Alan Bergman, the Oscar-winning lyricist whose songs helped define films including The Way We Were, died at his Los Angeles home on July 17, 2025, aged 99. He wrote with his wife, Marilyn Bergman, in a partnership that joined the intimacy of conversational language to the scale of film and television music.
When did Alan Bergman die, and how old was he?
Bergman died on July 17, 2025, at age 99, according to the Associated Press and The Washington Post. The Associated Press reported that he had experienced respiratory issues in recent months, citing a family statement relayed by spokesperson Ken Sunshine; that report did not identify a specific cause of death. Associated Press · The Washington Post
Who was Alan Bergman?
Alan Bergman was an American lyricist whose work ranged across film, television, theater and concert projects. He was born in Brooklyn and decided as a child that he wanted to write songs, according to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His path included music and theater studies, graduate work at UCLA and a connection with songwriter Johnny Mercer, noted in the Associated Press obituary. Songwriters Hall of Fame · Associated Press
How did Alan and Marilyn Bergman work together?
Alan and Marilyn Bergman were married and collaborated as lyricists for decades. Their writing partnership was not simply a matter of dividing lines: Alan described the process in a 1982 New York Times interview as “like two potters passing clay back and forth.” The Times obituary later reproduced the remark. The New York Times
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Their songs often paired direct, emotionally legible language with themes of memory, longing and time. That approach suited both intimate performances and the larger narrative demands of movies and television.
Did Alan Bergman write “The Way We Were”?
Yes. Alan and Marilyn Bergman wrote the lyrics to “The Way We Were,” with composer Marvin Hamlisch, for the 1973 romantic drama starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford. The song became closely associated with the film and its reflections on a relationship remembered from the past. Associated Press · Sony Pictures Entertainment
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A small revision helped establish the song’s distinctive opening: the Library of Congress notes that “daydreams” was changed to “memories.” That shift puts the lyric in the realm of recollection rather than fantasy, echoing the film’s backward-looking perspective. Library of Congress Magazine, March/April 2014
What other songs did the Bergmans write?
Their best-known work reaches well beyond one film. Among the songs associated with Alan and Marilyn Bergman are:
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- “The Windmills of Your Mind,” written with composer Michel Legrand for The Thomas Crown Affair.
- “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?”
- “It Might Be You.”
- “The Way We Were,” written with Marvin Hamlisch for the 1973 film.
Their catalog also included songs and scores for film, television, stage and concert settings. Songwriters Hall of Fame · Associated Press
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What awards did Alan Bergman win?
The Associated Press reported that the Bergmans received 16 Academy Award nominations, two Grammy Awards and four Emmy Awards over their careers. The Songwriters Hall of Fame credits the team with three Academy Awards associated with “The Windmills of Your Mind,” “The Way We Were” and the score of Yentl. The Yentl recognition was for the score, not a lyric-only award. Associated Press · Songwriters Hall of Fame
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The Associated Press’s Grammy count refers to two Grammy Awards; the Guardian obituary also notes a Grammy Trustees Award received in 2013, a separate honor. The Guardian
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