2025-05-30T20:14:00Z

Alf Clausen, the brilliant composer whose music added an unparalleled layer of humor and emotion to the beloved animated series “The Simpsons,” has passed away at the age of 84. His death occurred early Thursday morning after a courageous battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare neurological disorder that affects movement and balance, a struggle he faced for an entire decade.

Clausen's remarkable contributions to “The Simpsons” are well documented; he won two prestigious Emmy Awards and received an astounding 21 additional nominations throughout his illustrious career with the series. His journey with the iconic show began in 1990 during its second season, and he is regarded as the most-nominated composer in Emmy history, with a total of 30 nominations to his name. This remarkable achievement underscores not only his talent but also his dedication to the art of television music.

In addition to his Emmy accolades, Clausen also won five Annie Awards, further solidifying his status as a titan of animation music. His association with Matt Groening’s irreverent creation made him a legendary figure in the realm of television, as he is credited with composing nearly 600 original scores for the series—a feat believed to be a record for any single TV series in America.

Each week, Clausen conducted a 35-piece orchestra, a requirement that producers insisted upon from the very beginning of his tenure. His unexpected dismissal in August 2017, a cost-cutting measure implemented by Fox and “Simpsons” producer Gracie Films, sparked outrage among fans around the globe who rallied to express their discontent. In a move to honor his contributions, the producers later granted him the title of “composer emeritus” in subsequent seasons.

Clausen was not only adept at crafting scores but also had a gift for songwriting. His Emmy wins were both attributed to songs featured in “The Simpsons,” which also served as the foundation for several popular soundtrack compilations, including “Songs in the Key of Springfield,” “Go Simpsonic with The Simpsons,” and “Testify.” In a 1998 interview with Variety, Clausen reflected on his role, stating, “This is a dream job for a composer.” He recounted how Matt Groening had expressed his vision early on: “We’re not a cartoon. We’re a drama where the characters are drawn. I want you to score it like a drama.” This profound insight guided Clausen to focus on capturing the emotional essence of the characters rather than merely punctuating comedic moments.

Clausen elaborated on his compositional style, revealing, “The basic premise of this whole series is the joke, and the jokes come rapid-fire.” He recalled advice from an old bandleader friend who told him, “You can’t vaudeville vaudeville,” meaning that the humor shines brighter when the music underscores genuine situations instead of playing for laughs. This philosophy enabled him to engage audiences by rooting the comedy in a relatable reality, rather than veering into slapstick territory.

In a profile from 1996 published by his alma mater, Berklee College of Music, Groening hailed Clausen as “one of the unacknowledged treasures of the show. Alf understands the show and produces a voluminous amount of music in all different styles. He is our secret weapon.” This sentiment reflects the deep respect Clausen garnered from colleagues and fans alike.

His versatility was one of Clausen’s greatest assets; he effortlessly navigated various musical genres—from symphonic to jazzy to contemporary—often invoking iconic film scores or pop-cultural references in mere seconds to deliver comedic punchlines. Clausen's extensive career in television music spans decades, beginning in the 1970s as a musical director for variety shows such as “Donny & Marie” and Mary Tyler Moore’s short-lived “Mary.” He also contributed arrangements for specials starring well-known personalities like Nell Carter and Goldie Hawn.

Before his tenure on “The Simpsons,” Clausen orchestrated music for notable composers such as Lalo Schifrin for “Princess Daisy” and Craig Safan for “The Last Starfighter.” His career as a dramatic composer was significantly boosted by Lee Holdridge, who hired him for projects like “The Beastmaster” and “Splash.” Clausen eventually took over the scoring for the acclaimed dramedy “Moonlighting,” amassing six Emmy nominations for the series, including for iconic episodes such as the black-and-white “The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice.” He was instrumental in scoring over 60 episodes, often facing the challenge of writing entire scores within a rushed weekend to meet tight deadlines.

In addition to “Moonlighting,” Clausen’s extensive catalog includes work on series like “Wizards and Warriors,” “Fame,” “Lime Street,” and “The Critic.” He also composed nearly 100 episodes for the beloved late 1980s puppet sitcom “Alf,” humorously noting that there was “no relation.”

Born on March 28, 1941, in Minneapolis and raised in Jamestown, North Dakota, Clausen pursued his passion for music with fervor. He earned degrees from North Dakota State University, the University of Wisconsin, and Boston’s Berklee College of Music. He further honed his skills in film scoring under the guidance of Earle Hagen, and he was a two-year member of Lehman Engel’s BMI Musical Theater Workshop. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field, Berklee awarded him an honorary doctorate of music in 1996, followed by another honorary doctorate from North Dakota State in 1999. In 2005, he released a personal album of big-band compositions titled “Swing Can Really Hang You Up the Most.”

Clausen is survived by his wife, Sally; his former wife, Judy; his sister, Faye; three children; two stepchildren; 11 grandchildren; one niece; and one nephew. A private memorial service will be held, with plans for a public celebration of his life to take place at a later date. His legacy will live on through the laughter and joy his music brought to millions around the world.