Howard Ashman (May 3, 1950 – March 14, 1991), born Howard Elliott Gershman in Baltimore, Maryland, was an American playwright and movie music lyricist.

He collaborated with Alan Menken on several films, notably animated features for Disney, Ashman writing the lyrics and Menken composing the scores.

• Aladdin (1992) (lyricist)
• Beauty and the Beast (1991) (lyricist) (dedicatee)
• The Little Mermaid (1989) (lyricist) (music producer)
• Little Shop of Horrors (1986) (lyricist)

Along with Menken, Ashman was the co-recipient of two Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, and two Oscars. His second Academy Award in 1992 was awarded posthumuously for Best Song and was accepted by his partner, Bill Lauch. It was the first Academy Award given posthumuously to someone who had died of AIDS.

External link

• IMDb: Howard Ashman