born June 29, 1910, New York, N.Y., U.S.
died July 28, 1969, New York City
U.S. composer, librettist, and lyricist.
The son of a piano teacher, in 1936 he moved to Hollywood, where he worked with Burton Lane , Jule Styne , Jimmy McHugh , and Hoagy Carmichael . His wartime songs include "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" and "What Do You Do in the Infantry?"; postwar hits include "On a Slow Boat to China" and "Baby It's Cold Outside" (Academy Award, 1949). His first Broadway musical was Where's Charley? (1948; film, 1952). In 1950 he produced Guys and Dolls (film, 1955), one of the greatest American musicals. It was followed by The Most Happy Fella (1956) and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1962, Pulitzer Prize). His work for film includes the score for Hans Christian Andersen (1952).