Robert Cobert obit

Bob Cobert, ‘Dark Shadows’ and ‘Winds of War’ Composer, Dies at 95

 

He was not on the list.

Bob Cobert, the Grammy- and Emmy-nominated composer of television’s “Dark Shadows” and “The Winds of War,” died of pneumonia Feb. 19, in Palm Desert, Calif. He was 95.

Cobert’s themes for the 1960s Gothic horror soap “Dark Shadows” – “great spook music,” he once called it – were his most popular compositions, and “Quentin’s Theme” (for the character played by David Selby) became a top 10 hit in 1969 as recorded by the Charles Randolph Grean Sound, earning a Grammy nomination as Best Instrumental Theme.

The “Dark Shadows” score, the first daytime soap to generate a best-selling soundtrack album, cemented Cobert’s partnership with the series’ creator-producer Dan Curtis, who continued to employ Cobert on nearly all of his television and film projects for the next four decades.

They did four features and more than two dozen television films together. Their largest-scale project was “The Winds of War,” the 18-hour 1983 miniseries based on Herman Wouk’s World War II novel, and its 1988-89 sequel, the 30-hour “War and Remembrance,” which brought Cobert an Emmy nomination for original score.

Curtis’s penchant for producing successful horror projects led to other memorable Cobert scores including his detective jazz for Darren McGavin as reporter Carl Kolchak in the hugely popular “The Night Stalker” (1972) and its sequel “The Night Strangler” (1973); a Romanian music-box treatment for Jack Palance in “Dracula” (1974); and a terrifying theme for the notorious Zuni doll menacing Karen Black in “Trilogy of Terror” (1975).

Their features included two based on the “Dark Shadows” series (“House of Dark Shadows” in 1970 and “Night of Dark Shadows” in 1971), the Bette Davis haunted-house tale “Burnt Offerings” in 1976 and the Danny Aiello comedy-drama “Me and the Kid” in 1993. Their other 1970s collaborations, all for television, included the high-rated Depression-era FBI dramas “Melvin Purvis, G-Man” and “Kansas City Massacre” in 1974-75 and the Western “Last Ride of the Dalton Gang” in 1979.

Curtis, in notes for a 2000 Varèse Sarabande collection of Cobert themes, wrote: “Bob has worked with me on nearly every picture I have made and has never failed me. It’s almost as if he could read my mind. People throw around this word too lightly, but in this case I am more than justified in using it: Bob Cobert is a true genius. He can write any kind of score and write it brilliantly.”

Robert Cobert was born October 26, 1924 in Brooklyn. He studied composition and conducting at New York’s Juilliard School during the war years and later studied composition at Columbia University with well-known classical composer Henry Cowell. During the ’40s, he also played clarinet and saxophone at such famous venues as the Stork Club and the Copacabana.

In the 1950s, his pop songs were recorded by such artists as Freddy Martin and Frances Wayne; his folk opera “Frankie and Johnny” and orchestral “Mediterranean Suite” were released on records. But television beckoned in 1960, as producer David Susskind hired Cobert to score such literary adaptations as “The Scarlet Pimpernel” and “The Heiress” and the short-lived CBS horror anthology “Way Out.”

The New York-based composer also enjoyed great success with game-show themes including “Password,” “To Tell the Truth” and “The Price Is Right” in the 1960s and the “$25,000 Pyramid” (later the “$100,000 Pyramid”) in the 1980s. His other daytime TV credits included “The Doctors” soap and a “CBS Afternoon Playhouse,” “I Think I’m Having a Baby,” for which he received a 1981 Daytime Emmy nomination.

The “Dark Shadows” phenomenon, spurred by the introduction of vampire-as-tragic-figure Barnabas Collins in 1967, earned Cobert his greatest fame. “Quentin’s Theme,” introduced as a turn-of-the-century gramophone recording, was recorded by numerous artists including Henry Mancini and earned a special BMI citation for more than 100 million radio broadcasts. He returned to haunted Collinwood for the 1991 NBC prime-time reboot of “Dark Shadows.”

Cobert’s final score was for the 2005 Showtime film “Our Fathers,” based on the Catholic church sex scandal. In retirement, he remained popular on the “Dark Shadows” fan circuit, making several appearances at conventions; and he composed and recorded a “Requiem for Helen” in memory of his late wife. He also taught film composition at the University of Southern California.

Survivors include his children William, Holly and Suzy; and six grandchildren.

Music Department

A Dark Shadows Christmas Carol (2021)

A Dark Shadows Christmas Carol

8.4

TV Special

Music Department

2021

 

Michael Strahan in The $100,000 Pyramid (2016)

The $100,000 Pyramid

6.3

TV Series

composer: theme music

2016–2019

20 episodes

 

Trilogy of Terror II (1996)

Trilogy of Terror II

5.6

TV Movie

conductor

1996

 

Danny Aiello and Alex Zuckerman in Me and the Kid (1993)

Me and the Kid

5.4

orchestrator

1993

 

War and Remembrance (1988)

War and Remembrance

8.3

TV Mini Series

conductor

1988–1989

12 episodes

 

Robert Mitchum, Jan-Michael Vincent, John Houseman, David Dukes, and Ali MacGraw in The Winds of War (1983)

The Winds of War

8.1

TV Mini Series

music conducted by

conductor

1983

5 episodes

 

The $25,000 Pyramid (1982)

The $25,000 Pyramid

6.9

TV Series

music

1982

5 episodes

 

Bill Cullen in Blockbusters (1980)

Blockbusters

7.2

TV Series

composer: theme music

1980

1 episode

 

That's My Line (1980)

That's My Line

TV Series

musical director

1980–1981

 

Chain Reaction (1980)

Chain Reaction

6.6

TV Series

music

1980

115 episodes

 

Three on a Match (1971)

Three on a Match

7.2

TV Series

music

1973–1974

200 episodes

 

The Turn of the Screw (1974)

The Turn of the Screw

6.0

TV Movie

conductor (uncredited)

1974

 

Melvin Purvis G-MAN (1974)

Melvin Purvis G-MAN

6.0

TV Movie

conductor (as Robert Cobert)

1974

 

Dracula (1974)

Dracula

6.2

TV Movie

conductor (as Robert Cobert)

1974

 

Jackpot

7.8

TV Series

composer: theme music

1974–1975

 

Angie Dickinson and Roy Thinnes in The Norliss Tapes (1973)

The Norliss Tapes

6.2

TV Movie

conductor (as Robert Cobert)

1973

 

Night of Dark Shadows (1971)

Night of Dark Shadows

5.4

conductor (as Robert Cobert)

1971

 

James Pritchett in The Doctors (1963)

The Doctors

7.0

TV Series

original music

1963–1971

1310 episodes

 

Jonathan Frid in House of Dark Shadows (1970)

House of Dark Shadows

6.2

conductor (as Robert Cobert)

1970

 

Larry Blyden, Peggy Cass, Bill Cullen, and Bill Leyden in You're Putting Me On (1969)

You're Putting Me On

TV Series

music

1969

130 episodes

 

Eye Guess (1966)

Eye Guess

7.2

TV Series

music

1966–1969

954 episodes

 

Hidden Faces (1968)

Hidden Faces

6.8

TV Series

composer: theme music (as Robert Cobert)

1968–1969

127 episodes

 

Jack Palance in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1968)

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

6.7

TV Movie

conductor (as Robert Cobert)

1968

 

Confidential for Women

TV Series

music

1966

3 episodes

 

Susan Brown and Michael T. Mikler in The Young Marrieds (1964)

The Young Marrieds

8.3

TV Series

composer: theme music

1964–1966

382 episodes

 

Doug Chapin, Miles Chapin, Bozo Dell, Dianne Higgins, Alan Howard, Christopher Howard, David Komoroff, Donnie Melvin, Susan Melvin, Linda Meyer, Alice Playten, Marilyn Rogers, and Jennifer Stone in Ladybug Ladybug (1963)

Ladybug Ladybug

7.2

conductor (as Robert Cobert)

1963

 

The Heiress

7.1

TV Movie

music

1961

 

The DuPont Show of the Month (1957)

The DuPont Show of the Month

7.1

TV Series

composer: incidental music

1960

2 episodes

 

Bill Cullen in The Price Is Right (1956)

The Price Is Right

7.2

TV Series

musical director

1956–1965

 

Composer

Master of Dark Shadows (2019)

Master of Dark Shadows

7.7

Composer

2019

 

John Karlen and Christopher Pennock in The Job Interview (2016)

The Job Interview

Short

Composer

2016

 

Portraits of Fear: 'Burnt Offerings' Family Album

Video

Composer

2015

 

Ted Danson, Brian Dennehy, and Christopher Plummer in Our Fathers (2005)

Our Fathers

7.2

TV Movie

Composer

2005

 

War & Remembrance: Behind the Scenes (2004)

War & Remembrance: Behind the Scenes

8.2

Video

Composer

2004

 

The Making of 'War & Remembrance' (2004)

The Making of 'War & Remembrance'

6.8

Video

Composer

2004

 

Dark Shadows on Location

8.5

Video

Composer

1999

 

Jennifer Jason Leigh and Campbell Scott in The Love Letter (1998)

The Love Letter

7.2

TV Movie

Composer

1998

 

Dark Shadows 30th Anniversary Tribute (1996)

Dark Shadows 30th Anniversary Tribute

7.5

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1996

 

Trilogy of Terror II (1996)

Trilogy of Terror II

5.6

TV Movie

Composer

1996

 

Danny Aiello and Alex Zuckerman in Me and the Kid (1993)

Me and the Kid

5.4

Composer

1993

 

Intruders (1992)

Intruders

6.4

TV Series

Composer

1992

2 episodes

 

Dark Shadows: Behind the Scenes (1991)

Dark Shadows: Behind the Scenes

9.2

Video

Composer

1991

 

The $25,000 Pyramid (1974)

The $25,000 Pyramid

7.3

TV Series

Composer

1986–1991

6 episodes

 

Dark Shadows (1991)

Dark Shadows

7.5

TV Series

Composer

1991

12 episodes

 

War and Remembrance (1988)

War and Remembrance

8.3

TV Mini Series

Composer

1988–1989

12 episodes

 

Bonanza: The Next Generation (1988)

Bonanza: The Next Generation

5.6

TV Movie

Composer

1988

 

The $10,000 Pyramid (1973)

The $10,000 Pyramid

6.9

TV Series

Composer

1982–1987

9 episodes

 

Your Number's Up

TV Series

Composer

1985

 

The $100,000 Pyramid (1985)

The $100,000 Pyramid

7.4

TV Series

Composer

1985

1 episode

 

Go

7.0

TV Series

Composer

1984

1 episode

 

Michael Beck in The Last Ninja (1983)

The Last Ninja

5.4

TV Movie

Composer

1983

 

Robert Mitchum, Jan-Michael Vincent, John Houseman, David Dukes, and Ali MacGraw in The Winds of War (1983)

The Winds of War

8.1

TV Mini Series

Composer

1983

7 episodes

 

The $25,000 Pyramid (1982)

The $25,000 Pyramid

6.9

TV Series

Composer

1982

6 episodes

 

Bill Cullen in Blockbusters (1980)

Blockbusters

7.2

TV Series

Composer

1981

3 episodes

 

CBS Afternoon Playhouse (1978)

CBS Afternoon Playhouse

7.3

TV Series

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1981

1 episode

 

The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang (1979)

The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang

5.6

TV Movie

Composer

1979

 

Mrs. R's Daughter (1979)

Mrs. R's Daughter

6.2

TV Movie

Composer

1979

 

Joey Aresco, Ilene Graff, and Harrison Page in Supertrain (1979)

Supertrain

4.4

TV Series

Composer

1979

9 episodes

 

Curse of the Black Widow (1977)

Curse of the Black Widow

5.7

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert, music by)

1977

 

Dead of Night (1977)

Dead of Night

6.2

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1977

 

Scalpel (1977)

Scalpel

6.4

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1977

 

Burnt Offerings (1976)

Burnt Offerings

6.4

Composer

1976

 

Blankety Blanks

6.0

TV Series

Composer

1975

1 episode

 

The Kansas City Massacre (1975)

The Kansas City Massacre

6.0

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1975

 

Karen Black in Trilogy of Terror (1975)

Trilogy of Terror

6.5

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1975

 

The Great Ice Rip-Off (1974)

The Great Ice Rip-Off

7.2

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1974

 

Walter Brooke in Nightmare at 43 Hillcrest (1974)

Nightmare at 43 Hillcrest

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1974

 

Polly Bergen, Donna Mills, Paul Burke, Judy Carne, and Barbara Feldon in The Wide World of Mystery (1973)

The Wide World of Mystery

6.8

TV Series

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1973–1974

5 episodes

 

The Turn of the Screw (1974)

The Turn of the Screw

6.0

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert, music)

1974

 

Melvin Purvis G-MAN (1974)

Melvin Purvis G-MAN

6.0

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1974

 

The Invasion of Carol Enders (1974)

The Invasion of Carol Enders

6.1

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1974

 

Dracula (1974)

Dracula

6.2

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1974

 

Claude Akins and Anjanette Comer in Shadow of Fear (1974)

Shadow of Fear

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1974

 

Scream of the Wolf (1974)

Scream of the Wolf

5.4

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1974

 

The Picture of Dorian Gray (1973)

The Picture of Dorian Gray

6.3

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1973

 

Angie Dickinson and Roy Thinnes in The Norliss Tapes (1973)

The Norliss Tapes

6.2

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1973

 

The Night Strangler (1973)

The Night Strangler

7.3

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1973

 

The Night Stalker (1972)

The Night Stalker

7.4

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1972

 

Night of Dark Shadows (1971)

Night of Dark Shadows

5.4

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1971

 

Three on a Match (1971)

Three on a Match

7.2

TV Series

Composer

1971–1974

 

Joel Crothers, Jonathan Frid, and Lara Parker in Dark Shadows (1966)

Dark Shadows

8.1

TV Series

Composer

1966–1971

1225 episodes

 

Jonathan Frid in House of Dark Shadows (1970)

House of Dark Shadows

6.2

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1970

 

Dead of Night: A Darkness at Blaisedon (1969)

Dead of Night: A Darkness at Blaisedon

5.8

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1969

 

Larry Blyden, Peggy Cass, Bill Cullen, and Bill Leyden in You're Putting Me On (1969)

You're Putting Me On

TV Series

Composer

1969

 

Hidden Faces (1968)

Hidden Faces

6.8

TV Series

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1968–1969

 

James Pritchett in The Doctors (1963)

The Doctors

7.0

TV Series

Composer (as Robert W. Cobert)

1968

1 episode

 

Jack Palance in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1968)

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

6.7

TV Movie

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1968

 

Personality (1967)

Personality

7.0

TV Series

Composer

1967–1969

 

Susan Brown and Michael T. Mikler in The Young Marrieds (1964)

The Young Marrieds

8.3

TV Series

Composer

1964–1966

 

Doug Chapin, Miles Chapin, Bozo Dell, Dianne Higgins, Alan Howard, Christopher Howard, David Komoroff, Donnie Melvin, Susan Melvin, Linda Meyer, Alice Playten, Marilyn Rogers, and Jennifer Stone in Ladybug Ladybug (1963)

Ladybug Ladybug

7.2

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1963

 

Hedda Gabler (1962)

Hedda Gabler

7.0

TV Movie

Composer (uncredited)

1962

 

Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950)

Armstrong Circle Theatre

7.7

TV Series

Composer

1962

1 episode

 

Password (1961)

Password

7.4

TV Series

Composer

1961–2024

 

'Way Out (1961)

'Way Out

7.8

TV Series

Composer (as Robert Cobert)

1961

9 episodes

 

To Tell the Truth (1956)

To Tell the Truth

7.7

TV Series

Composer

1956–1968

 

Actor

War and Remembrance (1988)

War and Remembrance

8.3

TV Mini Series

Bandleader (uncredited)

1988

1 episode