access-date=May 13, 2022|archive-date=May 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513050535/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/john-williams-makes-movie_b_1032296|url-status=live}}</ref>

After over a ten year break, Williams returned to New York in 2022 to conduct the [[Philadelphia Orchestra]] for a benefit concert at [[Carnegie Hall]], with special guest violinist [[Anne-Sophie Mutter]].<ref>Justin Davidson (April 22, 2023). [https://www.vulture.com/article/john-williams-carnegie-hall-anne-sophie-mutter-philadelphia-orchestra.html "A Blockbuster Evening With John Williams at Carnegie Hall"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215075739/https://www.vulture.com/article/john-williams-carnegie-hall-anne-sophie-mutter-philadelphia-orchestra.html |date=December 15, 2023}}. ''New York Magazine''.</ref> The next year, he was feted at a gala at [[David Geffen Hall]] by Spielberg, celebrating their nearly fifty-year collaboration.<ref>[https://www.townandcountrymag.com/the-scene/parties/g43744339/new-york-philharmonic-gala-2023-john-williams/ "A Jedi Walks into a Gala"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215075740/https://www.townandcountrymag.com/the-scene/parties/g43744339/new-york-philharmonic-gala-2023-john-williams/ |date=December 15, 2023}}. ''Town & Country''. April 26, 2023.</ref> In 2024, he returned to headline another gala at Carnegie Hall with the Philadelphia Orchestra, this time with Yo-Yo Ma as his special guest.<ref>[https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2024/02/22/An-Evening-with-John-Williams-and-Yo-Yo-Ma-0700PM "An Evening with John Williams and Yo-Yo Ma"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201233157/https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2024/02/22/An-Evening-with-John-Williams-and-Yo-Yo-Ma-0700PM |date=December 1, 2023}}. Carnegie Hall. February 2, 2024.</ref>

[[File:John Williams & Stanley Donan.jpg|thumb|right|Stanley Donen (left) and Williams at Avery Fisher Hall in 2007]]
Williams also conducted the [[National Symphony Orchestra]], the [[United States Army Band|U.S. Army Herald Trumpets]], the Joint Armed Forces Chorus, and the [[Choral Arts Society of Washington]] in his new arrangement of "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the anthem's 200th anniversary. The performance was held at ''[[A Capitol Fourth]]'', an [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] celebration concert in Washington, D.C., on July 4, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Legendary-Composer-John-Williams-to-Pay-Tribute-to-National-Anthem-on-PBS-A-CAPITOL-FOURTH-20140625|title=Legendary Composer John Williams to Pay Tribute to National Anthem on PBS' A Capitol Fourth|website=Broadway World|date=June 25, 2014|access-date=December 31, 2015|archive-date=January 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103004011/http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Legendary-Composer-John-Williams-to-Pay-Tribute-to-National-Anthem-on-PBS-A-CAPITOL-FOURTH-20140625|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 13, 2017, at [[Star Wars Celebration]] Orlando, Williams performed a surprise concert<ref>{{cite web |last1=Borrelli |first1=Christopher |title=13 favorite moments from 'Star Wars' Celebration in Orlando this weekend |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-star-wars-celebration-10-best-20170415-column.html |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=July 13, 2019 |date=April 17, 2017 |archive-date=August 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828053244/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-star-wars-celebration-10-best-20170415-column.html |url-status=live}}</ref> with the [[Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra]] featuring "Princess Leia's Theme" (a tribute to the recently deceased [[Carrie Fisher]]), "The Imperial March" and "Main Title", followed by [[George Lucas]] saying, "The secret sauce of Star Wars, the greatest composer-conductor in the universe, John Williams".

[[File:John Williams Boston Pops 2018.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.05|John Williams conducting the Boston Pops in May 2018]]
[[Anne-Sophie Mutter]], introduced to Williams by their mutual friend [[André Previn]], collaborated with Williams on an album, ''Across the Stars'', on which Mutter played themes and pieces from Williams' film scores in his new arrangements for violin. It was released in August 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Greiving |first1=Tim |title=John Williams And Anne-Sophie Mutter, 2 Geniuses For The Price Of One |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/08/24/753877978/john-williams-and-anne-sophie-mutter-2-geniuses-for-the-price-of-one |work=NPR |access-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715184914/https://www.npr.org/2019/08/24/753877978/john-williams-and-anne-sophie-mutter-2-geniuses-for-the-price-of-one |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Vienna Philharmonic]] Orchestra invited Williams to lead concerts in January 2020, his first engagement with a European orchestra,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/concerts/concert-detail/event-id/10146|title=A Tribute to John Williams, Sun, 19. January 2020|publisher=[[Vienna Philharmonic]]|access-date=May 4, 2020|archive-date=August 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825233927/https://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/concerts/concert-detail/event-id/10146}}</ref> for an all-Williams concert featuring Mutter as soloist. The concert included many pieces from ''Across the Stars''. The resulting concert album, ''John Williams in Vienna'', became the bestselling orchestral album of 2020, reaching the top 10 in many countries and topping the U.S. and UK classical charts.<ref>{{cite web |title=John Williams in Vienna: 2020's best-selling orchestral album is released as new double-album fan edition |url=https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/artists/john-williams/news/john-williams-in-vienna-2020s-best-selling-orchestral-album-is-released-as-new-double-album-fan-edition-261754 |website=Deutsche Grammophone |access-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715181932/https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/artists/john-williams/news/john-williams-in-vienna-2020s-best-selling-orchestral-album-is-released-as-new-double-album-fan-edition-261754 |url-status=live}}</ref> The orchestra also commissioned a new procedural from Williams for their annual {{lang|de|Philharmonikerball}},<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.diepresse.com/5886209/wiener-philharmoniker-sagen-ball-2021-ab|title=Wiener Philharmoniker sagen Ball 2021 ab|language=de|date=October 22, 2020|website=Die Presse|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-date=December 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204081523/https://www.diepresse.com/5886209/wiener-philharmoniker-sagen-ball-2021-ab|url-status=live}}</ref> replacing [[Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare|the 1924 fanfare]] by [[Richard Strauss]].

[[File:Masur, Williams, Spielberg.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ken-David Masur]] (left), Williams, and Spielberg at [[David Geffen Hall]] in 2023]]
Williams conducted the [[Berlin Philharmonic]] from October 14–16, 2021, marking his second engagement with a European orchestra and his first with the Berlin Philharmonic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/concerts/calendar/details/53783/|title=John Williams conducts John Williams |publisher=Berlin Philharmonic|access-date=October 18, 2021|archive-date=December 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227150119/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/concerts/calendar/details/53783/}}</ref> In 2022, in celebration of his 90th birthday, Williams conducted the Vienna Philharmonic in March, and was honored on August 20 with a tribute at [[Tanglewood]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Tanglewood 2022 season update: More James Taylor tickets released, and John Williams will conduct at Tanglewood on Parade |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/berkshirelandscapes/james-taylor-tickets-john-williams-tanglewood-on-parade-2022-season/article_376f343e-a08f-11ec-9f73-1b03176377f3.html |website=The Berkshire Eagle |date=March 10, 2022 |access-date=May 8, 2022 |archive-date=May 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508195509/https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/berkshirelandscapes/james-taylor-tickets-john-williams-tanglewood-on-parade-2022-season/article_376f343e-a08f-11ec-9f73-1b03176377f3.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The tribute at Tanglewood featured [[James Taylor]], Yo-Yo Ma, and [[Branford Marsalis]]. The Boston Symphony Orchestra performed some of Williams' best-known music, with Williams conducting the "Raiders March" from the Indiana Jones movies at the end of the show.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rousseau |first1=Morgan |title=Photos: BSO honors legendary composer John Williams with star-studded 90th birthday celebration |url=https://www.boston.com/news/music/2022/08/21/photos-bso-honors-legendary-composer-john-williams-with-star-studded-90th-birthday-celebration/ |newspaper=Boston Globe |access-date=August 27, 2022 |archive-date=August 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827045809/https://www.boston.com/news/music/2022/08/21/photos-bso-honors-legendary-composer-john-williams-with-star-studded-90th-birthday-celebration/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Williams made a surprise appearance at the U.S. premiere of the ''[[Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny]]'' (2023) on June 15, where he conducted themes with a live symphony orchestra. Also present were Spielberg, Lucas, [[Harrison Ford]], and [[James Mangold]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2023/06/john-williams-indiana-jones-dial-of-destiny-premiere/|title= John Williams Conducts Surprise Performance of Indiana Jones Theme Song at Dial of Destiny Premiere|website= January 25, 2024|date= June 14, 2023|access-date= January 25, 2024 |archive-date=January 25, 2024|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240125145742/https://consequence.net/2023/06/john-williams-indiana-jones-dial-of-destiny-premiere/|url-status= live}}</ref> Later that year, he conducted the [[Saito Kinen Orchestra]] in [[Matsumoto, Nagano|Matsumoto]] and [[Tokyo]], Japan, marking his return to the country for the first time in over thirty years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 23, 2024 |title=Deutsche Grammophon Announces 'John Williams in Tokyo' (Digital, CD & Blu-ray) + 'John Williams in Concert' 7-LP Vinyl Box Set – JOHN WILLIAMS Fan Network – JWFAN |url=https://jwfan.com/?p=15887 |access-date=April 16, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In 1956, Williams married [[Barbara Ruick]], an American actress and singer, and they remained married until her death in 1974.<ref>{{cite news |title=Actress in Reno film found dead |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49952106/obituary-for-barbara-ruick-williams/ |access-date=July 13, 2020 |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |date=March 4, 1974 |location=Reno, Nevada |page=2|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> The couple had three children: Jennifer "Jenny" Williams Gruska (b. 1956), Mark Towner Williams (b. 1958), and [[Joseph Williams (musician)|Joseph Williams]] (b. 1960); the latter is best known as the lead singer of [[Toto (band)|Toto]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theslateonline.com/article/2018/10/joseph-williams-talks-about-music-life-during-totos-40th-trip-around-the-sun|title=Joseph Williams talks about music, life during Toto's 40th trip around the sun|website=The Slate|access-date=April 14, 2019|archive-date=April 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414100702/https://www.theslateonline.com/article/2018/10/joseph-williams-talks-about-music-life-during-totos-40th-trip-around-the-sun|url-status=live}}</ref> Through his daughter Jennifer, his grandchildren are Barbara Gruska and Ethan Gruska, who are the members of the duo band [[The Belle Brigade]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Album review: The Belle Brigade’s self-titled debut |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/pop-hiss/story/2011-04-19/album-review-the-belle-brigades-self-titled-debut |website=www.latimes.com}}</ref>

In 1980, Williams married Samantha Winslow, a photographer.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://people.com/archive/the-boston-pops-gets-a-movie-composer-who-doesnt-chase-fire-engines-as-its-new-boss-vol-13-no-25/|title=The Boston Pops Gets a Movie Composer Who Doesn't Chase Fire Engines as Its New Boss|website=People|access-date=September 22, 2019|archive-date=September 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922181327/https://people.com/archive/the-boston-pops-gets-a-movie-composer-who-doesnt-chase-fire-engines-as-its-new-boss-vol-13-no-25/|url-status=live}}</ref>

He lives in the [[Holmby Hills, Los Angeles|Holmby Hills]] neighborhood of [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]].

== Awards, recognition and legacy ==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by John Williams}}

Williams is regarded as one of the most influential film composers of all time. His work has influenced other composers of film, popular, and contemporary classical music. Norwegian composer [[Marcus Paus]] argues that Williams' "satisfying way of embodying dissonance and avant-garde techniques within a larger tonal framework" makes him "one of the great composers of any century".<ref name="Green">{{cite magazine |last1=Green |first1=Edward |date=2020 |title=Interview with Composer Marcus Paus |url=http://journaliconi.com/index.php/iconi/article/view/89/93 |journal=Iconi |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=56–67 |access-date=December 24, 2020 |archive-date=December 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223222325/http://journaliconi.com/index.php/iconi/article/view/89/93 |url-status=live}}</ref> Similarly, his film music has clear influences from other classical and film composers, including [[Holst]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Williams vs Gustav Holst or Star Wars Vs The Planets – YouTube | date=November 13, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IX1jSVmaAs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/8IX1jSVmaAs |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |access-date=July 15, 2020 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Igor Stravinsky|Stravinsky]], [[Erich Wolfgang Korngold|Korngold]], and others. While some have specifically referenced the similarities,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gabler |first=Jay |title=Star Wars music: What were John Williams' classical influences? |url=http://www.classicalmpr.org/story/2015/10/20/star-wars-john-williams-influences |access-date=July 15, 2020 |website=Classicalmpr.org |archive-date=July 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715215141/https://www.classicalmpr.org/story/2015/10/20/star-wars-john-williams-influences |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Barone |first=Joshua |date=September 14, 2017 |title=Hear the Music That Inspired 'Star Wars' |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/14/arts/music/star-wars-soundtrack-classical-music-new-york-philharmonic.html |access-date=July 15, 2020 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812221355/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/14/arts/music/star-wars-soundtrack-classical-music-new-york-philharmonic.html |url-status=live}}</ref> these are generally attributed to the natural influence of one composer on another. The ''[[The Boston Globe|Boston Globe]]'' named Williams as "the most successful composer of film music in the history of the medium".<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Williams |url=https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/w/wa-wn/john-williams/ |access-date=December 31, 2023 |website=The Kennedy Center |language=en}}</ref>

Williams has been nominated for 54 [[Academy Awards]], winning five; six [[Emmy Award]]s, winning three; 25 [[Golden Globe Award]]s, winning four; 77 [[Grammy Award]]s, winning 26; and has received seven [[British Academy Film Awards]]. With 54 Oscar nominations, Williams currently holds the record for the most Oscar nominations for a living person<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.8notes.com/biographies/john_williams.asp|title=Williams, John biography|website=8notes|access-date=May 6, 2007|archive-date=September 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909221202/http://www.8notes.com/biographies/john_williams.asp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmmusicbox.com/boutique_us/page_actus_page.cfm?code_lg=lg_us&num_actus=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927011739/http://www.filmmusicbox.com/boutique_us/page_actus_page.cfm?code_lg=lg_us&num_actus=3 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |title=John Williams Film Music Box Biography Discography News |access-date=May 6, 2006}}</ref> and is the second most nominated person in Academy Awards history behind [[Walt Disney]]'s 59. Williams is the only person to be nominated for an Academy Award in seven consecutive decades (the 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s). He is also the oldest person, at age 91, ever to be nominated for an Academy Award. Forty-eight of Williams' Oscar nominations are for [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] and five are for [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]]. He won four Oscars for [[Academy Award for Original Music Score|Best Original Score]] (''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'', ''[[Star Wars music|Star Wars]]'', ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'', ''[[Schindler's List]]'') and one for [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Scoring: Adaptation and Original Song Score]] ''([[Fiddler on the Roof (film)|Fiddler on the Roof]])''.

Williams was the subject of an hour-long documentary for the [[BBC]] in 1980, and was featured in a report on ''[[20/20 (US television show)|20/20]]'' in 1983.<ref name="videos" /> He has received several academic honors, including an Honorary Doctorate of Music from [[Berklee College of Music]] in 1980,<ref>[https://www.berklee.edu/news/academy-award-winning-composer-ar-rahman-receive-honorary-doctorate-berklee Academy Award-Winning Composer A. R. Rahman to Receive Honorary Doctorate from Berklee] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222105053/https://www.berklee.edu/news/academy-award-winning-composer-ar-rahman-receive-honorary-doctorate-berklee |date=December 22, 2017}} ''berklee.edu/news'' accessed June 1, 2019 'Past honorary doctorate recipients include... John Williams...'</ref> as well as Honorary [[Doctor of Music]] degrees from [[Boston College]] in 1993,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/publications/factbook/pdf/98_99/fb99-degree-conf-hondgr.pdf|title=Boston College Fact Book, 1998–1999|access-date=August 28, 2015|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121194459/https://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/publications/factbook/pdf/98_99/fb99-degree-conf-hondgr.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> from [[Harvard University]] in 2017,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/05/harvard-awards-10-honorary-degrees-at-366th-commencement/|title=Harvard awards 10 honorary degrees at 366th Commencement|website=News.harvard.edu|date=May 25, 2017|access-date=May 25, 2017|archive-date=May 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525124711/http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/05/harvard-awards-10-honorary-degrees-at-366th-commencement/|url-status=live}}</ref> and from the [[University of Pennsylvania]] in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Penn's 2021 Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipients|url=https://almanac.upenn.edu/articles/penns-2021-commencement-speaker-and-honorary-degree-recipients|access-date=May 18, 2021|website=Almanac.upenn.edu|language=en|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316075309/https://almanac.upenn.edu/articles/penns-2021-commencement-speaker-and-honorary-degree-recipients|url-status=live}}</ref> Williams was made an honorary brother of [[Kappa Kappa Psi]] at [[Boston University]] in 1993, upon his impending retirement from the Boston Pops.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bubands.com/kky/alumni/roster.php#honorary|title=Theta Beta Alumni Roster|website=Bubands.com|access-date=March 28, 2012|archive-date=May 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514093942/http://bubands.com/kky/alumni/roster.php#honorary|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 1988, Williams has been honored with 15 Sammy Film Music Awards, the longest-running awards for film music recordings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americanmusicpreservation.com/sammys2.htm |title=The Sammy Awards List |website=American Music Preservation|access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060526201605/http://www.americanmusicpreservation.com/sammys2.htm |archive-date=May 26, 2006}}</ref> In 2000, Williams received the Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement|website=Achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/|access-date=August 7, 2020|archive-date=December 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215023909/https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Williams has been inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame and the [[Hollywood Bowl|Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame]]. Williams was honored with the annual Richard Kirk award at the 1999 [[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI]] Film and TV Awards, recognizing his contribution to film and television music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/533563|title=BMI Film/Awards:1999|date=January 1999|website=BMI|access-date=November 4, 2010|archive-date=June 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606155228/http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/533563|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2004, he received a [[Kennedy Center Honors|Kennedy Center Honor]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Crean |first1=Ellen |title=John Williams: Movie Music Man |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-williams-movie-music-man/ |work=CBS News |date=December 15, 2004 |access-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-date=September 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926052109/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-williams-movie-music-man/ |url-status=live}}</ref> He won a [[Classic Brit Awards|Classic Brit Award]] in 2005 for his soundtrack work of the previous year. Williams has won the [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition]] for his scores for ''Star Wars'', ''[[Theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind|Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]'', ''Superman'', ''The Empire Strikes Back'', ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'', ''Angela's Ashes'', ''Munich'', ''Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'', and ''The Book Thief''. The competition includes not only composers of film scores, but also composers of instrumental music of any genre, including composers of classical fare such as [[Symphony|symphonies]] and [[chamber music]].

In 2003, the [[International Olympic Committee]] accorded Williams its highest individual honor, the [[Olympic Order]].<ref>{{cite news|title=IOC awards the Olympic Order to John Williams |url=https://www.olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-awards-the-olympic-order-to-john-williams |publisher=[[IOC]] |date=May 1, 2003 |access-date=December 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208074408/http://www.olympic.org/news?articleid=56284 |archive-date=December 8, 2013}}</ref> In 2009, Williams received the [[National Medal of Arts]] in the White House in Washington, D.C., for his achievements in symphonic music for films, and "as a pre-eminent composer and conductor [whose] scores have defined and inspired modern movie-going for decades".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-presentation-national-humanities-medal-and-national-medal-arts|title=Remarks by the President at Presentation of the National Humanities Medal and the National Medal of the Arts &#124; The White House|date=February 25, 2010|access-date=July 4, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216154116/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-presentation-national-humanities-medal-and-national-medal-arts|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|website=[[Whitehouse.gov]]|archive-date=February 16, 2017}}</ref> In 2012, Williams received the [[Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music]].<ref>{{cite web |title=John Williams wins a Lifetime Achievement Award at Classic BRITs 2012 |url=https://www.classicfm.com/events/classic-brit-awards/news/john-williams-be-honoured-classic-brits/ |website=ClassicFM |access-date=December 21, 2020 |archive-date=October 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028152404/https://www.classicfm.com/events/classic-brit-awards/news/john-williams-be-honoured-classic-brits/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, Williams was presented with the [[Ken Burns]] Lifetime Achievement Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osv.org/news/film-and-concert-composer-john-williams-to-be-honored-by-documentary-filmmaker-ken-burns-and|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025040823/http://www.osv.org/news/film-and-concert-composer-john-williams-to-be-honored-by-documentary-filmmaker-ken-burns-and|archive-date=October 25, 2013|title=Ken Burns Lifetime Achievement Award}}</ref> In 2016, Williams was made a ''[[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres|Chevalier De L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]]'' – [[Cabinet of France|Government of France]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://losangeles.consulfrance.org/gerard-araud-ambassadeur-de-france-en-visite-a-los-angeles|title=Gérard Araud, Ambassadeur de France en visite à Los Angeles|website=Consulat Général de France à Los Angeles|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=March 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313132055/https://losangeles.consulfrance.org/gerard-araud-ambassadeur-de-france-en-visite-a-los-angeles|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, the performing rights organization [[Broadcast Music, Inc.]] established The John Williams Award, of which Williams became the first recipient.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/bmi-to-honor-legendary-composer-john-williams-with-special-award-at-film-tv|title=BMI to Honor Legendary Composer John Williams With Special Award at Film, TV & Visual Media Awards|date=April 9, 2018|website=BMI|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809223353/https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/bmi-to-honor-legendary-composer-john-williams-with-special-award-at-film-tv|url-status=live}}</ref> That same year, Williams received the Grammy [[Grammy Trustees Award|Trustees Award]], a Special Merit Award presented to individuals who, during their careers in music, have made significant contributions other than performance (and some performers through 1983) to the field of recording.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Velez |first1=Jennifer |title=Gustavo Dudamel Awards John Williams On "GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends" |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/gustavo-dudamel-awards-john-williams-grammy-salute-music-legends |access-date=March 15, 2021 |publisher=The Grammys |date=October 4, 2018 |archive-date=May 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508003930/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/gustavo-dudamel-awards-john-williams-grammy-salute-music-legends |url-status=live}}</ref> He additionally received a President's Medal award from The [[Juilliard School]] and announced during the ceremony that he intended to bequeath his entire library of concert and film music scores, as well as his sketchbooks, to the college.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2018 |title=Williams Donates All His Scores to Juilliard – JOHN WILLIAMS Fan Network – JWFAN |url=https://jwfan.com/?p=10617 |access-date=April 16, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2020, Williams won the [[Grammy Award]] for "Best Instrumental Composition" for composing ''Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite'',<ref>[https://www.vulture.com/2020/01/grammy-winners-2020-the-full-list.html Grammy Award Winners List 2020] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126233127/https://www.vulture.com/2020/01/grammy-winners-2020-the-full-list.html |date=January 26, 2020}} by Zoe Haylock, Vulture, January 27, 2020.</ref> and he received his 52nd Oscar nomination for "Best Original Score" at the 92nd Academy Awards for ''[[Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker]].''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.classicfm.com/composers/williams/52nd-oscar-nomination-star-wars-rise-skywalker/|title=John Williams receives his 52nd Oscar nomination for 'Rise of Skywalker' score|website=Classic FM|access-date=January 14, 2020|archive-date=November 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102131416/https://www.classicfm.com/composers/williams/52nd-oscar-nomination-star-wars-rise-skywalker/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, Williams received the Gold Medal of the [[Royal Philharmonic Society]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/awards/gold-medal/john-williams|title=John Williams|website=Royal Philharmonic Society|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-date=December 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201204940/https://royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/awards/gold-medal/john-williams|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the [[Princess of Asturias Award|Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts]] (jointly with [[Ennio Morricone]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fpa.es/en/princess-of-asturias-awards/laureates/2020-ennio-morricone-and-john-williams.html?especifica=0|title=Ennio Morricone and John Williams – Laureates – Princess of Asturias Awards|website=The Princess of Asturias Foundation|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-date=July 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706210802/https://www.fpa.es/en/princess-of-asturias-awards/laureates/2020-ennio-morricone-and-john-williams.html?especifica=0|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[2022 Special Honours|2022]], Williams was awarded an [[honorary knighthood]] ([[Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire|KBE]]) by [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]], "for services to film music", one of the final two honorary knighthoods awarded during the Queen's seventy-year reign.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Frost |first1=Caroline |date=September 24, 2022 |title=Queen's Last Knight: Steven Spielberg's Favourite Composer John Williams "Honoured By Queen Elizabeth" |url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/john-williams-knighthood-queen-elizabeth-ii-composer-steven-spielberg-1235126366/ |access-date=September 24, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=September 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924101851/https://deadline.com/2022/09/john-williams-knighthood-queen-elizabeth-ii-composer-steven-spielberg-1235126366/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Queen's final knighthoods go to Williams and Iger |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6p51x0lexdo |website=[[BBC News]] |date=September 26, 2022 |access-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926130847/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6p51x0lexdo |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2024, Williams was inducted into the [[American Academy of Arts and Letters]] (jointly with [[Terence Blanchard]])<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 29, 2024 |title=Oscar winner John Williams among 19 new members of American Academy of Arts and Letters |url=https://apnews.com/article/academy-arts-letters-john-williams-soundtrack-4d21911be4caa3edfbebf5748b21ee75 |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> and received the [[Disney Legends]] award at the [[Honda Center]] in August of the same year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moss |date=March 19, 2024 |title=D23 Announces Extraordinary Line Up of 2024 Disney Legends Award Honorees |url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/d23-2024-disney-legends-award-honorees/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=The Walt Disney Company |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Concert works==
===Concertos===
* 1969: Concerto for Flute and Orchestra
* 1974: Violin Concerto No. 1
* 1985: Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra
* 1991: Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra
* 1993: Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, ''[[The Five Sacred Trees]]''
* 1994: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra
* 1996: Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra
* 1997: Elegy for Cello and Orchestra
* 2000: ''TreeSong'' for Violin and Orchestra
* 2002: ''Heartwood: Lyric Sketches'' for Cello and Orchestra
* 2002: ''Escapades'' for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (adapted from the ''[[Catch Me If You Can (soundtrack)|Catch Me If You Can]]'' film score)
* 2003: [[Horn Concerto (Williams)|Concerto for Horn and Orchestra]]
* 2009: Concerto for Viola and Orchestra
* 2009: ''On Willows and Birches'', for Harp and Orchestra
* 2011: Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra
* 2014: ''Prelude and Scherzo'' for Piano and Orchestra
* 2017: ''Markings'' for Violin, Strings and Harp
* 2018: ''Highwood's Ghost, An Encounter'' for Cello, Harp and Orchestra
* 2021: [[Violin Concerto No. 2 (Williams)|Violin Concerto No. 2]]
* 2025: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra<ref>[https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2025-04-24/a-john-williams-world-premiere-with-emmanuel-ax-at-tanglewood] Classical Radio Boston</ref>

===Other orchestral works===
* 1965: Prelude and Fugue (recorded on ''[[Stan Kenton Conducts the Los Angeles Neophonic Orchestra]]'' (Capitol, 1965))
* 1965: Symphony no. 1
* 1965: Essay for Strings
* 1968: Sinfonietta for Wind Ensemble
* 1975: ''[[Thomas and the King]]'' – Musical
* 1980: Jubilee 350 Fanfare
* 1984: Olympic Fanfare & Theme
* 1986: ''[[Liberty Fanfare]]''
* 1987: A Hymn to New England
* 1988: Fanfare for Michael Dukakis
* 1988: ''[[For New York]]''
* 1990: Celebrate Discovery
* 1993: Sound the Bells!
* 1994: Song for World Peace
* 1995: Variations on Happy Birthday
* 1999: ''[[American Journey]]''
* 2003: ''[[Soundings (Williams)|Soundings]]''
* 2007: Star Spangled Banner
* 2008: ''A Timeless Call''
* 2012: Fanfare for Fenway
* 2012: Seven for Luck for soprano and orchestra
* 2013: For 'The President's Own'
* 2014: Star Spangled Banner
* 2021: Overture to the Oscars
* 2022: Centennial Overture
* 2023: Of Grit and Glory

===Chamber works===
* 1951: Sonata for Piano
* 1997: ''Elegy'' for Cello and Piano
* 2001: ''Three Pieces'' for Solo Cello
* 2007: Duo Concertante for Violin and Viola
* 2009: ''[[Air and Simple Gifts]]'' for violin, cello, clarinet and piano
* 2011: Quartet ''La Jolla'' for violin, cello, clarinet and harp
* 2012: ''Rounds'' for solo guitar
* 2013: ''Conversations'' for solo piano
* 2014: ''Music for Brass'' for Brass Ensemble and Percussion

==Discography==
{{Main|John Williams discography}}

===Charting hit singles (U.S., ''Billboard'')===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!''Billboard''
[[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]
!''Billboard''
[[Adult Contemporary (chart)|AC]]
|-
|1975
|Main Title (Theme from "Jaws")
|style="text-align: center;" |32<ref name="CH">{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/john-williams/chart-history/hsi/|title=John Williams Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 20, 2018|archive-date=November 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128185747/https://www.billboard.com/artist/john-williams/chart-history/hsi/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|style="text-align: center;" |22<ref name="C2">{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/john-williams/chart-history/asi/|title=John Williams Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 20, 2018|archive-date=November 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128185815/https://www.billboard.com/artist/john-williams/chart-history/asi/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|1977
|Star Wars (Main Title)
|style="text-align: center;" |10<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|date=September 17, 1977|title=Hot 100|language=en|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1977-09-17|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=May 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519093400/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1977-09-17|url-status=live}}</ref>
|style="text-align: center;" |4<ref name="C2" />
|-
|1978
|Theme from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"
|style="text-align: center;" |13<ref name="CH" />
|style="text-align: center;" |13<ref name="C2" />
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Music|Biography|United States}}
* [[List of compositions by John Williams]]
* ''[[Music by John Williams]]'', a documentary film about him
* [[Music of the Harry Potter films|Music of ''Harry Potter'']]
* [[Music of Star Wars|Music of ''Star Wars'']]
* [[Superman music|Music of ''Superman'']]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book| last=Aschieri|first=Roberto|title=Over the Moon: La Música de John Williams Para El Cine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LodQrgTgTlIC |year=1999|publisher=Función Privada, sponsored by Universidad Diego Portales|location=Santigo, Chile|isbn=978-4-89799-246-4|page=400|language=es}}
* Audissino, Emilio (2021): [https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/5787.htm ''John Williams' Film Music: Reviving Hollywood's Classical Style'']. (Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press), 376 pp.&nbsp;{{ISBN|978-0-299-33234-1}}.
* Audissino, Emilio ed. (2018): [http://www.brepols.net/Pages/ShowProduct.aspx?prod_id=IS-9782503580340-1 ''John Williams: Music for Films, Television and the Concert Stage'']. (Lucca, Italy: Bepols), 440 pp. {{ISBN|978-2-503-58034-0}}.
* {{cite book|last=Moormann|first=Peter|title=Spielberg-Variationen: die Filmmusik von John Williams|year=2010|publisher=Nomos, Edition Reinhard Fischer|location=Baden-Baden|isbn=978-3-8329-5355-3|page=797|language=de}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Palmer |first=Christopher |others=Revised by Martin Marks |editor-first1=Martin |editor-last1=Marks |year=2020 |orig-date=2013 |encyclopedia=[[Grove Music Online]] |title=Williams, John |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=Oxford |doi=10.1093/omo/9781561592630.013.3000000229 |isbn=978-1-56159-263-0 |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-3000000229}} {{Grove Music subscription}}
* Paulus, Irena: "Williams versus Wagner – Or an Attempt at Linking Musical Epics". In: {{cite book|last=Stoppe|first=Sebastian|title=Film in Concert: Film Scores and their Relation to Classical Concert Music|year=2014|publisher=VWH Verlag|location=Glücksstadt, Germany|isbn=978-3-86488-060-5|pages=63–108|doi=10.25969/mediarep/16802}}.
* Stoppe, Sebastian: "John Williams' Film Music in the Concert Halls". In: {{cite book|last=Audissino|first=Emilio|title=John Williams, Music for Film, Television and the Concert Stage.|year=2018|publisher=Brepols|location=Turnhout|isbn=978-2-503-58034-0|pages=95–116|doi=10.25969/mediarep/16800}}
* Valverde, Andrés (2013). ''John Williams: Vida y Obra'' {{In lang|es}}. Berenice Press. {{ISBN|978-8-4154-4142-7}}.

==External links==
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* {{Discogs artist|John Williams (4)}}
* {{IMDb name|2354}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-culture}}
{{s-bef |before=[[Arthur Fiedler]]}}
{{s-ttl |title=[[Boston Pops Orchestra|Principal Conductor, Boston Pops Orchestra]] |years=1980–1993}}
{{s-aft |after=[[Keith Lockhart]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{John Williams}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by John Williams|Awards for John Williams]]
|list  =
{{Academy Award Best Original Score}}
{{Annie Award for Music in a Feature Production}}
{{AFI Life Achievement Award}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Original Music}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Composer}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Musical Score}}
{{Disney Legends Awards 2020s}}
{{EmmyAward MusicCompositionSeries}}
{{EmmyAward MusicCompositionLimitedSeriesMovieSpecial}}
{{EmmyAward MainTitleThemeMusic}}
{{Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media}}
{{International Film Music Critics Association Award for Best Original Score for an Action/Adventure Film}}
{{International Film Music Critics Association Award for Best Original Score for an Animated Film}}
{{International Film Music Critics Association Award for Best Original Score for a Comedy Film}}
{{International Film Music Critics Association Award for Best Original Score for a Drama Film}}
{{International Film Music Critics Association Award for Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction Film}}
{{International Film Music Critics Association Award for Film Composer of the Year}}
{{International Film Music Critics Association Award for Film Music Composition of the Year}}
{{International Film Music Critics Association Award for Film Score of the Year}}
{{Kennedy Center Honorees 2000s}}
{{National Medal of Arts recipients 2000s}}
{{Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Music}}
{{WSA for Best Original Score of the Year}}
{{WSA – Public Choice}}
{{WSA – Soundtrack Composer of the Year}}
{{Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award}}
}}
{{NFL on NBC}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, John}}
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