# Robert Folk

Robert Elms Folk (born March 5, 1949) is an American film and television composer and conductor who has written over 80 film and television scores, as well as concert works.

## Life and career

Robert Folk is a graduate and former faculty member of the Juilliard School in New York City. Since completing his doctorate, Folk has composed and conducted original music for over 50 feature films. His credits include seven Police Academy films, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Nothing To Lose, Tremors (uncredited), The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, Toy Soldiers, Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time, Kung Pow! Enter the Fist, Boat Trip, Back in the Day, American Pie: Band Camp and most recently, Van Wilder 2 and Vivaldi.
Among the filmmakes Folk has worked with are Steve Oedekerk, George Gallo, Gary Sinise, Hugh Wilson, Don Bluth, Jon Davison, Gary Goldman, Steve Rash, David Permut, Gene Quintano, Roger Birnbaum, Ron Underwood, Mark Burg, Thom Mount, Paul Maslansky, George Miller, Fred Zollo, Marty Bregman, Gale Anne Hurd, Marco Weber, Ringo Lam, Jake Eberts and Gary Barber. Folk has also composed numerous concert works including symphonic, vocal and chamber music compositions. His ballet “To Dream of Roses,” composed for the Osaka Worlds Fair, was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.
Many of Folk's film scores have been released on compact disc, including Police Academy, The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, Toy Soldiers, Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time and Maximum Risk.
In 2019, Folk was a guest of honour at the Movie Score Malaga (MOSMA) festival in Spain where selections of his film works were performed in concert by Orquesta Sinfónica Provincial de Málaga.

## Filmography

* Savage Harvest (1981)
* The Slayer (1982)
* Police Academy (1984)
* Purple Hearts (1984)
* Bachelor Party (1984)
* Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)
* Thunder Alley (1985)
* Odd Jobs (1986)
* Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986)
* Stewardess School (1986)
* Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987)
* Can't Buy Me Love (1987)
* Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach (1988)
* Miles from Home (1988)
* Wicked Stepmother (1989)
* Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989)
* Happy Together (1989)
* Honeymoon Academy (1989) (Video)
* Tremors (1990) (uncredited)
* The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter (1990)
* Toy Soldiers (1991)
* Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991)
* A Climate for Killing (1991)
* Rock-a-Doodle (1991)
* Loaded Weapon 1 (1993)
* The Princess and the Cobbler (1993)
* Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (1994)
* In the Army Now (1994)
* A Troll in Central Park (1994)
* Trapped in Paradise (1994)
* Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995)
* Theodore Rex (1995)
* The Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace (1996)
* Maximum Risk (1996)
* Rule of Three (1996)
* Booty Call (1997)
* Nothing to Lose (1997)
* Major League: Back to the Minors (1998)
* The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story (1998) (Video)
* You're Dead... (1999)
* Held Up (1999)
* Thumb Wars (1999)
* All the Queen's Men (2001)
* Kung Pow! Enter the Fist (2002)
* Boat Trip (2002)
* In the Shadow of the Cobra (2004)
* El sol de los venados (2004)
* Back in the Day (2005)
* American Pie Presents: Band Camp (2005) (Video)
* Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj (2006)
* Beethoven's Big Break (2008) (Video)
* Underground (2010)
* Elephant White (2010)
* Silver Cord (2011)
* Vivaldi (2011)
* Havana Heat (2011)
* There Be Dragons (2011)
* The Secret Village (2013)
* The Kid (2015)
* Silent Life (2016)
* Once Upon A Time In Vegas (2023)

### Television

* Knots Landing (2 episodes, 1982–1983)
* Hart to Hart (4 episodes, 1982–1983)
* Falcon Crest (2 episodes, 1983–1984)
* Faerie Tale Theatre (3 episodes, 1984–1987)
* Tall Tales & Legends (1 episode, 1985)
* Prince of Bel Air (1986)
* Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1 episode, 1986)
* The Twilight Zone (2 episodes, 1986)
* Combat Academy (1986)
* The Room Upstairs (1987)
* Glory Days (1988)
* Jesse Hawkes (1 episode, 1989)
* Dragon and Slippers (1991)
* Mario and the Mob (1992)
* Shadowhunter (1993)
* Sworn to Vengeance (1993)
* Two Fathers: Justice for the Innocent (1994)
* State of Emergency (1994)
* Search and Rescue (1994)
* Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare (1995)
* National Lampoon's Thanksgiving Family Reunion (2003)

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Result | Category | Film or series |
| 1996 | ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards | Won | Top Box Office Films | Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls |
| 2013 | International Film Music Critics Awards | Nominee | Best Original Score for a Drama Film | There Be Dragons |