Alf Clausen, Emmy-winning composer for ‘The Simpsons,’ dies at 84

Alf Clausen, the veteran composer who scored The Simpsons for practically three a long time, has died aged 84.

Clausen died Thursday (Could 29) at his Valley Village dwelling in Los Angeles, his daughter confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. She later took to social media to say he had been preventing a “lengthy and valiant” battle with Parkinson’s illness.

“He left an enormous mark on this world and has touched the lives of thousands and thousands, and I’m so proud to name him ‘Dad’,” she wrote. “Relaxation straightforward, Maestro. I'll miss you every single day.”

His breakthrough as a TV composer got here in 1985 on the ABC’s Moonlighting, which adopted years of engaged on a wide range of initiatives, together with music directing and orchestrating.

He later took on composing duties for ALF, as was then supplied the Simpsons gig, though he initially resisted it, worrying it was too light-hearted in comparison with his earlier work.

Nonetheless, he started scoring the beloved cartoon comedy in 1990, and ended up writing music for greater than 600 episodes, with its theme tune offered by Danny Elfman. All through his profession, he acquired 30 Emmy nominations, with 21 of them being for his work on The Simpsons.

The 2-time Emmy award successful composer – for the songs ‘We Put The Spring In Springfield’ and ‘You’re Checkin’ In (A Musical Tribute To The Betty Ford Heart)’ – was accountable for iconic Simpsons musical moments like The Stonecutters’ music, ‘We Do’, and Mr Burns’ ode to fur, ‘See My Vest’.

Nonetheless, his relationship to the present soured after a authorized battle in 2019. Clausen had filed a lawsuit towards Disney and Fox after he was dismissed from the present after a 27-year tenure, claiming his dismissal was based mostly on ageism and incapacity.

When it was first reported Clausen was leaving, an announcement was issued concerning the composer, starting: “We tremendously worth Alf Clausen’s contributions to The Simpsons, and he'll proceed to have an ongoing position within the present.”

It went on to say that this was the half the place they'd often “make a joke, however neither Alf’s work nor the music of The Simpsons is handled as something however significantly by us.”

Footage of Alf Clausen at work on The Simpsons conducting studio musicians at a recording session for "Homer the Heretic" (initially featured in a 1992 Oprah Behind the Scenes particular). pic.twitter.com/7uJr1gPmsY

— On This Day in Simpsons Historical past 🇺🇦 (@dailysimpsons) May 31, 2025

Certainly, his profession achievements had been vital, together with 5 Annie Award wins and 7 ASCAP Movie & TV Music Awards for The Simpsons alone. Clausen additionally bagged the ASCAP’s Golden Notice Award in 2011, a prize devoted to songwriters, composers, and artists who've achieved extraordinary profession milestones.

Amongst these paying tribute had been long-time Simpsons author Al Jean, who wrote on X/Twitter: “Clausen was an extremely gifted man who did a lot for The Simpsons.” Followers additionally took to the location to rejoice to composer’s legacy, with one writing: “Don’t assume there’s any doubt that he was some of the essential figures in Simpsons historical past.”

“A lot of the identification of the Simpsons – the stings, the interstitial music cues, the fairly spectacular full musical numbers – had been Alf Clausen,” one other added. “All of it actually aside from the title theme. Foundational to the present.”

He's survived by his spouse Sally, his youngsters Kaarin, Scott and Kyle, and stepchildren Josh and Emily.