Alf Clausen, Emmy-Winning Composer Behind ‘The Simpsons,’ Dies at 84

Clausen composed scores for ‘The Simpsons’ from 1990 to 2017.

Alf Clausen attends the ASCAP Screen Music Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on March 24, 2016. Alberto Rodriguez/Getty Images for ASCAP

Alf Clausen, the Emmy-winning composer best known for his 27-year run scoring nearly 600 episodes of “The Simpsons,” died on May 29 at his home in Los Angeles following a years-long battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. He was 84.

Clausen’s daughter, Kaarin Clausen, confirmed his death in a statement on social media.

“He left a huge mark on this world and has touched the lives of millions, and I’m so proud to call him ‘Dad,’” she wrote on Instagram. “Rest easy, Maestro. I will miss you every day.”

Longtime executive producer Al Jean shared a tribute to his former colleague following the news of his death.

“RIP to Alf Clausen an incredibly talented man who did so much for The Simpsons,” he posted on social media platform X.

Clausen’s work earned him 30 Emmy nominations over his career, including 21 for “The Simpsons.” He won two Primetime Emmys in 1997 and 1998.

For his work on the show, he also received five Annie Awards, seven ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards, and was honored with the ASCAP Golden Note Award in 2011 for lifetime achievement.

For nearly three decades, Clausen served as the musical backbone of “The Simpsons,” composing nearly 600 scores between 1990 and 2017.

While Danny Elfman wrote the iconic theme, Clausen crafted the underscore that brought Springfield’s stories to life. Each week, he recorded with a 35-piece orchestra, creating elaborate arrangements that parodied and paid homage to countless musical genres.

Though he was dismissed from the show in 2017 amid cost-cutting measures—a decision that drew public backlash—Clausen’s legacy remained central to “The Simpsons” sound and tone.

Before his work on “The Simpsons,” Clausen built a successful career in film and television. He scored hit series such as “Moonlighting,” “ALF,” and “The Critic,” and provided orchestrations for major films including “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Splash,” and “The Naked Gun.”

Born on March 28, 1941, in Minneapolis, Clausen was raised in Jamestown, North Dakota. He studied at North Dakota State University before graduating with a degree in arranging and composition from the Berklee College of Music.

After moving to Los Angeles, he began working as an arranger and conductor, eventually breaking into television scoring in the 1970s.

He is survived by his wife, Sally; his children Kaarin, Scott, and Kyle; stepchildren Josh and Emily; and 11 grandchildren.

Animated character Homer Simpson is projected on screen at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 22, 2019. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP