John Debney | Television Academy (2024)

HAVE UPDATES?

john-debney-2017-450x600.jpg

John Debney | Television Academy (1)

John Debney

John Debney

Birthday: August 18

Birthplace: Glendale, California

  • Photos
  • Videos
  • In The News
  • twitter

More about John Debney at:

John Debney's career seemed destined for Hollywood, the son of Disney Studios producer Louis Debney, John grew up in nearby Glendale, California where he got early inspiration for film and music growing up on the Disney Studio lot. The child of two musicians, John showed an early aptitude for music and began guitar lessons at age six, later playing in rock bands throughout college. Debney earned his B.A.

John Debney's career seemed destined for Hollywood, the son of Disney Studios producer Louis Debney, John grew up in nearby Glendale, California where he got early inspiration for film and music growing up on the Disney Studio lot. The child of two musicians, John showed an early aptitude for music and began guitar lessons at age six, later playing in rock bands throughout college. Debney earned his B.A. in Music Composition from California Institute of the Arts in 1979, and after four years immersing himself in the business at Disney Studios, Debney made a professional entry into the industry, composing for TV, working with Steven Spielberg and Mike Post on shows such as Star Trek: The Next Generation, Tiny Tunes, and Sea Quest DSV. Debney continued his hands-on training, working with Hanna-Barbera composer Hoyt Curtin, and went on to score major television projects such as which he won an Emmy for Best Main Title.

Debney's first big film break came in 1997 with an offer to work on Liar Liar with director Tom Shadyac. With the success of this blockbuster comedy under his belt, Debney went on to work on a variety of different major films including Elf, Iron Man 2, Spy Kids (1 & 2), and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Debney and Shadyac continued to collaborate, going on to do Bruce Almighty in 2003 and the spinoff Evan Almighty together. In 2005, Debney formed a successful partnership with director Robert Rodriguez, creating scores for his movies Sin City and Machete.

Although Debney was widely known within the industry as a versatile and talented composer, the world wouldn't discover him until he composed the landmark score for Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Enticed by the idea of working on a project that held deep, spiritual meaning for him, Debney's score, which blended symphonic orchestra, a wide range of world instruments, and the beauty of the human voice, connected on an emotional level with viewers and listeners, and rose to #1 on Billboard's charts for Soundtrack and Christian Albums, and #19 on the Billboard Top 200. The record was certified gold by the RIAA and won the Dove award for Best Instrumental Album, as well as garnering Debney an Oscar nomination.

Shortly after the movie release, Debney premiered "The Passion of the Christ Symphony" in Rome, Italy, a highly successful performance featuring an 83-person choir and a 96-piece orchestra, plus solo musicians and guest vocalists from both the film and the classical worlds, which received a 15-minute standing ovation from the audience. In the tradition of classical composers, John Debney enjoys conducting his own work and has conducted some of the world's greatest orchestras. "A big part of the joy in what I do is that I consider it an honor to stand in front of live musicians and have the opportunity to hear my music played by these talented people."

Debney's most commercially successful work to date is Disney's live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book, directed by Jon Favreau, released in 2016. Debney credits the success of the movie to the fact that both the film and the score, "Embraced the history" of the original. Long-time collaborator, Jon Favreau and John Debney have worked on a variety of films together including Elf, Zathura, Iron Man 2, and The Jungle Book. Among John Debney's other most recent works are scores for Draft Day, Stoneheart Asylum and HISTORY's Emmy-nominated Hatfields & McCoys as well as the HISTORY's most recent mini-series Houdini, and A&E mini-series Bonnie & Clyde.

Considered one of the most prolific and successful composers in Hollywood, Debney has won 3 Emmys and been nominated for 7, he is also an Academy Award nominee, and the youngest recipient of ASCAP's prestigious Henry Mancini Lifetime Achievement Award.

Show more

Awards & Nominations

8 Nominations | 3 Emmys

John Debney | Television Academy (2)

Outstanding Music Composition For A Limited Or Anthology Series, Movie Or Special (Original Dramatic Score) - 2023
  • Nominee>

  • John Debney, Composer
  • Hocus Pocus 2
  • Disney+
  • Walt Disney Pictures

John Debney | Television Academy (3)

Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music - 2015
  • Nominee>

  • John Debney, Theme by
  • Texas Rising
  • HISTORY
  • A+E Studios, ITV Studios America and Thinkfactory Media for HISTORY

John Debney | Television Academy (4)

Outstanding Music Composition For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special (Original Dramatic Score) - 2012
  • Nominee>

  • John Debney, Music by
  • "Part 1"
  • HISTORY
  • Thinkfactory Media in association with History
OUTSTANDING MAIN TITLE THEME MUSIC - 1997
  • Nominee>

  • John Debney
  • The Cape
  • SYN
  • Produced by Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun
OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR A SERIES (DRAMATIC UNDERSCORE) - 1997
  • Winner>

  • John Debney
  • The Cape
  • SYN
  • Produced by Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN main title theme music - 1994
  • Winner>

  • John Debney
  • seaQuest DSV
  • NBC
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR A SERIES (dramatic underscore) - 1991
  • Winner>

  • John Debney
  • THE YOUNG RIDERS
  • ABC
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MAIN TITLE THEME MUSIC - 1990
  • Nominee>

  • John Debney, Composer
  • THE YOUNG RIDERS
  • ABC

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

John Debney | Television Academy (5)

John Debney | Television Academy (6)

John Debney | Television Academy (7)

John Debney | Television Academy (8)

John Debney | Television Academy (9)

John Debney | Television Academy (10)

John Debney | Television Academy (11)

John Debney | Television Academy (12)

Robin Urdang, Catia De Liso, and Television Academy Governor John Debney at the 2018 Music Peer Group Nominee Reception at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP

John Debney | Television Academy (13)

Television Academy Governors Rickey Minor and John Debney, Jeff Danna, and Mychael Danna at the 2018 Music Peer Group Nominee Reception at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP

John Debney | Television Academy (14)

Television Academy Governors Rickey Minor and John Debney, Cindy O’Connor, Mark Isham, and Michael Simon at the 2018 Music Peer Group Nominee Reception at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP

John Debney | Television Academy (15)

Television Academy Governors Rickey Minor and John Debney at the 2018 Music Peer Group Nominee Reception at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP

John Debney | Television Academy (16)

Adam Blackstone, Diane Warren, and Television Academy Governors Rickey Minor and John Debney at the 2018 Music Peer Group Nominee Reception at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP

John Debney | Television Academy (17)

John Debney conducts the orchestra at WORDS + MUSIC, presented Thursday, June 29, 2017 at the Television Academy's Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP

John Debney | Television Academy (18)

John Debney and Rickey Minor perform at WORDS + MUSIC, presented Thursday, June 29, 2017 at the Television Academy's Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP

In The News

August 17, 2015

Me and My Emmy: John Debney

Browser Requirements

The TelevisionAcademy.com sites look and perform best when using a modern browser.

We suggest you use the latest version of any of these browsers:

Chrome

Firefox

Safari


Visiting the site with Internet Explorer or other browsers may not provide the best viewing experience.

Close Window

John Debney | Television Academy (2024)
Top Articles
The Ultimate Guide to Tattoo Needle Sizes and Types
Tattoo Shading Techniques: How to Shade a Tattoo for Beginners
Understanding Tattoo Needle Depth | PainfulPleasures
Latest Posts
7RL Tattoo Needles: Essential Tips for Artists and Beginners
Tattoo Needles 101 - Everything you need to know; explained
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Last Updated:

Views: 6463

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (59 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Birthday: 1993-07-01

Address: Suite 763 6272 Lang Bypass, New Xochitlport, VT 72704-3308

Phone: +22014484519944

Job: Banking Officer

Hobby: Sailing, Gaming, Basketball, Calligraphy, Mycology, Astronomy, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.