Ashman, Howard, 1950-1991

Howard Elliott Ashman; born May 17, 1950, Baltimore, Maryland; died March 14, 1991, New York City; American playwright and lyricist. He collaborated with Alan Menken on several works and is most widely known for several animated feature films for Disney, for which Ashman wrote the lyrics and Menken composed the music. Ashman and Menken began their collaboration with the musical God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (1979), for which Ashman directed and wrote both book and lyrics. Their next musical, Little Shop of Horrors (1982) for which Ashman again directed and wrote both book and lyrics, became a long-running success and led to a 1986 feature film. The partnership's first Disney film was The Little Mermaid (1989), followed by Beauty and the Beast (1991). After his death, some of Ashman's songs were included in another Disney film, Aladdin (1992).

A Native of Baltimore, Howard was Born in 1950. He found his passion early on, joining Baltimore's Children's Theater Association while in grade school, and never wavering from his first love.

Howard died of AIDS in 1991, shortly before the release of Beauty and the Beast.