He gave voice to the unknown. Composer of whispers, shadows, and every unearthly heartbeat.”

Mark Snow (born Martin Fulterman; August 26, 1946 – July 4, 2025) was a seminal American composer whose eerie, avant-garde scores transformed television music. A Brooklyn native, he honed his craft at the High School of Music & Art and Juilliard—where he roomed with acclaimed composer Michael Kamen—and co‑founded the New York Rock & Roll Ensemble.

In the mid‑1970s, Snow moved to Los Angeles, launching his screen‑scoring career with projects like The Rookies and Starsky & Hutch. Over the next five decades, he crafted music for beloved TV series such as Smallville, Blue Bloods, Ghost Whisperer, and Hart to Hart.

Snow’s global renown stems from creating the iconic X‑Files theme — an experimental, whispering masterpiece born from a keyboard hum and “Whistling Joe” sample. He scored over 200 episodes of The X‑Files and its revival, along with the two theatrical films and the short‑lived spinoff The Lone Gunmen.

His work earned 15 Emmy nominations—six for The X‑Files alone—and numerous accolades including over 30 wins, such as ASCAP awards (e.g., 2016 Most Performed Theme).

Snow remained active into the 2020s, scoring The New Mutants (2020) and long-running hits like Blue Bloods (2010–2024).

He passed away peacefully at his Connecticut home at age 78, survived by his wife Glynnis, three daughters, grandchildren, and countless listeners worldwide.