Beauty and the Beast Lyricist Howard Ashman Dies at 40
Broadway Star, Lyricist Behind Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' Dies of AIDS
Ashman, who also wrote lyrics for 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Aladdin,' had been battling HIV/AIDS for several years.
Howard Ashman, the Broadway star and lyricist behind Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," died of AIDS on March 14, 1991. He was 40 years old.
Ashman was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1950. He began his career in the theater, writing and performing in musicals off-Broadway. In 1986, he was hired by Disney to write the lyrics for "The Little Mermaid." The film was a huge success, and Ashman was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Under the Sea."
In 1991, Ashman wrote the lyrics for "Beauty and the Beast." The film was another huge success, and Ashman won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Beauty and the Beast." Ashman also wrote the lyrics for "Aladdin," which was released in 1992. The film was another huge success, and Ashman won another Academy Award for Best Original Song for "A Whole New World."
Ashman was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 1988. He continued to work on "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin" even as his health declined. Ashman died of AIDS on March 14, 1991, just two months before "Beauty and the Beast" was released. He was 40 years old.
Ashman was a brilliant lyricist who wrote some of the most beloved songs in Disney history. His songs are full of wit, humor, and heart. They have touched the lives of millions of people around the world. Ashman's legacy will live on through his music.
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