Vic Mizzy, 'Addams Family' Theme Songwriter, Dies at 93

Posted on Oct 20th 2009 10:00AM by Steve Baltin
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A respected songwriter who left a big imprint on pop culture, Vic Mizzy died in Los Angeles Saturday night at age 93. Mizzy, a pianist born in Brooklyn who started playing professionally at age 14 and became a touring act on the Vaudeville circuit, wrote several hit songs, such as 'My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time,' 'Pretty Kitty Blue Eyes' and 'Choo n' Gum,' for the likes of Dean Martin, Perry Como, Doris Day and Billie Holiday.

Mizzy's best-known works are the themes to the '60s TV hits 'The Addams Family' and 'Green Acres,' both of which still live in syndication. "If people only remembered me for the themes to 'The Addams Family' and 'Green Acres,' I wouldn't care," Mizzy was quoted as saying. "Two snaps got me a Bel Air mansion."

His TV work went far beyond those hits, as he contributed to the shows 'F Troop,' 'Mister Ed' and 'Petticoat Junction,' before also moving on to film scores, including the Don Knotts movies 'Ghost and Mr. Chicken' and 'The Reluctant Astronaut.'

According to a release, Mizzy is survived by his brother Sol, daughter Lynn Mizzy Jonas, her husband Phil, grandson David and granddaughter Rachel.