Earle H. Hagen, who composed such memorable theme songs as the whistle tune for The Andy Griffith Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show, has passed away at the age of 88-years old.

Hagen, who is heard whistling the folksy tune for “The Andy Griffith Show,” died Monday night at his home in Rancho Mirage, his wife, Laura, said Tuesday. He had been in ill health for several months.

He and Lionel Newman were nominated for an Academy Award for best music scoring for the 1960 Marilyn Monroe movie “Let’s Make Love.”

For television, he composed original music for more than 3,000 episodes, pilots and TV movies, including theme songs for “That Girl,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”

Hagen’s theme song for The Andy Griffith Show is in my opinion the most well known theme song in television history.

Also Known As: Earl Hagen