Angelo Badalamenti, composer of ‘Twin Peaks’ and ‘Blue Velvet’, dies at 85

Composer Angelo Badalamenti, best known for creating scores for numerous David Lynch productions including ‘Twin Peaks’, ‘Blue Velvet’ and ‘Mulholland Drive’, has died aged 85.

Badalamenti’s family confirmed his death in a statement to Fox News Digital, saying he died Sunday of natural causes. The family described Badalamenti as a “loving husband, father and grandfather”.

They said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family.

Born in Brooklyn in March 1937 to a musically trained fish market owner father (a percussionist in Sicily), Badalamenti grew up listening to Italian opera with his family. He started piano lessons at the age of 8 and later earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music.

JULEE CRUISE, SINGER OF ‘TWIN PEAKS’, DEAD AT 65

During the summers, he played piano at Catskills resorts for Borscht Belt numbers.

After college, Badalamenti taught college. He composed a Christmas carol for his students which ended up on PBS and essentially launched his career in entertainment, where he wrote songs for Nina Simone (“Another Spring”) and Nancy Wilson (“Face It Girl , C’est fini”).

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He also wrote songs for movies like ‘Gordon’s War’ and ‘Law and Disorder’, but his big breakthrough came in 1986 when, through a series of industry connections beginning with unit manager Peter Runfolo , he was asked to help Isabella Rossellini sing “Blue Velvet” for Lynch’s iconic film.

Badalamenti won the 1991 Grammy for Pop Instrumental Performance for “Twin Peaks Theme”.

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Badalamenti isn’t the only “Twin Peaks” crew member to pass away recently. Actor Al Strobel, who played the penguin in ‘Twin Peaks’, died last week. He was 83 years old.

Al Strobel, star of “Twin Peaks”, died on December 2. He was 83 years old.
(Getty Images)

“Twin Peaks” singer Julee Cruise died in June at the age of 65. Her husband told NPR that his wife took her own life and battled “lupus, depression, and alcohol and drug addiction.”

Actress Julee Cruise died by suicide on June 9 at the age of 65 after a long battle with depression, lupus and drug and alcohol addiction.
(Michel Linssen/Redferns)

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Lenny Von Dohlen, who played Harold Smith in ‘Twin Peaks’, died in July. He was 63 years old.

“Twin Peaks” actor Lenny Von Dohlen died on July 5 at the age of 63.
(Alberto E. Rodríguez)

Editor’s Note: This story is about suicide. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Fox News’ Janelle Ash contributed to this report.