Trivia

La bella y la bestia (1991) includes a dedication to Ashman in its end credits: "To our friend Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul. We will be forever grateful.".

His headstone reads "O that he would have but one more song to sing"

When Aladdín (1992) was adapted into a Broadway musical, Howard Ashman was nominated for a 2014 Tony Award for Best Original Score--more than two decades after his death--for the songs he had written for the movie.

Ashman was the first AIDS victim to receive a posthumous Oscar. He won for the title song to La bella y la bestia (1991) and the award was accepted by his partner Bill Lauch.

The team of Lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken ended with Howard's death at age 40. The team received an Oscar for the song "Under The Sea" from La sirenita (1989).

Ashman was nominated three times for Broadway's Tony Award: in 1987, as Best Book (Musical) for "Smile;" and twice posthumously: in 1994 for Best Original Music Score, with music by Alan Menken and other lyrics by Tim Rice for "Beauty and the Beast," and in 2008 for Best Original Score, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics co-written by Glenn Slater, for "The Little Mermaid.".

He was awarded the 1998 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for "Beauty and the Beast", performed at the Dominion Theatre, as the Best New Musical of the 1997 season.

In addition to writing the lyrics for La sirenita (1989), Howard also wrote additional dialogue for three scenes having to do with Sebastian: the scene where he agrees to help Ariel find Eric, the scene where he gives her tips on how to get Eric to kiss her and the final dialogue between Sebastian and King Triton that wasn't originally included at the end.

Alan Menken and his musical, "The Beauty and the Beast," was awarded the 2005 Joseph Jefferson Equity Award for Musical Production.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 3, 1991-1993, pages 33-35. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2001.

Alan Menken and his musical, "Little Shop of Horrors" at the American Blues Theater in Chicago, Illinois was nominated for a 2016 Joseph Jefferson (Equity) Award for Midsize Musical Production.

Brother of Sarah Gillespie.

Son of Shirley Gershman.