Stephen Joshua Sondheim (born March 22, 1930) is an American composer and lyricist known for his immense contributions to musical theatre for over 50 years.He is the winner of an Academy Award, eight Tony Awards (more than any other composer) including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre,eight Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award. Described by Frank Rich of The New York Times as "now the greatest and perhaps best-known artist in the American musical theater", his most famous works include (as composer and lyricist) A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George and Into the Woods. 

He also wrote the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy.Sondheim has written material for movies, including the 1981 Warren Beatty film Reds, for which he contributed the song "Goodbye For Now". He also wrote five songs for the 1990 movie Dick Tracy, including "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)" by Madonna which won the Academy Award for Best Song.Stephen Sondheim received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor in 2014.