JD
John Debney
Composer, Actor, Additional CreditsBorn August 18, 1956 (69 years)
John Cardon Debney (born August 18, 1956) is an American composer and conductor of film, television, and video game scores. His work encompasses a variety of mediums and genres, including comedy, horror, science fiction, thriller, fantasy, and action-adventure. He is a long-time collaborator of The Walt Disney Company, having written music for their films, television series, and theme parks. He has also collaborated with film directors such as Jon Favreau, Garry Marshall, Tom Shadyac, Peter Hyams, John A. Davis, Brad Anderson, Howard Deutch, Mark Dindal, Robert Rodriguez, and Paul Tibbitt.
Debney has been the recipient of three Primetime Emmy Awards and an Academy Award nomination for his score for Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ (2004).
The son of Disney Studios producer Louis Debney (Zorro, The Mickey Mouse Club), John was born and raised in Glendale, California, nearby to Disney. He began guitar lessons at age six and played in rock bands in college. Debney earned his B.A. degree in Music Composition from the California Institute of Arts in 1979.
After ending his career with Disney, Debney worked for Mike Post. Debney furthered his hands-on training by working with Hanna-Barbera composer Hoyt Curtin. After this, Debney went on to score television projects as diverse as Disneyland, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, SeaQuest DSV, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, The Cape, The Lazarus Man, Piggsburg Pigs!, The Further Adventures of SuperTed, Doctor Who, Cagney and Lacey, Tiny Toon Adventures, The Young Riders, The New Yogi Bear Show, Police Academy: The Animated Series, Fame, Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future, Dragon's Lair, Freshman Dorm, Pop Quiz, and Dink, the Little Dinosaur, for which he won an Emmy for Best Main Title. In the early 1990s, Debney began to score indie films and Disneyland attractions. In 1991, Debney composed the music for Phantom Manor and It's a Small World (also used at Disneyland from 1993 to 2002) in Disneyland Paris and SpectroMagic at Magic Kingdom. In 1993, he scored his first studio feature, the Disney comedy Hocus Pocus starring Bette Midler.
In 1994, Debney wrote Friends Forever with Greg Scelsa from Greg & Steve's album We All Live Together, Vol. 5.
Debney has since gone on to have a career composing scores for many films, including Cats & Dogs, The Passion of the Christ, Bruce Almighty, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Elf, Sin City, Chicken Little, Liar Liar, Spy Kids, The Scorpion King, The Princess Diaries, and Predators.
Debney has also composed scores for the video games Lair and The Sims Medieval. In 2010, he composed the theme music for the Nickelodeon television series Supah Ninjas.
He composed some of Disney Parks's Nighttime Spectaculars, including World Of Colour Celebrate! in Disney's California Adventure, The Magic, The Memories And You! and Celebrate the Magic in Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom and Celebrate! Tokyo Disneyland in Tokyo Disneyland, as well as an arrangement of "When You Wish Upon a Star" as a fanfare for the Walt Disney Pictures logo from 1985 to 2006.
Description above from the Wikipedia article John Debney, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Debney has been the recipient of three Primetime Emmy Awards and an Academy Award nomination for his score for Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ (2004).
The son of Disney Studios producer Louis Debney (Zorro, The Mickey Mouse Club), John was born and raised in Glendale, California, nearby to Disney. He began guitar lessons at age six and played in rock bands in college. Debney earned his B.A. degree in Music Composition from the California Institute of Arts in 1979.
After ending his career with Disney, Debney worked for Mike Post. Debney furthered his hands-on training by working with Hanna-Barbera composer Hoyt Curtin. After this, Debney went on to score television projects as diverse as Disneyland, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, SeaQuest DSV, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, The Cape, The Lazarus Man, Piggsburg Pigs!, The Further Adventures of SuperTed, Doctor Who, Cagney and Lacey, Tiny Toon Adventures, The Young Riders, The New Yogi Bear Show, Police Academy: The Animated Series, Fame, Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future, Dragon's Lair, Freshman Dorm, Pop Quiz, and Dink, the Little Dinosaur, for which he won an Emmy for Best Main Title. In the early 1990s, Debney began to score indie films and Disneyland attractions. In 1991, Debney composed the music for Phantom Manor and It's a Small World (also used at Disneyland from 1993 to 2002) in Disneyland Paris and SpectroMagic at Magic Kingdom. In 1993, he scored his first studio feature, the Disney comedy Hocus Pocus starring Bette Midler.
In 1994, Debney wrote Friends Forever with Greg Scelsa from Greg & Steve's album We All Live Together, Vol. 5.
Debney has since gone on to have a career composing scores for many films, including Cats & Dogs, The Passion of the Christ, Bruce Almighty, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Elf, Sin City, Chicken Little, Liar Liar, Spy Kids, The Scorpion King, The Princess Diaries, and Predators.
Debney has also composed scores for the video games Lair and The Sims Medieval. In 2010, he composed the theme music for the Nickelodeon television series Supah Ninjas.
He composed some of Disney Parks's Nighttime Spectaculars, including World Of Colour Celebrate! in Disney's California Adventure, The Magic, The Memories And You! and Celebrate the Magic in Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom and Celebrate! Tokyo Disneyland in Tokyo Disneyland, as well as an arrangement of "When You Wish Upon a Star" as a fanfare for the Walt Disney Pictures logo from 1985 to 2006.
Description above from the Wikipedia article John Debney, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
John Debney Filmography
| 2026 | You, Me & Tuscany · as Original Music Composer |
| 2025 | The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants · as Original Music Composer |
| 2025 | In Your Dreams · as Original Music Composer |
| 2024 | Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 · as Original Music Composer |
| 2024 | Space Cadet · as Original Music Composer |
| 2024 | Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 · as Original Music Composer |
| 2024 | The Gray House (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 2023 | Under the Boardwalk · as Original Music Composer |
| 2023 | Spy Kids: Armageddon · as Original Music Composer |
| 2023 | |
| 2023 | 80 for Brady · as Original Music Composer |
| 2022 | Hocus Pocus 2 · as Original Music Composer |
| 2022 | Luck · as Original Music Composer |
| 2022 | Marry Me · as Original Music Composer |
| 2021 | American Underdog · as Original Music Composer |
| 2021 | Home Sweet Home Alone · as Original Music Composer |
| 2021 | Clifford the Big Red Dog · as Original Music Composer |
| 2021 | The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers (TV Series) · as Original Music Composer |
| 2020 | Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey · as Original Music Composer |
| 2020 | |
| 2020 | I Still Believe · as Original Music Composer |
| 2019 | Lake of Death · as Original Music Composer |
| 2019 | Sextuplets · as Original Music Composer |
| 2019 | Dora and the Lost City of Gold · as Original Music Composer |
| 2019 | The Beach Bum · as Original Music Composer |
| 2019 | Isn't It Romantic · as Original Music Composer |
| 2018 | Brian Banks · as Original Music Composer |
| 2018 | Goanimate 3: Bongo's Final · as Composer |
| 2018 | Beirut · as Original Music Composer |
| 2017 | The Greatest Showman · as Original Music Composer |
| 2017 | Flint · as Original Music Composer |
| 2017 | Young Sheldon (TV Series) · as Original Music Composer |
| 2017 | The Orville (TV Series) |
| 2017 | Home Again · as Original Music Composer |
| 2017 | Santa Clarita Diet (TV Series) |
| 2016 | Scrat: Spaced Out · as Original Music Composer |
| 2016 | League of Gods · as Original Music Composer |
| 2016 | Ice Age: Collision Course · as Original Music Composer |
| 2016 | Mother's Day · as Original Music Composer |
| 2016 | The Jungle Book · as Original Music Composer |
| 2016 | Game of Silence (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 2016 | The Young Messiah · as Original Music Composer |
| 2015 | Growing Up Wild · as Original Music Composer |
| 2015 | Texas Rising (TV Series) |
| 2015 | Broken Horses · as Original Music Composer |
| 2015 | American Odyssey (TV Series) |
| 2015 | The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water · as Original Music Composer |
| 2015 | Point of Honor (TV Series) |
| 2015 | Point of Honor · as Composer |
| 2014 | Stonehearst Asylum · as Original Music Composer |
| 2014 | Forever (2014) (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 2014 | The Cobbler · as Original Music Composer |
| 2014 | Houdini (TV Series) |
| 2014 | Walk of Shame · as Original Music Composer |
| 2014 | Draft Day · as Original Music Composer |
| 2014 | The After · as Composer |
| 2013 | Bonnie & Clyde (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 2013 | Best Worst Friends · as Composer |
| 2013 | Jobs · as Original Music Composer |
| 2013 | The Call · as Original Music Composer |
| 2012 | Alex Cross · as Original Music Composer |
| 2012 | Hatfields & McCoys (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 2012 | The Three Stooges · as Original Music Composer |
| 2012 | A Thousand Words · as Original Music Composer |
| 2011 | New Year's Eve · as Original Music Composer |
| 2011 | The Double · as Original Music Composer |
| 2011 | Dream House · as Original Music Composer |
| 2011 | The Change-Up · as Original Music Composer |
| 2011 | No Strings Attached · as Original Music Composer |
| 2010 | Yogi Bear · as Original Music Composer |
| 2010 | Snowmen · as Composer |
| 2010 | Predators · as Original Music Composer |
| 2010 | Iron Man 2 · as Original Music Composer |
| 2010 | Valentine's Day · as Original Music Composer |
| 2009 | Old Dogs · as Original Music Composer |
| 2009 | Aliens in the Attic · as Original Music Composer |
| 2009 | Hannah Montana: The Movie · as Original Music Composer |
| 2009 | Hotel for Dogs · as Original Music Composer |
| 2008 | My Best Friend's Girl · as Original Music Composer |
| 2008 | The Stoning of Soraya M. · as Original Music Composer |
| 2008 | Swing Vote · as Original Music Composer |
| 2008 | Meet Dave · as Original Music Composer |
| 2007 | Evan Almighty · as Original Music Composer |
| 2007 | Georgia Rule · as Original Music Composer |
| 2006 | |
| 2006 | Everyone's Hero · as Original Music Composer |
| 2006 | Idlewild · as Original Music Composer |
| 2006 | The Ant Bully · as Original Music Composer |
| 2006 | Keeping Up with the Steins · as Original Music Composer |
| 2005 | Cheaper by the Dozen 2 · as Original Music Composer |
| 2005 | Zathura: A Space Adventure · as Original Music Composer |
| 2005 | Dreamer · as Original Music Composer |
| 2005 | Chicken Little · as Original Music Composer |
| 2005 | The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D · as Original Music Composer |
| 2005 | Duma · as Original Music Composer |
| 2005 | Sin City · as Original Music Composer |
| 2005 | The Pacifier · as Original Music Composer |
| 2004 | Christmas with the Kranks · as Original Music Composer |
| 2004 | The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement · as Original Music Composer |
| 2004 | Raising Helen · as Original Music Composer |
| 2004 | The Whole Ten Yards · as Original Music Composer |
| 2004 | The Passion of the Christ · as Original Music Composer |
| 2004 | Welcome to Mooseport · as Original Music Composer |
| 2003 | Elf · as Original Music Composer |
| 2003 | Most · as Composer |
| 2003 | Bruce Almighty · as Original Music Composer |
| 2003 | Malibu's Most Wanted · as Original Music Composer |
| 2002 | The Hot Chick · as Original Music Composer |
| 2002 | The Tuxedo · as Original Music Composer |
| 2002 | Swimfan · as Original Music Composer |
| 2002 | Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams · as Original Music Composer |
| 2002 | The Scorpion King · as Original Music Composer |
| 2002 | Dragonfly · as Original Music Composer |
| 2002 | Snow Dogs · as Original Music Composer |
| 2001 | Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius · as Original Music Composer |
| 2001 | The Princess Diaries · as Original Music Composer |
| 2001 | Cats & Dogs · as Original Music Composer |
| 2001 | Spy Kids · as Original Music Composer |
| 2001 | Heartbreakers · as Original Music Composer |
| 2001 | See Spot Run · as Original Music Composer |
| 2000 | The Emperor's New Groove · as Original Music Composer |
| 2000 | |
| 2000 | The Replacements · as Original Music Composer |
| 2000 | Relative Values · as Original Music Composer |
| 2000 | |
| 1999 | Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepytime Tales · as Original Music Composer |
| 1999 | End of Days · as Original Music Composer |
| 1999 | |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland · as Original Music Composer |
| 1999 | Dick · as Original Music Composer |
| 1999 | Inspector Gadget · as Original Music Composer |
| 1999 | Komodo · as Original Music Composer |
| 1999 | G-Saviour · as Original Music Composer |
| 1999 | Lost & Found · as Original Music Composer |
| 1999 | My Favorite Martian · as Original Music Composer |
| 1998 | I'll Be Home for Christmas · as Original Music Composer |
| 1998 | Paulie · as Original Music Composer |
| 1997 | Justice League of America · as Original Music Composer |
| 1997 | I Know What You Did Last Summer · as Original Music Composer |
| 1997 | Liar Liar · as Original Music Composer |
| 1997 | The Relic · as Original Music Composer |
| 1996 | The Pretender (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1996 | The Cape (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1996 | |
| 1996 | Doctor Who · as Original Music Composer |
| 1996 | Getting Away with Murder · as Original Music Composer |
| 1996 | The Lazarus Man (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1995 | |
| 1995 | Cutthroat Island · as Original Music Composer |
| 1995 | Sudden Death · as Original Music Composer |
| 1995 | |
| 1995 | |
| 1995 | In Pursuit of Honor · as Original Music Composer |
| 1995 | Houseguest · as Original Music Composer |
| 1994 | Little Giants · as Original Music Composer |
| 1994 | White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf · as Original Music Composer |
| 1993 | Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby · as Original Music Composer |
| 1993 | The Town Santa Forgot · as Original Music Composer |
| 1993 | The Halloween Tree · as Original Music Composer |
| 1993 | Against the Grain (TV Series) |
| 1993 | seaQuest DSV (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1993 | |
| 1993 | |
| 1993 | Hocus Pocus · as Original Music Composer |
| 1993 | Gunmen · as Original Music Composer |
| 1993 | |
| 1993 | Jonny's Golden Quest · as Original Music Composer |
| 1993 | I Yabba-Dabba Do! · as Original Music Composer |
| 1993 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) |
| 1992 | |
| 1992 | The Plucky Duck Show (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1992 | Still Not Quite Human · as Original Music Composer |
| 1992 | Jack's Place (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1991 | Into the Badlands · as Original Music Composer |
| 1991 | A Seduction in Travis County · as Composer |
| 1991 | |
| 1990 | The Face of Fear · as Composer |
| 1990 | The Trials of Rosie O'Neill (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1990 | Piggsburg Pigs (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1990 | Tiny Toon Adventures (TV Series) |
| 1990 | Gremlins 2: The New Batch · as Composer |
| 1990 | Jetsons: The Movie · as Original Music Composer |
| 1990 | |
| 1989 | |
| 1989 | The Young Riders (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1989 | Dink, the Little Dinosaur (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1989 | Nightmare Classics (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1989 | The Further Adventures of SuperTed (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1988 | Seven Hours to Judgment · as Composer |
| 1988 | Police Academy: The Animated Series (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1988 | The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck · as Original Music Composer |
| 1987 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1987 | The Wild Pair · as Composer |
| 1987 | Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) |
| 1987 | CBS Summer Playhouse (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1987 | |
| 1987 | Rags to Riches (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1987 | DTV 'Doggone' Valentine · as Composer |
| 1986 | Fortune Dane (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1985 | The Twilight Zone (1985) (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1985 | |
| 1984 | Donald Duck's 50th Birthday · as Original Music Composer |
| 1984 | Dragon's Lair (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1982 | Fame (TV Series) · as Original Music Composer |
| 1981 | Cagney & Lacey (TV Series) |
| 1972 | The ABC Afterschool Special (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1954 | Disneyland (TV Series) · as Composer |
The Man with the Bag · as Original Music Composer |
| 2020 | Silent Night: A Song for the World · as Self |
| 2018 | |
| 2018 | |
| 2016 | |
| 2010 | Ultimate Iron Man · as Self |
| 2006 | Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light · as Self |
| 2005 | The 77th Annual Academy Awards · as Self |
| 2002 | The Sweatbox · as Self |
| 1992 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1988 | 48 Hours (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1952 | Today (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2020 | |
| 1975 | The Strongest Man in the World · as John (student) |
| 2024 | The Garfield Movie · as Conductor |
| 2006 | Barnyard · as Conductor |
| 1988 | A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (TV Series) · as Sound |
| 1987 | Yogi's Great Escape · as Songs |