A renowned composer known for his work in film and concert music tragically passed away on Saturday while hiking in California. The 53-year-old musician, Mark Smythe, originally from New Zealand, experienced a cardiac emergency during his hike on Mount Wilson, located near Sierra Madre, just north of Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner reported that Smythe succumbed to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This condition results from the accumulation of plaque in the arteries of the heart, which can severely restrict blood flow and potentially cause heart attacks.
On the day of the incident, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue responded to a call about an unresponsive hiker on the Mount Wilson Trail, just north of Rescue Ridge, around 9:43 a.m.
By the time the volunteer rescue team arrived, Smythe’s friends and other hikers were already attempting to resuscitate him using CPR.
The Sierra Madre Fire Department also arrived at the scene to provide medical aid. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, Smythe was pronounced dead on the mountain.
Members of the Sierra Madre Fire Department also responded to the scene to provide medical assistance, but it was too late for Smythe, and he was pronounced dead on the mountain.
‘Sierra Madre Search and Rescue extends our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased man,’ the organization said in its announcement. ‘We also extend our thanks to the man’s friends and other hikers who assisted today.’
Following Smythe’s death, friends, colleagues and family members identified him as the man who died on the hiking trail and shared an outpouring of touching tributes.
Mark Smythe, 53, was an acclaimed film and concert music composer who died from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease while hiking on Saturday. He is pictured with family
Smythe was born in New Zealand and was an award-nominated musician. He is pictured playing a piece he was workshopping on an electric guitar
The composer suddenly collapsed around 9.43am on the Mount Wilson Trail near Sierra Madre. A Sierra Madre Search and Rescue member who responded is pictured
Smythe taught students and was chair of the Composing for Visual Media Department at the Los Angeles College of Music since the summer of 2025.
His resume included at least ten film credits, and his score for the Hulu horror film The Reef: Stalked was nominated for a Society of Composers & Lyricists Award.
He regularly worked with the Night Temple string quintet, and he also composed choral music.
Bear McCreary – a fellow composer who has scored blockbuster films such as Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Child’s Play – shared his grief over Smythe’s death in a post on X.
‘I’m shaken to hear of the shocking and untimely passing of Mark Smythe, a prominent figure in the Los Angeles film scoring community, and a talented composer in his own right,’ McCreary wrote.
‘Thanks for being there for so many composers, Mark. We miss you.’
McCreary said Smythe’s ‘enthusiasm and humor were off the charts. He brought a shark with a bowtie to the red carpet of an SCL awards ceremony when he was nominated for his work on a shark movie – hilarious!’
He added that he had last spoken to Smythe just a few weeks earlier and that ‘his passing is a stark reminder to spend time with the people you care about while you can.’
There was an outpouring of tributes from family members, colleagues and friends after Smythe died. He is pictured with fellow composer Bear McCreary at the Society of Composers & Lyricists Award, where he was nominated for his score on the film The Reef: Stalked
Smythe regularly worked with the Night Temple string quintet. He is pictured getting interviewed at one of the quintet’s events and answering how many times his pieces had been performed this year
‘His passion for music, his dedication to his students, and his kindness left a profound mark on all of us who had the privilege of knowing him,’ a colleague at the Los Angeles College of Music wrote on social media.
Smythe’s sister, Kate Ward-Smythe, also posted a tribute that said: ‘It is a comfort to know that he was doing one of the things he loved, hiking in the hills, and we are grateful to his wonderful friends (and emergency service responders) who tried so hard to resuscitate him.’
‘Mark was a strong larger than life connector in LA, as a professor, composer, musician, and loyal friend. He was also fiercely talented, and an absolute cheerleader for music performance and recording across multiple genres,’ she continued.
‘He was only just getting started and had so much more to give.’
