Weird Al
Weird Al is an American singer and comedian known for parody songs such as "Eat It," "Like a Surgeon," "Smells Like Nirvana," "Amish Paradise," "White & Nerdy" and "Word Crimes." He has also worked as an actor, voice performer, author and television host, including roles in UHF, The Weird Al Show and Comedy Bang! Bang!.
Personal life
Weird Al married Suzanne Krajewski on February 10, 2001, and they have one child, Nina Yankovic.
His father, Nick Louis Yankovic, was of Yugoslavian descent, while his mother, Mary Elizabeth Vivalda, had Italian and English ancestry.
From accordion lessons to parody hits
As a shy, accordion-playing teenager, Weird Al began sending homemade recordings to the Dr. Demento Radio Show. He recorded his first published parody, "My Bologna," while attending California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, where he also hosted a radio show and acquired the nickname "Weird Al."
His best-known parodies include "Eat It," "Like a Surgeon," "Smells Like Nirvana," "Amish Paradise," "White & Nerdy" and "Word Crimes." His work has drawn on songs associated with artists including Madonna, Michael Jackson and NSYNC. He also became known for polka medleys that combine unrelated songs and for music videos featuring celebrity appearances.
His 2014 album Mandatory Fun became the first comedy album to debut at number one on the Billboard Top 200 chart. "Word Crimes" reached the Billboard Top 40, and the album placed four tracks in the top four positions of Spotify's United States viral chart at the same time.
The 2015 and 2016 Mandatory World Tour included 200 shows across the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. In 2018, he performed 77 shows on the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour, while his 2019 Strings Attached tour featured a symphony orchestra and female singers at all 67 shows.
Film, television and voice acting
Weird Al starred in the 1989 cult film UHF and led the late-1990s CBS Saturday morning series The Weird Al Show. He also made AL-TV specials for MTV and VH1 and appeared on programs including The Simpsons, 30 Rock, The Goldbergs and How I Met Your Mother.
In 2015, he became co-host and bandleader for the fifth season of IFC's Comedy Bang! Bang! He performed at the Primetime Emmy Awards and hosted or appeared in concert specials for Disney, VH1 and Comedy Central.
He voiced the title character in Disney's animated series Milo Murphy's Law. His other voice work includes Gravity Falls, Adventure Time, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Wander Over Yonder, BoJack Horseman and the DC animated feature Batman vs. Robin.
He co-wrote and performed the theme song for Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie and wrote and performed "The North Korea Polka (Please Don't Nuke Us)" for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
Books and career honors
Weird Al became a New York Times bestselling author with the children's book When I Grow Up, published in 2011. He followed it with My New Teacher and Me! and released Weird Al: The Book, an illustrated book about his life and career, in 2012.
In 2017, Legacy Recordings released Squeeze Box: The Complete Works of "Weird Al" Yankovic, a remastered collection of his 14 studio albums with a rarities album and archival-photo book. The package was housed in a replica of his trademark accordion.
He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 27, 2018. His honors also include Grammy Awards and multiple Grammy nominations.
Quick facts
- Weird Al recorded his first published parody, "My Bologna," in a men's restroom at California Polytechnic State University.
- His 2014 album Mandatory Fun was the first comedy album to debut at number one on the Billboard Top 200 chart.
- "Word Crimes" made Weird Al one of four artists to have Billboard Top 40 singles in each of four consecutive decades, alongside Michael Jackson, Madonna and U2.
- The 2015 and 2016 Mandatory World Tour included 200 shows across the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.
- Weird Al performed 77 shows on the 2018 Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour, which focused mostly on original songs and used no costumes, props or video screens.
- His 2019 Strings Attached tour featured a full symphony orchestra and female singers at all 67 shows.
- "The Hamilton Polka" combined 14 songs from the Broadway musical Hamilton and was commissioned by Lin-Manuel Miranda for the Hamildrops series.
- Weird Al became the voice of the title character in Disney's animated series Milo Murphy's Law.
- He became a New York Times bestselling author with his children's book When I Grow Up.
- He received the 2,643rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018.
- Weird Al declined an offer to open the European leg of Michael Jackson's Bad tour because he was involved in producing UHF.
- He began seeking parody permission directly from artists after the controversy surrounding "Amish Paradise" and Coolio.
FAQs about Weird Al
What is Al Yankovic's ethnicity?
His father, Nick Louis Yankovic, was of Yugoslavian descent, and his mother, Mary Elizabeth Vivalda, had Italian and English ancestry.
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