LOS ANGELES (AP) – Alf Clausen, the Emmy-winning composer renowned for his work on "The Simpsons," has passed away at the age of 84. His daughter, Kaarin Clausen, confirmed that he died at his home in Los Angeles after a prolonged battle with Parkinson's Disease, which he had for approximately ten years.
Clausen made significant contributions to television music, not only scoring for "The Simpsons" but also working on popular shows such as "Moonlighting" and "Alf," the latter of which he humorously noted had "no relation" to his name. He received a remarkable 30 Emmy Award nominations during his career, with 21 nominations for his work on "The Simpsons," winning the prestigious award twice.
Al Jean, a prominent early writer for the iconic series, expressed his admiration for Clausen on social media, stating that he was "an incredibly talented man who did so much for The Simpsons." Clausen's journey with "The Simpsons" began in 1990 when he joined the ensemble as a composer, contributing nearly 600 scores and conducting a 35-piece orchestra for the series until 2017.
Colleagues and fans alike praised Clausen's ability to elevate the show's comedic elements through his music. He believed that the best approach to support the antics of characters like Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa was through straightforward composition rather than overly dramatic cues. Clausen once described his role as a composer, stating, "Matt Groening said to me very 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.’” He focused on illustrating the emotions of the characters more than on the specific actions being portrayed on screen.
Clausen was born in Minneapolis and grew up in Jamestown, North Dakota. He graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 1966, after which he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. During the 1970s, he worked as a musical director for various television variety shows, including "Donny & Marie." In addition, he was an orchestrator for Lee Holdridge's scores in films such as "Splash" and "The Beastmaster," eventually taking over the composing role for "Moonlighting," where he received six Emmy nominations for his music.
While Clausen celebrated numerous successes—winning Emmys in 1997 and 1998 for "The Simpsons" and earning five Annie Awards for his contributions to animation—his tenure at the show ended in a controversial cost-cutting move in 2017. His departure sparked outrage among collaborators and fans, leading him to file a lawsuit over his dismissal.
He is survived by his wife, Sally, and his children—Kaarin, Scott, and Kyle—along with stepchildren Josh and Emily, and eleven grandchildren. Clausen's legacy as a composer will be remembered not only for his prolific contributions to beloved television series but also for the emotional depth and comedic support he brought to "The Simpsons" and beyond.
