Celebrated TV series composer Mark Snow has died aged 78.
Snow, who grew up in Brooklyn, New York, is best-known for composing the iconic The X-Files theme tune, which became the soundtrack to the conspiracy theory-obsessed Nineties. With its spooky whistle that played alongside a title sequence that contained a number of creepy images, such as a stretchy face series creator Chris Carter specifically requested, Snow’s The X-Files is among the most recognisable in TV theme history.
But Snow also composed the entire series’ initial nine-season run from 1993 to 2001, returning for the revival in 2015. Six of Snow's 15 Emmy nominations were for the The X-Files episodes he scored.
Away from X-Files, Snow composed for the likes of Smallville, Blue Bloods, The Twilight Zone, and Carter’s X-Files follow-up Millennium. Snow returned to X-Files for the revival in 2015. He passed away on Friday, July 4, at his home in Connecticut, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Snow also worked on a number of video games, including 1998’s Urban Assault and The X-Files Game, and Sony Bend’s 2004 PlayStation 2 exclusive Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain. His final project was the 2020 X-Men film The New Mutants.
The instrumental The X Files was a hit single in the United Kingdom and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart in 1996. According to Variety, this amused Snow, who said: "Nothing really big happens in the song. It stays in A-minor, there’s no singing, drums or guitars, and it was a smash hit. That’s pretty wild."
Fellow TV and video game composer Bear McCreary (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, God of War) said Snow’s legacy “will forever be connected to his iconic work on The X-Files, but he also crafted memorable music for many other series.
“I chatted with him at length several times about our approaches to work and life. He was always charming and friendly.”
Mark Snow didn’t just score this scene—he scored the soul of The X-Files. Without his music, there’s no tension, no atmosphere, no catharsis. This near-kiss only works because of him. https://t.co/tzQSBqfZUL pic.twitter.com/CWJRN34KsY
— vaeh đź’« (@nochenev) July 4, 2025
Rest in Peace Mark Snow. He is known for some of the most iconic themes heard on TV, mostly with The X-Files.
— Nate Pester (@nathanpester) July 4, 2025
However, I will always remember him for his theme to Millennium, one of the most haunting pieces of music ever. pic.twitter.com/6Vj60S3dYx
Lance Henriksen, who starred in Millennium, took to social media to say: “I've lost an incredible friend. Rest well Mark and thank you.”
Composer Sean Callery said on Facebook: "Mark Snow, and one of the most wonderful and talented people I’ve ever known, has passed away. 33 years ago he began mentoring me as an artist. Who knew that I was also at the beginning of a deep friendship that would only grow and evolve over three decades along with our graying hair and tighter deadlines.
"I am so grateful to him for his sage counsel and his laugh-out-loud biting wit. My career got started by an act of generosity on his part 33 years ago – period, full stop. I love you my friend. There will never ever be another like you. I send love to Glynnis and all his children and grandchildren during this time."
Photo by Albert L. Ortega/WireImage.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
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