Mary Poppins lyricist Richard Sherman has died at the age of 95

Richard M. Sherman, the composer who wrote songs for Disney film classics such as Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, has died in Beverly Hills at the age of 95.

Sherman teamed up with his late brother Robert, and the pair won two Oscars in 1965 for their work on Mary Poppins.

Some of the brothers’ best scores include Jungle Book’s Trust in Me and City City Bang Bang’s Truly Scrumptious.

His death was announced In Disney’s statementSherman died of “age-related illness” at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

The Sherman Brothers were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 and received the US National Medal of Arts in 2008.

Aristocats, Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Winnie the Pooh shorts among other Disney productions featured their words and music.

2013 release Saving Mr. The brothers were portrayed in the movie Banks, which told the story behind the production of Mary Poppins.

Released in March 2012, a year after his brother’s death, the film starred actors Jason Schwartzman and PJ Novak as two brothers who composed and co-wrote the film’s hit songs.

Their catchy and energetic song “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” became a pop hit, entering the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965.

During his 65-year career, Sherman became part of Walt Disney’s “inner circle of creative talent,” according to the entertainment company.

He was born on 12 June 1928 in New York City and won three Grammy Awards and has 24 gold and platinum albums, the Disney statement added.

His service to the arts led to a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

According to US media, the Sherman brothers wrote more than 150 songs for Disney, including the score for the 1961 film Parent Trap, starring a young Lindsay Lohan in 1998.

Sherman continued to play an active role in composing music into his adulthood. In 2023, he co-wrote a new song with composer Fabrizio Mancinelli for Disney legend Andreas Teja’s animated short Mushka.

Sherman is survived by his wife Elizabeth Sherman, his children and grandchildren.

His funeral will be held on May 31 in California.