He moved with his widowed father and sister to New York on 3 October 1938 after Nazi Germany annexed Austria.
One stepson with Jan Keller Gold: Robert Light, Jr.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6434 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Award-winning composer/songwriter ("Exodus" [Grammy/Academy Awards, 1960] ). He joined ASCAP in 1957, and his other popular-song compositions include the title songs for "On the Beach" and "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World".
He was the son of Elisabeth (Stransky) and Gustav Goldner. His parents both came from Jewish families.