Ned Washington was an American songwriter who wrote many popular songs in the 1940s and 1950s. He is best known for his collaborations with composer Hoagy Carmichael, including the classic 'Stardust'. He also wrote the lyrics for the Academy Award-winning song 'High Noon' and the theme song for the television series Bonanza. Washington's other works include 'The Nearness of You', 'Autumn Leaves', and 'Love Is a Many Splendored Thing'.