He won an Academy Award in 1986 for co-writing “Take My Breath Away’ for the original “Top Gun” movie.

Tom Whitlock also co-wrote “Halfway to the Danger Zone” for the same film which topped out at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

In all, Whitlock accrued more than 100 songwriting credits over the course of his career including songs performed by Bonnie Tyler, Ray Charles and Graham Nash.  He also and wrote lyrics for the theme songs for the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Tom Whitlock has died at the age of 68.

His death was confirmed by a funeral home in Gattalin, Tennessee.

No cause of death was given.