Stephen Sondheim, the legendary Broadway songwriter largely credited with revolutionising American musical theatre, died Friday at the age of 91, confirmed his lawyer, according to The New York Times.
Sondheim, who is best known for musicals such as “West Side Story,” died suddenly at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut, the day after celebrating Thanksgiving with friends, according to F. Richard Pappas.
Sondheim, who was born in New York City on March 22, 1930, has always been interested in musical theatre. He began playing the piano at the age of seven and was acquainted with Oscar Hammerstein II, half of the famous musical theatre writing duo Rodgers and Hammerstein, who wrote “Oklahoma!” and “The Sound of Music.”