Biography
Irving Gertz was an American composer whose work appeared in more than 200 films, primarily from the late 1940s to the late 1960s. He was most closely associated with Columbia Pictures, Universal-International and 20th Century Fox, contributing scores or music to numerous science-fiction and horror productions.
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Gertz studied at the Providence College of Music and privately with Walter Piston. After serving in the US Army Signal Corps during the Second World War, he returned to film work and later studied with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. His film credits include The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), It Came from Outer Space (1953), The Creature Walks Among Us (1956), The Monolith Monsters (1957), Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955) and Flaming Star (1960). Much of his studio work was uncredited.
Gertz also composed for television series including Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Daniel Boone and The Invaders, as well as concert pieces such as settings of Walt Whitman.
