Richard Bellis, a renowned figure in the entertainment industry, was born in Pasadena, California, and embarked on a show business career as a child actor. He spent his early years working in movies and television, showcasing his talent before the cameras until the age of 12. At this pivotal moment, Bellis made the bold decision to shift his focus towards music, leaving the world of acting behind.
As he entered adulthood, Bellis's musical talents flourished, and he quickly gained recognition as a musical director. Within a few short months of graduating from high school, he took the reins as the musical director for the touring production of the popular rock-and-roll extravaganza, Shindig! (1964). This impressive achievement was soon followed by a stint with the legendary crooner, Johnny Mathis, and a decade-long tenure as an arranger and conductor for several prominent Las Vegas headliners.
In 1976, Bellis made the decision to leave the road and dedicate himself to scoring films on a full-time basis. This pivotal career move proved to be a wise one, as he went on to win an Emmy Award for his score of Stephen King's It (1990) and receive Emmy nominations for his work on HBO's Doublecrossed (1991) and ABC's Double, Double Toil and Trouble (1993).
In addition to his illustrious film scoring career, Bellis has also made significant contributions to the music industry. He has served as the past president of the Society of Composers and Lyricists, and has spent 17 years lecturing in the Scoring for Television and Motion Pictures program at the University of Southern California. Moreover, Bellis has acted as host and mentor for ASCAP's annual Film Scoring Workshop, sharing his expertise and knowledge with aspiring composers.
