Arthur Rubinstein obit

‘WarGames’ Composer Arthur B. Rubinstein Dies at 80

 He was not on the list.

Arthur B. Rubinstein, composer for films such as “War Games” who worked on more than 300 films and television programs, died April 23 of complications resulting from cancer. He was 80.

In the 1960s, Rubinstein composed incidental music for around 50 productions while serving as composer-in-residence for the American Conservatory Theater, the Williamstown Theater Festival, and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. He continued on in the 1970s serving as a music director, both in Los Angeles and on Broadway, for shows such as “A Chorus Line,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and “Evita.” Rubinstein received an L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for his work as music director on Gordon Davidson’s production of “A Little Night Music.”

After moving to Los Angeles, Rubinstein composed scores for films such as “WarGames” (1983) starring Matthew Broderick, and Albert Brooks’ “Lost in America” (1985). Rubinstein earned an Emmy Award for his original music on CBS series “Scarecrow and Mrs. King.” He also scored “Shooting War,” Stephen Spielberg’s documentary narrated by Tom Hanks about WWII newsreel cameramen for ABC Television.

Rubinstein was also a frequent collaborator with director John Badham, working on films including “Whose Life Is It Anyway?” (1981), “Blue Thunder” (1983), “Stakeout” (1987) featuring Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez, “The Hard Way” (1991), “Another Stakeout” (1993), and “Nick of Time” (1995) with Christopher Walken and Johnny Depp.

In 1994, Rubinstein founded Symphony in the Glen with his wife Barbara Ferris. They presented over 60 free classical concerts to over 80,000 families and children in Los Angeles across their 20-year run.

Rubinstein’s most recent compositions include “Observations,” which premiered in 2009 at the Griffith Observatory in a special concert in honor of the International Year of the Astronomer and the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s achievements.

“In classical music and jazz there is a constant, living swirl of wonder and discovery — both sensual and intellectual. As a composer and conductor, I’ve always tried, in some way, to be part of that swirl,” Rubinstein wrote on his website.

Rubinstein is survived by his wife, Barbara Ferris Rubinstein, and his daughter, Alexandra Nan Rubinstein.

 

Composer

The Great Ships

Composer

ReleasedTV Series

1996

1 episode

 

The Death of Maranzano

Short

Composer

2013

 

The Special: Building Blue Thunder

5.8

Video

Composer

2006

 

Ride with the Angels: Making 'Blue Thunder'

6.9

Video

Composer

2006

 

The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller (2002)

The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller

7.3

TV Movie

Composer

2002

 

Face Value (2001)

Face Value

4.3

TV Movie

Composer

2001

 

Shooting War: World War II Combat Cameramen (2000)

Shooting War: World War II Combat Cameramen

7.9

TV Movie

Composer

2000

 

The Last Debate (2000)

The Last Debate

5.8

TV Movie

Composer

2000

 

The Great Ships (1996)

The Great Ships

7.1

TV Series

Composer

1996–1999

9 episodes

 

Floating Away (1998)

Floating Away

5.7

TV Movie

Composer

1998

 

The Ruby Ring (1997)

The Ruby Ring

6.6

TV Movie

Composer

1997

 

The Princess Stallion (1997)

The Princess Stallion

6.0

TV Movie

Composer

1997

 

Clint Eastwood in Eastwood on Eastwood (1997)

Eastwood on Eastwood

7.0

TV Movie

Composer

1997

 

Dead Man's Island (1996)

Dead Man's Island

4.8

TV Movie

Composer

1996

 

Double Jeopardy (1996)

Double Jeopardy

6.0

TV Movie

Composer

1996

 

Johnny Depp in Nick of Time (1995)

Nick of Time

6.3

Composer

1995

 

Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers in Hart to Hart: Secrets of the Hart (1995)

Hart to Hart: Secrets of the Hart

6.5

TV Movie

Composer

1995

 

William Shatner and Richard Crenna in Janek: The Silent Betrayal (1994)

Janek: The Silent Betrayal

6.2

TV Movie

Composer

1994

 

Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die (1994)

Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die

6.5

TV Movie

Composer

1994

 

Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers in Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart (1994)

Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart

6.5

TV Movie

Composer

1994

 

Hart to Hart: Home Is Where the Hart Is (1994)

Hart to Hart: Home Is Where the Hart Is

7.0

TV Movie

Composer

1994

 

Hart to Hart Returns (1993)

Hart to Hart Returns

6.6

TV Movie

Composer

1993

 

Richard Dreyfuss, Emilio Estevez, and Rosie O'Donnell in Another Stakeout (1993)

Another Stakeout

5.6

Composer

1993

 

Gregory Harrison and Leslie Hope in Caught in the Act (1993)

Caught in the Act

5.6

TV Movie

Composer

1993

 

Les audacieux

4.9

TV Movie

Composer

1993

 

The Streets of Beverly Hills (1992)

The Streets of Beverly Hills

TV Movie

Composer

1992

 

When No One Would Listen (1992)

When No One Would Listen

6.3

TV Movie

Composer

1992

 

The Plucky Duck Show (1992)

The Plucky Duck Show

6.5

TV Series

Composer

1992

1 episode

 

Eastwood & Co.: Making 'Unforgiven' (1992)

Eastwood & Co.: Making 'Unforgiven'

7.0

TV Movie

Composer

1992

 

Secrets (1992)

Secrets

5.6

TV Movie

Composer

1992

 

Fatal Friendship (1991)

Fatal Friendship

5.4

TV Movie

Composer

1991

 

Crazy from the Heart (1991)

Crazy from the Heart

7.4

TV Movie

Composer

1991

 

Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire (1991)

Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire

7.3

TV Movie

Composer

1991

 

Michael J. Fox and James Woods in The Hard Way (1991)

The Hard Way

6.4

Composer

1991

 

Corbin Bernsen in Line of Fire: The Morris Dees Story (1991)

Line of Fire: The Morris Dees Story

5.9

TV Movie

Composer (music by)

1991

 

Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and Yeardley Smith in The Simpsons (1989)

The Simpsons

8.7

TV Series

Composer

1990

2 episodes

 

Murder Times Seven (1990)

Murder Times Seven

6.1

TV Movie

Composer

1990

 

Tiny Toon Adventures (1990)

Tiny Toon Adventures

7.5

TV Series

Composer

1990

3 episodes

 

Kathleen Turner and Myrna Loy in Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home to (1990)

Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home to

7.4

TV Movie

Composer

1990

 

Murder in Black and White (1990)

Murder in Black and White

5.8

TV Movie

Composer

1990

 

Gary Cooper: American Life, American Legend (1989)

Gary Cooper: American Life, American Legend

7.1

Composer

1989

 

The Hollywood Detective (1989)

The Hollywood Detective

5.5

TV Movie

Composer

1989

 

The Heist (1989)

The Heist

6.0

TV Movie

Composer

1989

 

Guts and Glory: The Rise and Fall of Oliver North (1989)

Guts and Glory: The Rise and Fall of Oliver North

7.3

TV Movie

Composer

1989

 

Erika Eleniak, Mädchen Amick, David Hasselhoff, and Parker Stevenson in Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier (1989)

Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier

6.2

TV Movie

Composer (as Arthur B. Rubenstein)

1989

 

Johnny Staccato (1959)

Gideon Oliver

6.0

TV Series

Composer (as Arthur Rubinstein)

1989

1 episode

 

Unconquered (1989)

Unconquered

6.4

TV Movie

Composer

1989

 

Stephanie Zimbalist, Rue McClanahan, Nickolas Grace, Tony Randall, and Edward Woodward in The Man in the Brown Suit (1989)

The Man in the Brown Suit

5.7

TV Movie

Composer

1989

 

Delta Burke and Willie Nelson in Where the Hell's That Gold?!!? (1988)

Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?

5.3

TV Movie

Composer

1988

 

Internal Affairs (1988)

Internal Affairs

6.3

TV Movie

Composer

1988

 

Lesley-Anne Down and Robert Wagner in Indiscreet (1988)

Indiscreet

6.3

TV Movie

Composer

1988

 

Defense Play (1988)

Defense Play

4.7

Composer

1988

 

Nightmare at Bittercreek (1988)

Nightmare at Bittercreek

5.0

TV Movie

Composer

1988

 

Inherit the Wind (1988)

Inherit the Wind

6.6

TV Movie

Composer

1988

 

Shaun Cassidy and Willie Nelson in Once Upon a Texas Train (1988)

Once Upon a Texas Train

5.7

TV Movie

Composer

1988

 

Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez in Stakeout (1987)

Stakeout

6.7

Composer (music composed by)

1987

 

Roses Are for the Rich (1987)

Roses Are for the Rich

6.3

TV Movie

Composer

1987

 

David Rappaport in The Wizard (1986)

The Wizard

7.8

TV Series

Composer

1986–1987

19 episodes

 

The Betty Ford Story (1987)

The Betty Ford Story

6.4

TV Movie

Composer

1987

 

Audrey Hepburn in Love Among Thieves (1987)

Love Among Thieves

6.0

TV Movie

Composer (as Arthur B. Rubenstein)

1987

 

Bruce Boxleitner and Kate Jackson in Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983)

Scarecrow and Mrs. King

7.0

TV Series

Composer

1983–1986

61 episodes

 

Hyper Sapien: People from Another Star (1986)

Hyper Sapien: People from Another Star

4.7

Composer

1986

 

Anne-Marie Martin, Harrison Page, and David Rasche in Sledge Hammer! (1986)

Sledge Hammer!

8.1

TV Series

Composer (as Arthur Rubenstein)

1986

1 episode

 

Tony Danza in Doing Life (1986)

Doing Life

6.1

TV Movie

Composer (as Arthur B. Rubenstein)

1986

 

Robin Williams and Kurt Russell in The Best of Times (1986)

The Best of Times

6.0

Composer (music by)

1986

 

Murder Among Friends

6.3

TV Movie

Composer

1985

 

Kevin Costner, Harvey Keitel, Charlie Sheen, Christopher Lloyd, and John Lithgow in Amazing Stories (1985)

Amazing Stories

7.4

TV Series

Composer (as Arthur Rubinstein)

1985

1 episode

 

Doubletake (1985)

Doubletake

6.4

TV Mini Series

Composer

1985

2 episodes

 

Murder in Space (1985)

Murder in Space

4.6

TV Movie

Composer

1985

 

Albert Brooks and Julie Hagerty in Lost in America (1985)

Lost in America

7.0

Composer

1985

 

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (1984)

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

7.5

TV Movie

Composer

1984

 

Joan Collins and David Hasselhoff in The Cartier Affair (1984)

The Cartier Affair

4.8

TV Movie

Composer

1984

 

Kirstie Alley, Barbara Carrera, Kim Cattrall, Debby Boone, and Tracy Reed in Sins of the Past (1984)

Sins of the Past

5.8

TV Movie

Composer

1984

 

Rosanna Arquette, Maxwell Caulfield, and Frederic Forrest in The Parade (1984)

The Parade

5.9

TV Movie

Composer

1984

 

Sigourney Weaver, Chevy Chase, and Gregory Hines in Deal of the Century (1983)

Deal of the Century

4.6

Composer

1983

 

WarGames (1983)

WarGames

7.1

Composer (music by)

1983

 

Blue Thunder (1983)

Blue Thunder

6.4

Composer (music by)

1983

 

Michael Dudikoff and Peter Horton in Sawyer and Finn (1983)

Sawyer and Finn

6.8

TV Movie

Composer

1983

 

Bruce Boxleitner, Clyde Kusatsu, and Cindy Morgan in Bring 'Em Back Alive (1982)

Bring 'Em Back Alive

7.1

TV Series

Composer

1982–1983

16 episodes

 

Fake-Out (1982)

Fake-Out

4.7

Composer

1982

 

Not Just Another Affair (1982)

Not Just Another Affair

5.5

TV Movie

Composer

1982

 

Skeezer (1982)

Skeezer

7.8

TV Movie

Composer

1982

 

The Phoenix (1981)

The Phoenix

6.9

TV Series

Composer

1981–1982

5 episodes

 

Harper Valley P.T.A. (1981)

Harper Valley P.T.A.

6.7

TV Series

Composer

1981–1982

2 episodes

 

Eileen Brennan in Incident at Crestridge (1981)

Incident at Crestridge

6.4

TV Movie

Composer

1981

 

Richard Dreyfuss in Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981)

Whose Life Is It Anyway?

7.3

Composer

1981

 

Sherlock Holmes (1981)

Standing Room Only

7.6

TV Series

Composer

1981

1 episode

 

Bulba

4.5

TV Movie

Composer

1981

 

Rivkin: Bounty Hunter (1981)

Rivkin: Bounty Hunter

6.4

TV Movie

Composer

1981

 

On the Right Track (1981)

On the Right Track

5.4

Composer

1981

 

Gridlock (1980)

Gridlock

5.9

TV Movie

Composer

1980

 

Portrait of a Rebel: The Remarkable Mrs. Sanger (1980)

Portrait of a Rebel: The Remarkable Mrs. Sanger

5.8

TV Movie

Composer

1980

 

Pat Klous, Connie Sellecca, and Kathryn Witt in Flying High (1978)

Flying High

6.6

TV Series

Composer (as Arthur Rubinstein)

1978–1979

5 episodes

 

Shirley (1979)

Shirley

5.6

TV Series

Composer

1979

1 episode

 

Aunt Mary (1979)

Aunt Mary

7.1

TV Movie

Composer

1979

 

Lesley Ann Warren in Portrait of a Stripper (1979)

Portrait of a Stripper

5.9

TV Movie

Composer

1979

 

You Can't Take It with You (1979)

You Can't Take It with You

7.5

TV Movie

Composer

1979

 

Fred Grandy, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Gavin MacLeod, and Lauren Tewes in The Love Boat (1977)

The Love Boat

6.3

TV Series

Composer (as Arthur Rubinstein)

1977–1978

2 episodes

 

Fame

7.1

TV Movie

Composer

1978

 

Elizabeth Taylor in Return Engagement (1978)

Return Engagement

6.8

TV Movie

Composer

1978

 

Taxi!! (1978)

Taxi!!

6.7

TV Movie

Composer

1978

 

The Great Bank Hoax (1977)

The Great Bank Hoax

5.1

Composer

1977

 

The Prince of Central Park (1977)

The Prince of Central Park

6.7

TV Movie

Composer

1977

 

Addie and the King of Hearts (1976)

Addie and the King of Hearts

7.1

TV Movie

Composer

1976

 

The Easter Promise (1975)

The Easter Promise

6.7

TV Movie

Composer (as Arthur Rubinstein)

1975

 

Great Performances (1971)

Great Performances

7.9

TV Series

Composer

1974–1975

2 episodes

 

The Starlost (1973)

The Starlost

6.2

TV Series

Composer (as Score Productions)

1974

2 episodes

 

The Men Who Made the Movies: King Vidor (1973)

The Men Who Made the Movies: King Vidor

7.3

TV Movie

Composer

1973

 

The Thanksgiving Treasure (1973)

The Thanksgiving Treasure

7.5

TV Movie

Composer (as Arthur Rubinstein)

1973

 

The Men Who Made the Movies: Howard Hawks (1973)

The Men Who Made the Movies: Howard Hawks

7.3

TV Movie

Composer

1973

 

Raoul Walsh in The Men Who Made the Movies: Raoul Walsh (1973)

The Men Who Made the Movies: Raoul Walsh

7.5

TV Movie

Composer

1973

 

The House Without a Christmas Tree (1972)

The House Without a Christmas Tree

8.0

TV Movie

Composer (as Arthur Rubinstein)

1972

 

Harvey (1972)

Harvey

7.9

TV Movie

Composer (as Arthur Rubinstein)

1972

 

Look Homeward, Angel

7.5

TV Movie

Composer

1972

 

All the Way Home (1971)

All the Way Home

6.9

TV Movie

Composer

1971

 

Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Paul Scofield, and Anna Calder-Marshall in ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969)

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

6.3

TV Series

Composer (as Arthur Rubinstein)

1971

1 episode

 

The Price (1971)

The Price

8.6

TV Movie

Composer

1971

 

Music Department

Le gendarme de Abobo (2019)

Le gendarme de Abobo

Music Department

2019

 

Johnny Depp in Nick of Time (1995)

Nick of Time

6.3

conductor

1995

 

Biography (1987)

Biography

7.7

TV Series

composer: theme music

1995

1 episode

 

Richard Dreyfuss, Emilio Estevez, and Rosie O'Donnell in Another Stakeout (1993)

Another Stakeout

5.6

conductor (uncredited)

1993

 

Michael J. Fox and James Woods in The Hard Way (1991)

The Hard Way

6.4

conductor

musician: keyboard (uncredited)

1991

 

Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez in Stakeout (1987)

Stakeout

6.7

musician: synthesizers (uncredited)

1987

 

Bruce Boxleitner and Kate Jackson in Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983)

Scarecrow and Mrs. King

7.0

TV Series

composer: theme music

1983–1987

88 episodes

 

Hyper Sapien: People from Another Star (1986)

Hyper Sapien: People from Another Star

4.7

conductor (uncredited)

1986

 

Kevin Costner, Harvey Keitel, Charlie Sheen, Christopher Lloyd, and John Lithgow in Amazing Stories (1985)

Amazing Stories

7.4

TV Series

conductor

orchestrator (uncredited)

1985

1 episode

 

John Rubinstein and Jack Warden in Crazy Like a Fox (1984)

Crazy Like a Fox

7.0

TV Series

composer: theme music

1984–1986

 

Sigourney Weaver, Chevy Chase, and Gregory Hines in Deal of the Century (1983)

Deal of the Century

4.6

conductor (uncredited)

1983

 

Bruce Boxleitner, Clyde Kusatsu, and Cindy Morgan in Bring 'Em Back Alive (1982)

Bring 'Em Back Alive

7.1

TV Series

composer: theme music

1983

1 episode

 

WarGames (1983)

WarGames

7.1

conductor

orchestrator (uncredited)

1983

 

Blue Thunder (1983)

Blue Thunder

6.4

conductor

music producer

musician: synclavier II (uncredited)

1983

 

Fake-Out (1982)

Fake-Out

4.7

conductor (uncredited)

1982

 

Richard Dreyfuss in Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981)

Whose Life Is It Anyway?

7.3

conductor

orchestrator (uncredited)

1981

 

Beat the Clock (1979)

Beat the Clock

6.8

TV Series

musical director

1979

2 episodes

 

Elizabeth Taylor in Return Engagement (1978)

Return Engagement

6.8

TV Movie

special musical material

1978

 

ABC Weekend Specials (1977)

ABC Weekend Specials

7.7

TV Series

orchestrator (as Arthur Rubinstein)

1978

1 episode

 

The Red Hand Gang (1977)

The Red Hand Gang

7.6

TV Series

orchestrator

1977

12 episodes

 

Great Performances (1971)

Great Performances

7.9

TV Series

conductor (as Arthur Rubinstein)

1975

1 episode

 

Soundtrack

Las noches de Tefía (2023)

Las noches de Tefía

7.3

TV Series

performer: "Polonaise in A Flat Op. 53 Heroic" (as Arthur Rubenstein)

2023

1 episode

 

Kompromat (2022)

Kompromat

6.4

performer: "No 3 in G Minor"

2022

 

Bobby Cannavale and Melissa McCarthy in Superintelligence (2020)

Superintelligence

5.4

performer: "It Might Be Real"

writer: "It Might Be Real"

2020

 

Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014)

Late Night with Seth Meyers

6.3

TV Series

writer: "Theme from 'Scarecrow and Mrs. King'"

2016

1 episode

 

Jake Gyllenhaal in Demolition (2015)

Demolition

7.0

performer: "Nocturnes, Op. 9: No. 2 in E-Flat Major"

2015

 

Imelda Staunton, Paddy Considine, Bill Nighy, Andrew Scott, Dominic West, George MacKay, Ben Schnetzer, and Faye Marsay in Pride (2014)

Pride

7.8

performer: "No. 1 In D-Flat Major Minute"

2014

 

Impromptu (2013)

Impromptu

6.2

Short

performer: "Impromptu No. 3 in G-flat Major, Op. 51" (as Arthur Rubinstein)

2013

 

Cécile de France, Romain Duris, Kelly Reilly, and Audrey Tautou in Chinese Puzzle (2013)

Chinese Puzzle

6.9

performer: "Waltz Op. 64 N°2 In C-Sharp Minor"

2013

 

The Spanish Apartment (2002)

The Spanish Apartment

7.3

performer: "Waltz Op. 64 N°2 In C-Sharp Minor"

2002

 

Double Jeopardy (1996)

Double Jeopardy

6.0

TV Movie

music: "Lamb of God"

1996

 

Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez in Stakeout (1987)

Stakeout

6.7

writer: "This Night Was Made (For One Thing Only)"

1987

 

Mia Farrow in Radio Days (1987)

Radio Days

7.4

Soundtrack ("If You Are But a Dream" (1941))

1987

 

Sigourney Weaver, Chevy Chase, and Gregory Hines in Deal of the Century (1983)

Deal of the Century

4.6

music: "Shine"

1983

 

WarGames (1983)

WarGames

7.1

music: "Video Fever", "History Lesson (Long Line Leading To Man)", "Edge Of The World"

performer: "Video Fever", "History Lesson (Long Line Leading To Man)"

1983

 

Blue Thunder (1983)

Blue Thunder

6.4

performer: "Theme From Blue Thunder (Murphy's Law)", "Theme From Blue Thunder (Dance Version)"

writer: "Theme From Blue Thunder (Murphy's Law)", "Theme From Blue Thunder (Dance Version)" (uncredited)

1983

 

Richard Dreyfuss in Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981)

Whose Life Is It Anyway?

7.3

lyrics: "Hospital Ladies"

music: "Hospital Ladies"

1981