BEVERLY HILLS, CA (CelebrityAccess)—Composer Richard M. Sherman, known for his iconic songs for Disney classics like Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, The Aristocrats and more with his late brother Robert, passed away Saturday (May 25) at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Disney confirmed his cause of death was from “age-related illnesses.” He was 95.
The Sherman brothers were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 and received the US National Medal of the Arts in 2008. Their music also graced other Disney productions, such as The Parent Trap, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and the Winnie the Pooh shorts.
In 2013, the brothers were portrayed in the film Saving Mr. Banks, which told the story behind the making of Mary Poppins. The film was released a year after Robert’s death in March 2012. The brothers were honored with Oscars for Best Music Score and Original Song for “Chim Chim Cher-ee.”
Some of the brothers’ most famous scores include “Trust in Me” from The Jungle Book and “Truly Scrumptious” from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Their lively song “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” became a pop hit, making it onto the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965.
Throughout his 65-year career, Sherman was part of Walt Disney’s “inner circle of creative talents,” according to the entertainment company. Born in New York City on June 12, 1928, he won three Grammy awards and received 24 gold and platinum albums. His contributions to the arts also earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Sherman brothers wrote more than 150 songs for Disney. Even in his later years, Sherman continued to create music, writing a new song in 2023 with composer Fabrizio Mancinelli for Disney Legend Andreas Deja’s animated short film Mushka.
Sherman is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Sherman, his children and his grandchildren. His funeral will be held on May 31 in California.
