Alex North - Film Composer

Alex North - Chester

Alex North (Isadore Soifer) was born to Russian immigrant parents in Chester, Delaware County in 1910.

He is best known for the 1955 song made famous by the Righteous Brothers in 1965, Unchained Melody. But beyond his success as a popular composer, he was revered for his scores for many Hollywood blockbusters including: Spartacus, Cleopatra, The Misfits, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Good Morning Vietnam, and A Streetcar Named Desire.

He was nominated for an Oscar 15 times, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy in 1986.

North was also recognized for his classical pieces and his television scores.

The American Film Institute ranked North's score for A Streetcar Named Desire No. 19 on its list of greatest film scores.

North passed away in 1991.