Ramin Djawadi

Biography:

Ramin Djawadi (born July 19, 1974) is an Iranian-German composer, conductor, and record producer best known for his work in film, television, and video games. Born in Duisburg, Germany to an Iranian father and German mother, he attended Krupp Gymnasium before moving to the United States to study at Berklee College of Music, graduating in 1998 with a degree in film scoring.

Shortly after, Djawadi caught the attention of legendary composer Hans Zimmer, who invited him to join Remote Control Productions in Los Angeles. There, he worked as an assistant to Klaus Badelt and contributed additional arrangements for high-profile films such as Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, The Time Machine, and Something’s Gotta Give. Around this period, he also co-composed music for the video game System Shock 2 (1999). His early independent projects included Blade: Trinity (2004), where he collaborated with RZA, marking the beginning of his long creative partnership with filmmaker David S. Goyer.

Djawadi’s breakout came with his Emmy-nominated score for Prison Break (2005), followed by projects like Open Season, Mr. Brooks, and Iron Man (2008), which earned him his first Grammy nomination. His versatility quickly established him across multiple genres, from animated films and thrillers to big-budget action blockbusters. Over the years, he has composed scores for Clash of the Titans, Pacific Rim, Warcraft, A Wrinkle in Time, The Great Wall, The Mountain Between Us, Eternals, and Uncharted.

Television has been equally central to Djawadi’s career. He created the iconic soundscape for HBO’s Game of Thrones (2011–2019), earning two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Music Composition and multiple Grammy nominations. He later returned to Westeros to compose for House of the Dragon (2022–present). His other TV work includes Person of Interest, Westworld, Jack Ryan, The Strain, 3 Body Problem (2024), and Fallout (2024). In addition, Djawadi has contributed to video game scores such as Medal of Honor, Gears of War 4, Gears 5, and New World.

Known for his immersive, emotionally charged style, Djawadi frequently adapts his process to the needs of each project. He has stated that his experience with synesthesia—the ability to associate sound with color—helps him translate music into visual imagery, shaping his unique approach to composition.

Outside of his professional career, Djawadi lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Jennifer Hawks, a music executive and supervisor, and their twin children.