Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Loesser is one of those figures I consider a cornerstone of the American songbook. A New Yorker who wrote both music and words, he handed us Guys and Dolls and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, hauling in Tony Awards, an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and a share of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The sheer breadth of that trophy case is staggering. But what delights me most is that he wrote Baby, It's Cold Outside, a melody that resurfaces every winter worldwide. He died in 1969, yet his songs keep him vividly alive, and that is about the most enviable legacy a songwriter could ask for.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Frank Loesser
- Name (Japanese)
- フランク・レッサー
- Reading
- ふらんく・れっさー
- Born
- June 29, 1910 – July 28, 1969
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Cancer / Dog
- Origin
- New York City, New York, United States
- Occupation
- composer / librettist / lyricist / songwriter / film score composer
2. Background
- High school
- Townsend Harris High School
Awards & achievements
- 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
- 1950 Academy Award for Best Original Song
- 1951 Tony Award for Best Musical
- 1962 Tony Award for Best Musical
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Baby, It's Cold Outside | — | |
| Notable work | Guys and Dolls | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Frank Loesser born?
June 29, 1910 – July 28, 1969.
Where is Frank Loesser from?
Frank Loesser is from New York City, New York, United States.
What does Frank Loesser do?
Frank Loesser works as composer, librettist, lyricist, songwriter, film score composer.
What is Frank Loesser known for?
Notable works include Baby, It's Cold Outside, Guys and Dolls.
Composer — see all → · Librettist — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.