- He played violin as a music student at Northwestern University.
- Graduated from Northwestern University's School of Music in 1949.
- Brother-in-law of Barbara Barrie
- Won three Tony Awards: one in 1960 for "Fiorello!," for his lyrics as part of a Best Musical win; and two in 1965 for "Fiddler on the Roof," as Best Composer and Lyricist, shared with collaborator Jerry Bock, and for his lyrics as part of a Best Musical win. He was also Tony-nominated five other times: one in 1964, for his lyrics as part of a Best Musical nomination for "She Loves Me;" two in 1967, as Best Composer and Lyricist, again in collaboration with Bock, and for his lyrics and book collaboration on "The Apple Tree;" one in 1971, as Best Lyrics (Musical) for "The Rothschilds;" and one in 1994, in collaboration with Ad van Dijk and Peter Reeves, as Best Original Music Score for "Cyrano: The Musical."
- Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.
- Had a son, Matthew, with his 3rd wife, Margery. Stepfather to Margery's daughter, Beth.
- He was the son of Esther (Kanter) and Harry M. Harnick, a dentist.
- A college acquaintance, singer-actress Charlotte Rae had an LP of the racism-parodying Broadway musical "Finian's Rainbow," with book and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. Harnick was impressed by the treatment of a serious subject in an imaginative way. He was inspired to become a songwriter.
- Uncle of Aaron Harnick and Jane Harnick.
- Ex-stepfather of Jeannie Berlin.
- Won the 1960 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the musical "Fiorello!", collaborating with George Abbott, Jerry Bock and Jerome Weidman.
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