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Mark Snow
American composer for film and television (1946–2025) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mark Snow (born Martin Fulterman; August 26, 1946 – July 3, 2025) was an American composer for film and television.[1][2] He was perhaps best known for composing the theme for The X-Files, but worked prolifically across a career of several decades, particularly on television. He composed music for many series, including Hart to Hart, Smallville, One Tree Hill, and Blue Bloods.
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Early life and education
Snow was born Martin Fulterman to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, on August 26, 1946.[3][4][5] His grandfather immigrated to the United States from Poland.[6] After graduating from the High School of Music & Art in 1964, he attended the Juilliard School. With roommate Michael Kamen, Snow formed a band called Emil and the Detectives, which later became the group New York Rock & Roll Ensemble.[7][8] After an unsuccessful attempt to become a record producer, he moved to Los Angeles in 1974 and began composing.[6] Around this time, he changed his name to Mark Snow.[6]
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Career
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Among his most famous compositions is the theme music for science fiction television series The X-Files, working on the series for the show's initial nine-season run from 1993 to 2001. He landed the job in part because he lived in close proximity to creator Chris Carter, enabling easy communication between the two.[3]
The theme did not come easily to Snow, with Carter rejecting earlier motifs that were louder and bolder. It began taking its eventual shape when Snow accidentally placed his hand on his keyboard while an echo sound effect was programmed; intrigued by the ethereal sound, he used it as a model for the rest of the theme.[3][9] Alongside the show's success, the theme was released as a single, topping the charts in France and reaching #2 in the United Kingdom.[3] He would return for the show's revival from 2015 to 2018. Additionally, he composed the score for the two feature films and the short-lived spinoff series The Lone Gunmen.
In addition to The X-Files, Snow also served as composer for shows including Smallville, Blue Bloods, Ghost Whisperer, Hart to Hart, Millennium, One Tree Hill, the 2002 revival of The Twilight Zone and Starsky & Hutch. He was nominated for a César Award for scoring the 2006 Alain Resnais film Private Fears in Public Places.[6]
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Personal life and death
Snow was married to Glynnis Daly, and had three children.[3][6][10] Through his marriage to Daly, a daughter of actor James Daly, Snow was a brother-in-law to actress Tyne Daly and actor Tim Daly.[6]
Snow died from myelodysplastic syndrome at his home in Washington, Connecticut, on July 3, 2025, at the age of 78.[3][11][12]
Works
Television series
Television films
Theatrical films
Video games
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References
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