Tim Rice facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tim Rice
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Rice in 2020
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Timothy Miles Bindon Rice |
| Born | 10 November 1944 Shardeloes, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Origin | Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
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| Occupation(s) | songwriter |
| Years active | 1965–present |
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Sir Timothy Miles Bindon Rice (born 10 November 1944) is a famous English songwriter, also known as a lyricist. A lyricist is a person who writes the words, or lyrics, for songs. He is famous for working with other talented composers to create some of the world's most beloved musicals and movie songs.
You have probably heard his work in Disney movies like Aladdin and The Lion King. He wrote the lyrics for hit songs like "A Whole New World" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight". He also worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber on famous stage shows like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Rice has won many awards for his amazing work. He is one of the few people to achieve "EGOT" status, which means he has won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar (Academy Award), and a Tony Award. In 1994, Queen Elizabeth II made him a knight for his contributions to music, which is why he is called Sir Tim Rice.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tim Rice was born in Buckinghamshire, England, during the Second World War. The house where he was born, called Shardeloes, was being used as a maternity hospital at the time. His father was a major in the British Army, and his mother served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force.
Rice went to several schools, including St Albans School and Lancing College. After finishing school, he decided not to go to a university in England right away. Instead, he worked for a law firm and later spent a year studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, France.
Career in Music and Theatre
Starting in the Music Business
In 1966, Rice began his career at EMI Records, a major music company, as a trainee. He learned a lot about the music industry there. A few years later, he started working as an assistant producer with artists like Cliff Richard.
Famous Musical Theatre Collaborations
Tim Rice's biggest successes came from working with composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Together, they created musicals that mixed rock and pop music with theatre. This was a new and exciting style at the time. Their most famous shows include:
After working with Lloyd Webber, Rice collaborated with other famous musicians. He worked with Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus from the pop group ABBA to write the musical Chess.
In 2025, Rice and Lloyd Webber reunited to write original songs for a new comedy play, Sherlock Holmes and The 12 Days of Christmas.
Writing for Disney
Many of Rice's most famous lyrics were written for The Walt Disney Company. He worked with composer Alan Menken on the movie Aladdin. Their song "A Whole New World" won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy.
He then teamed up with pop superstar Elton John for The Lion King. The song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" also won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. Rice also wrote new songs for the stage versions of Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, as well as the live-action film remakes.
His other work with Disney includes the musical Aida with Elton John and King David with Alan Menken.
Other Work and Interests
Media Appearances
Besides writing, Rice has appeared on television and radio. He was a host on a BBC talk show and has been a guest on radio game shows like Just a Minute. He even made a small appearance in the movie About a Boy.
Rice is a big fan of cricket and was even the president of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 2002. He also enjoys mathematics.
Books and Publishing
In 1998, Rice wrote his autobiography, Oh What a Circus, which tells the story of his life up to the opening of Evita. He also helped create the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles, a famous book that lists all the hit songs in the United Kingdom.
Honours and Awards
Tim Rice has received many honours for his work.
- He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994.
- He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1999.
- He was named a Disney Legend in 2002 for his contributions to the company.
- He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008.
Personal Life
In 1974, Rice married Jane Artereta. They have two children, Eva and Donald. Eva is a novelist, and Donald is a film director. In the late 1980s, Rice and his wife separated but they have remained legally married. Rice also has two other daughters from other relationships and has seven grandchildren.
Lady Rice (Jane) manages the family's large estate in Scotland, where she works to protect red squirrels. Tim Rice is also a lifelong fan of the Sunderland AFC football club.
Major Works
Musicals
- 1968 – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (with Andrew Lloyd Webber)
- 1970 – Jesus Christ Superstar (with Andrew Lloyd Webber)
- 1976 – Evita (with Andrew Lloyd Webber)
- 1984 – Chess (with Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus)
- 1994 – Beauty and the Beast (new songs with Alan Menken)
- 1997 – The Lion King (with Elton John)
- 2000 – Aida (with Elton John)
- 2011 – Aladdin (with Alan Menken)
- 2013 – From Here to Eternity (with Stuart Brayson)
Film Work
- 1992 – Aladdin (with Alan Menken)
- 1994 – The Lion King (with Elton John)
- 2000 – The Road to El Dorado (with Elton John)
- 2017 – Beauty and the Beast (new songs with Alan Menken)
- 2019 – Aladdin (new song with Alan Menken, Pasek and Paul)
- 2019 – The Lion King (with Elton John and Hans Zimmer)
