Trivia

It's been felt by some that he was deprived of a possible Academy Award when the U.S. distributor of Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America (1984) failed to file the paperwork so the score could be considered for nomination. This score is still regarded as one of his best.

Refused to move to Hollywood on several occasions, despite being offered a villa by a studio more than once.

Frequently uses Edda Dell'Orso to provide haunting wordless vocals on his film scores.

At age 87, Ennio Morricone became the oldest winner of a competitive Academy Award in 2016 (Best Original Score for The Hateful Eight (2015)), until just two years later, when James Ivory was the new oldest competitive award winner at age 89 in 2018 (Best Original Screenplay for Call Me by Your Name (2017)).

Did not win a competitive Oscar until over 55 years (from his first film score in 1960, until his 2016 win for The Hateful Eight (2015)) in the industry.

Despite his legendary reputation, and almost sixty year long film composing career, he only won one competitive Oscar, although he had been nominated for composing on five previous films between 1979 and 2001, before his 2016 win for The Hateful Eight (2015).

Has worked with director Sergio Leone in numerous films, in fact, many considered it to be one of Leone's trademarks to have his films scored by Morricone. Of the eight films directed by Leone, six were scored by Morricone, and additionally, of the seven films produced by Leone (of which Leone was an uncredited producer on all but one, The Cat (1977)), Morricone composed the scores on six of those too. However, of the films which were written by Leone, but not directed or produced by Leone, Morricone did not compose for any of those productions. Unfortunately, Leone predeceased Morricone by more than thirty years, or their legendary working relationship likely would have resulted in more Leone films with scores composed by Morricone.

Heavy-metal band Metallica starts their shows with Morricone's instrumental "The Ecstasy Of Gold" (from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)) before appearing on stage.

After more than 40 years of working with Clint Eastwood, Morricone's Italian speech was translated to English, on stage, by Eastwood at the 2007 Oscar ceremony, when Morricone won his first Academy Award, albeit honorary, for life achievement. The 2007 award turned out to be a precursor to Morricone's belated competitive win at the 2016 ceremony, for The Hateful Eight (2015).

He composed the official theme for the 1978 World Cup, held in Argentina.

Director Quentin Tarantino accepted Morricone's Golden Globe win for The Hateful Eight (2015) on his behalf.

At one point he was onboard to score Inglourious Basterds (2009), but backed out due to his belief that he would be unable to work efficiently in the amount of time given.

Co-wrote "It Couldn't Happen Here" with the British pop duo Pet Shop Boys for their 1987 album "Actually," and which was also the title song for a film of the same name, It Couldn't Happen Here (1987), which was otherwise scored by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe (as Pet Shop Boys) as the credited composer.

Stanley Kubrick was very fond of Morricone's work, particularly on Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). The American director considered hiring him to write the score for A Clockwork Orange (1971). However, when Sergio Leone, working on Duck, You Sucker! (1971) at the time, was asked if the composer was available, Leone insisted that Morricone was needed, even though this wasn't true. Morricone regretted the missed opportunity to his dying day. Kubrick also briefly considered him for Barry Lyndon (1975), but nothing ever came of this.

His Oscar win for The Hateful Eight (2015) was his first competitive win.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre at 7065 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 26, 2016.

He was not fluent in English and only gave interviews in his native language.

He lived in Italy for the entirety of his life, never having desired to live in Hollywood.

Reportedly took great offense at the term 'spaghetti western', and journalists were warned to avoid using the word when interviewing him.

Often expressed frustration for being recognized mostly for his western scores. He repeatedly stated that he considered himself a composer of music, not merely of movie scores and certainly not only westerns.

He wrote scores for What Dreams May Come (1998) and The Scarlet Letter (1995) that were rejected.

Member of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 37th Cannes International Film Festival in 1984.

Studied at the Conservatory of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia.

He was reportedly considered to score Heaven's Gate (1980).

Father of Marco, Alessandra, Andrea Morricone and Giovanni Morricone.

He only scored Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975) as a personal favor to his late friend Pier Paolo Pasolini. He was disgusted by the content in the film.

Supporter of the Italian center-left Democratic Party (PD) led by Walter Veltroni.

Member of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 49th Venice International Film Festival in 1992.

Never bothered to learn English, and said at the age of 90 that it was too late for him to try and learn.

He was the son of Libera Ridolfi and Mario Morricone, a musician.