Award-Winning Songwriter Part of Husband-Wife Duo Dies at 99
Award-winning songwriter Alan Bergman, who was part of a professional duo with late wife Marilyn Bergman, has died at the age of 99 following their iconic career.
Alan died at his home in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 17, with his daughter, Julie Bergman, by his side.
"Bergman suffered from respiratory issues in recent months, but continued to write songs till the very end," a spokesperson for the musician said in a statement to People on Friday, July 18.
He and Marilyn were best known for writing memorable songs for movies including "The Way We Were" from the 1973 film of the same name and "It Might Be You" for the 1982 movie Tootsie.
The couple was critically acclaimed and won four Emmys, two Grammys and three Oscars throughout the course of their career.
Alan's death comes three years after Marilyn died at the age of 93 from respiratory failure in 2022.
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Despite both being born in New York City, Alan and Marilyn's paths didn't cross until they were adults living in California. When Alan moved to Los Angeles, he began collaborating with composer Lew Spence, who introduced him to his future wife.
Alan and Marilyn were friends for six months when they headed to New York to discuss a Broadway offer. 'We turned it down, but Marilyn and I spent a lot of time together in New York," he told People back in 1980. "When we came back, we were an item."
The couple, who got married in 1958, loved working together. "Making songs is very enjoyable. There's not much pain connected with it," he previously said. "When you're creating something, you sometimes have to go through a lot of stupid or silly things to spark your collaboration. You learn to say what comes into your head."
"We've had enough experience to know that a compromise is going to be worked out," Marilyn added of their writing process. "If one of us feels strongly about something, we'll let it go for the moment, come back to it the next day and look for a third way to do it."
Award-Winning Songwriter Part of Husband-Wife Duo Dies at 99 first appeared on Parade on Jul 18, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
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