Biography
Oscar Hammerstein II was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and musical theatre director from New York City. He earned 8 Tony Awards for his most famous works: "South Pacific" (1949), "The King and I" (1951), and "The Sound of Music" (1959). He also won the Academy Award for Best Original Song twice, for "The Last Time I Saw Paris" (1940) and "It Might as Well Be Spring" (1945). Many of his songs became standards for both vocalists and jazz musicians. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Hammerstein created some of his finest musicals in collaboration with composer Richard Rodgers (1902-1979). Their work is credited with pioneering character-driven narratives with dramatic depth, shifting American musicals away from their previous reputation as light-hearted entertainment.
Born in New York City in 1895, Hammerstein was the son of theatrical manager William Hammerstein (1875-1914) and his first wife Alice Nimmo (died 1910). His father managed the Victoria Theatre in Times Square, once regarded as the most successful theatre in New York City. Hammerstein’s paternal lineage was German Jewish, while his maternal ancestors were British. His grandfather, Oscar Hammerstein I (1846-1919), was a theatrical impresario and composer credited with popularizing opera in the United States.
In 1912, Hammerstein enrolled at Columbia University and later attended Columbia Law School. After his father’s death in 1914, he took part in his first play, "On Your Way," performed in Columbia's Varsity Show, a long-standing university arts tradition. During his college years, he both wrote and performed for the Varsity Show.
Hammerstein left law school in 1917 to pursue a career in theatre. He found mentorship under lyricist and librettist Otto Harbach (1873-1963), who emphasized the importance of closely integrating music, lyrics, and story in musicals—a principle Hammerstein adopted fully. He wrote the book and lyrics for his first Broadway musical, "Always You" (1920). In 1921, Hammerstein joined The Lambs (founded 1874), a New York City social club for theatre professionals named after English writers Charles and Mary Lamb.
Hammerstein’s breakthrough came in 1927 with "Show Boat," an adaptation of Edna Ferber’s novel depicting life on a Mississippi River showboat across four decades. This musical was groundbreaking for addressing tragedy and serious themes in a genre previously dominated by light comedies and operettas. It introduced enduring songs like "Ol' Man River," "Make Believe," and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man." Hammerstein collaborated with composer Jerome Kern (1885-1945) on this project, and the partnership lasted for decades.
In the early 1940s, Richard Rodgers invited Hammerstein to collaborate on a musical adaptation of Lynn Riggs’s 1930 play "Green Grow the Lilacs." Rodgers had previously tried working on the adaptation with Lorenz Hart (1895-1943), but their partnership ended due to Hart’s mental health issues and creative struggles. The result was the hit musical "Oklahoma!" (1943), centered on a love triangle in Indian Territory. It ran for a record 2,212 performances and has been frequently revived. The success of "Oklahoma!" solidified the Rodgers and Hammerstein collaboration for future projects.
From 1943 to 1959, Rodgers and Hammerstein dominated American musical theatre with works including "Carousel" (1945), "Allegro" (1947), "South Pacific" (1949), "The King and I" (1951), "Me and Juliet" (1953), "Pipe Dream" (1955), "Flower Drum Song" (1958), and "The Sound of Music" (1959). Most of these were critically acclaimed, with no flops during this period. They also composed music for the film "State Fair" (1945) and the televised musical special "Cinderella" (1957). Their works often featured social commentary, addressing themes such as discrimination and domestic abuse.
In 1943, Hammerstein wrote the book and lyrics for "Carmen Jones," an adaptation of Georges Bizet’s opera "Carmen" with an all-black cast portraying African-American characters. The production was groundbreaking for its time and was later adapted into a film starring Dorothy Dandridge (1922-1965).
Hammerstein was a strong advocate for playwrights’ rights in the theatre industry. In 1956, he was elected president of the Dramatists Guild of America, a professional organization dedicated to securing better contracts for playwrights. He served until 1960, when Alan Jay Lerner (1918–1986) succeeded him.
Hammerstein passed away in August 1960 at his home, Highland Farm, a 19th-century farmhouse in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where he had lived since 1940. He died of stomach cancer at age 65 after a prolonged illness. To honor his memory, the lights of Times Square were extinguished for one minute, and London's West End lights were dimmed. He was cremated, and his ashes were interred at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. A memorial plaque was also placed in Southwark Cathedral in London.
He was survived by his second wife, Dorothy Hammerstein (1899-1987), a professional interior designer and decorator, whom he married in 1929. Their son, James Hammerstein (1931-1999), followed in his footsteps as a theatre director and producer. Hammerstein’s stepdaughter, Susan Blanchard (born 1928), worked as a lyricist and theatrical producer but is mainly known as a socialite.
