Mark Snow

American composer for film and television (1946–2025) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mark Snow (born Martin Fulterman; August 26, 1946 – July 4, 2025) was an American composer for film and television.[1][2] He was perhaps best known for composing the theme for The X-Files, and would compose for the show's initial nine-season run from 1993 to 2001. 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.

Born
Martin Fulterman

(1946-08-26)August 26, 1946
New York City, U.S.
DiedJuly 4, 2025(2025-07-04) (aged 78)
OccupationComposer
Yearsactive1964–2024
Quick facts Born, Died ...
Mark Snow
Born
Martin Fulterman

(1946-08-26)August 26, 1946
New York City, U.S.
DiedJuly 4, 2025(2025-07-04) (aged 78)
OccupationComposer
Years active1964–2024
SpouseGlynnis Daly
Children3
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In addition to The X-Files, Snow would serve 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.

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]

Career

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] He also composed the theme to the TV series La Femme Nikita which ran from 1997 to 2001.

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 4, 2025, at the age of 78.[3][11][12]

Works

Television series

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Notes
1975–1976  The Rookies 6 episodes
1976 Gemini Man 1 episode
1976 Visions 2 episodes
1977 The San Pedro Beach Bums Theme music
1977–1979 Starsky & Hutch 16 episodes
1979 Flatbush 1 episode
1978–1979 The Next Step Beyond 6 episodes
1979 Brothers and Sisters 12 episodes
1980 When the Whistle Blows 7 episodes
1978–1980 Family 16 episodes
1978–1981 Vega$ 4 episodes
1978–1982 The Love Boat 3 episodes
1979–1981 240-Robert 6 episodes
1979–1984 Hart to Hart 93 episodes
1981 Dynasty 4 episodes
Strike Force 1 episode
1981–1984 Cagney & Lacey 5 episodes
1982 T. J. Hooker 5 episodes
1983 The Family Tree 3 episodes
Matt Houston 1 episode
1983–1984 Lottery! 7 episodes
1984 Paper Dolls 11 episodes
1984–1985 Crazy Like a Fox 16 episodes
1986 Bridges to Cross 1 episode
Kay O'Brien 3 episodes
1986–1988 Aaron's Way 10 episodes
1986–1988 Falcon Crest 40 episodes
1987 CBS Summer Playhouse 1 episode
1989–1990 Pee-wee's Playhouse 4 episodes
1991 All Together Now 1 episode
1992–1993 Dark Justice 52 episodes
1993–2002, 2016–2018 The X-Files 217 episodes
1995–1996 Nowhere Man 25 episodes
1997 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 2 episodes
Perversions of Science 1 episode
1996–1999 Millennium 67 episodes
1999–2000 Harsh Realm 9 episodes
2000–2001 Bull 20 episodes
2001 The Lone Gunmen 13 episodes
2001–2002 Pasadena 13 episodes
2001–2007 Smallville 132 episodes
2002 Haunted 11 episodes
2002–2003 Birds of Prey 13 episodes
The Twilight Zone 43 episodes
2003–2005 One Tree Hill 29 episodes
2005 Kojak 9 episodes
2005–2010 Ghost Whisperer 107 episodes
2010–2024 Blue Bloods 287 episodes
2011–2012 Ringer 12 episodes
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Television films

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Director Notes
1976 The Boy in the Plastic Bubble Randal Kleiser N/a
1978 Big Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed Circus Jack Starrett N/a
Overboard John Newland N/a
1979  The Return of Mod Squad George McCowan N/a
1980 Casino Don Chaffey N/a
Angel City Philip Leacock N/a
1981 Off Sides (Pigs vs. Freaks) Dick Lowry N/a
1982 Paper Dolls Edward Zwick N/a
Games Mother Never Taught You Lee Philips N/a
I'd Rather Be Calm Linda Day N/a
1983 Malibu E. W. Swackhamer N/a
Packin' It In E. W. Swackhamer N/a
Two Kinds of Love Jack Bender N/a
The Winter of Our Discontent Waris Hussein N/a
1984 Something About Amelia Randa Haines N/a
A Good Sport Lou Antonio N/a
Secrets of a Married Man William A. Graham N/a
I Married a Centerfold Peter Werner N/a
1985 Not My Kid Michael Tuchner N/a
Challenge of a Lifetime Russ Mayberry N/a
California Girls Rick Wallace N/a
The Lady from Yesterday Robert Day N/a
International Airport Don Chaffey
Charles S. Dubin
N/a
Rockhopper Bill Bixby N/a
Royal Match E.W. Swackhamer N/a
Beverly Hills Cowgirl Blues Corey Allen N/a
I Dream of Jeannie... Fifteen Years Later William Asher N/a
1986 One Terrific Guy Lou Antonio N/a
Blood & Orchids Jerry Thorpe Composed with Charles Fox
Acceptable Risks Rick Wallace N/a
News at Eleven Mike Robe N/a
Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills Burt Kennedy N/a
One Police Plaza Jerry Jameson N/a
1987 Warm Hearts, Cold Feet James Frawley N/a
Pals Lou Antonio N/a
Murder by the Book Mel Damski N/a
Still Crazy Like a Fox Paul Krasny N/a
Murder Ordained Mike Robe N/a
Cracked Up Karen Arthur N/a
Kids Like These Georg Stanford Brown N/a
A Hobo's Christmas Will Mackenzie N/a
The Father Clements Story Edwin Sherin N/a
Roman Holiday Noel Nosseck N/a
1988 Alone in the Neon Jungle Georg Stanford Brown N/a
 The Return of Ben Casey Joseph L. Scanlan N/a
Bluegrass Simon Wincer N/a
Scandal in a Small Town Anthony Page N/a
The Secret Life of Kathy McCormick Robert Lewis N/a
Ladykillers Robert Michael Lewis N/a
Disaster at Silo 7 Larry Elikann N/a
Goodbye, Miss 4th of July George Miller N/a
Aaron's Way: The Harvest Noel Nosseck N/a
1989 Those She Left Behind Noel Nosseck N/a
Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure Mel Damski N/a
Stuck with Each Other Georg Stanford Brown N/a
Settle the Score Edwin Sherin N/a
When He's Not a Stranger John Gray N/a
1990 Miracle Landing Dick Lowry N/a
The Girl Who Came Between Them Mel Damski N/a
Follow Your Heart Noel Nosseck N/a
Child in the Night Mike Robe N/a
Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again Dick Lowry N/a
Dead Reckoning Robert Michael Lewis N/a
The Little Kidnappers Donald Shebib N/a
The Lost Capone John Gray N/a
Opposites Attract Noel Nosseck N/a
Crash: The Mystery of Flight 1501 Philip Saville N/a
In the Line of Duty: A Cop for the Killing Dick Lowry N/a
1991 The Marla Hanson Story John Gray N/a
White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd Paul Wendkos N/a
In the Line of Duty: Manhunt in the Dakotas Dick Lowry N/a
Living a Lie Larry Shaw N/a
The Rape of Doctor Willis Lou Antonio N/a
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw Dick Lowry N/a
Wife, Mother, Murderer Mel Damski N/a
Dead and Alive: The Race for Gus Farace Peter Markle N/a
1992 Battling for Baby Art Wolff N/a
The Last P.O.W.? The Bobby Garwood Story Georg Stanford Brown N/a
A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story Dick Lowry N/a
Highway Heartbreaker Paul Schneider N/a
Deliver Them from Evil: The Taking of Alta View Peter Levin N/a
In the Line of Duty: Street War Dick Lowry N/a
A Taste for Killing Lou Antonio N/a
The Danger of Love: The Carolyn Warmus Story Joyce Chopra N/a
An American Story John Gray N/a
Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, the Last Chapter Dick Lowry N/a
1993 Telling Secrets Marvin J. Chomsky N/a
The Disappearance of Nora Joyce Chopra N/a
The Man with Three Wives Peter Levin N/a
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations Georg Stanford Brown N/a
Born Too Soon Noel Nosseck N/a
In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco Dick Lowry N/a
Precious Victims Peter Levin N/a
Scattered Dreams Neema Barnette N/a
1994 Murder Between Friends Waris Hussein N/a
In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance Dick Lowry N/a
Witness to the Execution Tommy Lee Wallace N/a
A Place for Annie John Gray N/a
Moment of Truth: Cradle of Conspiracy Gabrielle Beaumont N/a
Heart of a Child Sandor Stern N/a
The Substitute Wife Peter Werner N/a
Moment of Truth: Caught in the Crossfire Chuck Bowman N/a
Shadows of Desire Sam Pillsbury N/a
1995 Texas Justice Dick Lowry N/a
A Stranger in Town Peter Levin N/a
The Other Mother: A Moment of Truth Movie Bethany Rooney N/a
Seduced and Betrayed Félix Enríquez Alcalá N/a
Down, Out & Dangerous Noel Nosseck N/a
The Unspoken Truth Peter Werner N/a
Trial by Fire Alan Metzger N/a
In the Line of Duty: Hunt for Justice Dick Lowry N/a
Mixed Blessings Bethany Rooney N/a
1996 Smoke Jumpers Dick Lowry N/a
Project ALF N/a
Conundrum Douglas Barr N/a
Sweet Temptation Ron Lagomarsino N/a
Forgotten Sins Dick Lowry N/a
Special Report: Journey to Mars Robert Mandel N/a
Summer of Fear Mike Robe N/a
A Loss of Innocence Graeme Clifford N/a
Phone Calls from the Dead N/a N/a
1997 Payback Ken Cameron N/a
The Perfect Mother Peter Levin N/a
Night Sins Robert Allan Ackerman N/a
The Price of Heaven Peter Bogdanovich N/a
Cloned Douglas Barr N/a
The Day Lincoln Was Shot John Gray N/a
1999 A Memory in My Heart Harry Winer N/a
A Touch of Hope Craig R. Baxley N/a
2000 In the Name of the People Peter Levin N/a
Code Name Phoenix Jeff Freilich N/a
Another Woman's Husband Noel Nosseck N/a
Murder, She Wrote: A Story to Die For Anthony Pullen Shaw N/a
Dirty Pictures Frank Pierson N/a
Sole Survivor Mikael Salomon N/a
2001 For Love of Olivia Douglas Barr N/a
2003 Critical Assembly Eric Laneuville N/a
D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear Tom McLoughlin N/a
2004 She's Too Young Tom McLoughlin N/a
Helter Skelter John Gray N/a
Bereft Tim Daly N/a
Paradise Frank Pierson N/a
2005 Odd Girl Out Tom McLoughlin N/a
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Theatrical films

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Director Notes
1977 Flush Andrew J. Kuehn N/a
1978 Skateboard George Gage N/a
1979 Something Short of Paradise David Helpern N/a
1981 High Risk Stewart Raffill N/a
1983 Over Here, Mr. President Noam Pitlik N/a
1986 Jake Speed Andrew Lane N/a
1988 The In Crowd Mark Rosenthal N/a
Ernest Saves Christmas John R. Cherry III N/a
1991 Dolly Dearest Maria Lease N/a
1994 Caroline at Midnight Scott McGinnis N/a
1994 Playmaker Yuri Zeltser N/a
1995 Dead Badge Douglas Barr N/a
Born to Be Wild John Gray N/a
1998 The X-Files Rob Bowman N/a
Disturbing Behavior David Nutter N/a
1999 Stranger in My House Joe Cacaci N/a
Crazy in Alabama Antonio Banderas N/a
2006 Private Fears in Public Places Alain Resnais N/a
2008 The Hamlet Adventure
  • Ivaylo Dikanski
  • Greg Roach
N/a
The X-Files: I Want to Believe Chris Carter N/a
Adventures in Appletown Robert Moresco N/a
2009 Wild Grass Alain Resnais N/a
2010 White Irish Drinkers John Gray N/a
2011 The Hunters Chris Briant N/a
2012 You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet Alain Resnais N/a
2014 Life of Riley N/a
2020 The New Mutants Josh Boone N/a
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Video games

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Notes
1998 Urban Assault Composed with Sylvius Lack
The X-Files Game Composed with Paul Wayne Hiaumet
2004 Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain Composed with Mike Reagan
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References

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