Basil Poledouris, the composer whose credits included Starship Troopers,The Blue Lagoon and FreeWilly, has died ofcancer in Los Angeles. He was 61.

Best-known for his powerful music for action-adventure films like TheHunt For Red October, Conan The Barbarian and RoboCop, the Missouri-born composer forged strong working relationshipswith directors like Paul Verhoeven, John Milius, and Randal Kleiser.

Poledouris began studying the piano at the age of nine and went onto study film and music at USC. He scored television projects in the early1970s and got his big break on Big Wednesday and The Blue Lagoon for former USC alumni Kleiser and Milius.

He was commissioned to write music for the opening of the Olympic Gamesin Atlanta in 1996.

Poledouris is survived by his mother Helen Poledouris; former wifeBobbie Poledouris; daughters, Zoe and Alexis; and brother John Poledouris.

There will be no service. In lieu of flowers, the family hasrequested donations in Poledouris' name be made to the Catalina Conservancy or theMr Holland's Opus Foundation.