Bear McCreary (b. 1979) is an American composer celebrated for his compelling work in film, television and video games. Raised in Bellingham, Washington, he trained at USC under film-composer legend Elmer Bernstein. His early big break came in 2004 when he took over scoring duties for Battlestar Galactica, ultimately composing music for over 70 episodes and launching his reputation in television.
Since then, Bear’s styl, an inventive blend of orchestral richness, electronic textures and folk elements, has shaped scores for major series like The Walking Dead, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Outlander, earning him Emmy wins, including Outstanding Original Main Title Theme.
He’s also composed for Da Vinci’s Demons and Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
In film, his work includes Godzilla: King of the Monsters, 10 Cloverfield Lane and Happy Death Day. He’s also renowned in the video‑game world, having scored both God of War and God of War Ragnarök, earning BAFTA and D.I.C.E. Awards and Grammy nominations for his immersive, dramatic compositions.
Beyond screen work, Bear creates ambitious personal projects.
His “The Singularity” fuses a rock concept album, graphic novel and live performance featuring collaborations with top artists. His partnership with musicians spans Hozier, Fiona Apple, the late Sinéad O’Connor and now Annie Lennox. Versatile and prolific, Bear McCreary continues to push musical boundaries, earning a reputation as one of the most imaginative contemporary composers.
