Theatre legend Stephen Sondheim dies, aged 91

Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim has died.

The New York Times reported the man behind West Side Story and Sweeney Todd died suddenly at home on Friday morning (US time). The day before he'd been celebrating Thanksgiving with friends. 

Other works he's known for include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company and Into the Woods

He won nine Tony awards, including one for Lifetime Achievement, eight Grammys and an Academy Award. In 2015 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. 

Sondheim was a rarity in the theatre world in writing both the music and words to most of his productions, the Times said. 

He was 91.