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Italian composer, conductor, and pianist renowned for his prolific and influential work in film scores, particularly during the golden age of Italian cinema.Born in Pesaro, Italy, Ortolani studied trumpet and composition at the Pesaro Conservatory. He began his career in radio and light orchestral music before transitioning to film scoring in the late 1950s. His international breakthrough came with the haunting theme 'More (Theme from Mondo Cane)' for the 1962 documentary 'Mondo Cane', which earned him an Oscar nomination and a Grammy Award. He became one of Italy's most sought-after composers, scoring over 200 films across diverse genres including spaghetti westerns, gialli, horror, war films, comedies, and dramas. He collaborated with major directors like Gualtiero Jacopetti, Dino Risi, Vittorio De Sica, and Ruggero Deodato. Known for lush melodies, dramatic orchestration, and versatility, his work ranges from elegant romantic themes to intense, experimental pieces. He continued composing actively until his death in Rome at age 87.

• His birth name was Riziero, but he was universally known as Riz Ortolani.
• The song 'More' from 'Mondo Cane' became a massive international hit, winning the Grammy for Best Instrumental Theme in 1963 and receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, making Ortolani one of the first Italian composers nominated in that category.
• Despite often working on exploitation or genre films (like Cannibal Holocaust), Ortolani infused them with sophisticated, memorable scores that frequently transcended the films themselves, earning critical respect.
• He was known for his incredible speed and reliability, composing complex scores under tight deadlines, a key factor in his prolific output within the fast-paced Italian film industry.
• Ortolani died of natural causes in Rome in 2014.