May 29, 2008

By By Ann Donahue, L.A.

Alexander "Sandy" Courage, the composer of the original "Star Trek" theme, died May 15 in Pacific Palisades, Calif. He was 88.

Besides creating the fanfare for the Starship Enterprise, Courage won an Emmy in 1988 as the principal arranger for the ABC Special "Julie Andrews: The Sound of Christmas."

He was twice nominated for an Oscar with Lionel Newman for "The Pleasure Seekers" in 1963 and "Doctor Dolittle" in 1967.

Courage was born in Philadelphia, and receuved his degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1942, and after the war he worked for CBS Radio.

From 1948 to 1960, he was an orchestrator and arranger at MGM, where he worked on "Show Boat," "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," "Guys and Dolls," "Funny Face" and "Gigi."

In addition, Courage orchestrated several scores for John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith, including Williams' "Fiddler on the Roof," "The Poseidon Adventure," "Hook" and "Jurassic Park" and Goldsmith's "Basic Instinct," "First Knight," "The Mummy" and "Air Force One."

Survivors include his four stepchildren and six grandchildren. Memorial arrangements are pending.

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