American musical comedy legend, "West Side Story" lyricist Stephen Sondheim has died at the age of 91, his lawyer and friend told The New York Times on Friday.
It was the day after Thanksgiving, which he had celebrated with friends, that Stephen Sondheim suddenly passed away this Friday morning at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut.
Stephen Sondheim had quickly been able to take off his career.
In 1957, he was the lyricist of Leonard Bernstein for "West Side Story", which has become a staple, which is the subject of an adaptation by Steven Spielberg.
He had continued in the world of musical comedy and had other successes with "Le Forum en folie", "A Little Night Music" or "Sweeney Todd".
He also became known by writing for the cinema: one can quote "Stavisky", "Reds" or "Dick Tracy".
Born March 22, 1930 in New York City, he was considered one of the greatest composers of musicals.
Over the course of his long career, Stephen Sondheim has won eight Grammy Awards, as many Tony Awards, and an Oscar.
In 2015, Barack Obama, then President of the United States, awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor.
