Howard Ashman

Writer · 1950–1991 · Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Biography

Howard Elliott Ashman (May 17, 1950 – March 14, 1991) was an American playwright, lyricist, and stage director. He is most widely known for his work on feature films for Walt Disney Animation Studios, for which Ashman wrote the lyrics and Alan Menken composed the music. Ashman has been credited as being a main driving force behind the Disney Renaissance. His work included songs for Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. He died of AIDS complications in 1991.

Wrote 8

2020s

2023
The Little Mermaid
Lyricist
67
2022
Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Lyricist
67

2010s

2019
Aladdin
Lyricist
64
2017
Beauty and the Beast
Lyricist
70
2015
Aria for a Cow
Lyricist

1990s

1992
Aladdin
Lyricist
84
1990
Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue
Lyricist

1980s

1986
Little Shop of Horrors
Musical, Lyricist, Screenplay
77

Sound 4

1990s

1992
Aladdin
Songs
84
1991
Beauty and the Beast
Songs
86

1980s

1989
The Little Mermaid
Songs
82
1988
Oliver & Company
Songs
62

Other crew 3

2010s

2010
Waking Sleeping Beauty
In Memory Of
73

1990s

1991
Beauty and the Beast
In Memory Of
86

1980s

1989
The Little Mermaid
Additional Dialogue
82

Produced 2

1990s

1991
Beauty and the Beast
Executive Producer
86

1980s

1989
The Little Mermaid
Producer
82

Appearances3

2010s

2018
Howard
Self / Various Character Scratch Singing (archive footage)
78
2010
Beyond Beauty: The Untold Stories Behind the Making of Beauty and the Beast
Self (archive footage)
Waking Sleeping Beauty
Self - Sebastian (voice) / Ariel (voice) (archive footage)
73