Friends Theme Song Writer Allee Willis Has Died Aged 72

Allee Willis, the writer of the iconic theme tune from the TV show Friends, has died at the age of 72.

Willis, who suffered a sudden heart attack, wrote songs for bands such as Earth, Wind, and Fire, The Pet Shop Boys, and The Pointer Sisters over a stellar career.

However, her biggest hit was The Rembrandts 'I'll Be There For You' that she penned alongside Friends creators David Crane and Marta Kauffmann.

Her partner, Prudence Fenton, has been described as being "in total shock" at the news of her death.

As well as the ubiquitous theme tune to one of the world's biggest TV shows, which she once described as "the whitest song I ever wrote", Willis also had a number one hit with 'September', penned with Earth, Wind, and Fire's Maurice White.

Speaking about the 1978 hit, she said that it was "still that song that when people found out I'd written that, they just go, 'Oh my God,' and then tell me in some form how happy that song makes them every time they hear it."

She is survived by her niece, Mandy Becker, as well as her brother and sister Kent Willis and Marlin Frost.

More to follow...

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: TV and Film, US News, US Entertainment

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekend he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

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