Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic, born October 23, 1959, in Downey, California, is an American musician, satirist, parodist, songwriter, record producer, actor, and author renowned for his humorous song parodies and music videos.[1][5] He began his career as a shy accordion-playing teenager submitting homemade tapes to the Dr. Demento radio show, gaining early fame with "Another One Rides the Bus" (a parody of Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust") in 1980.[4][5] Yankovic's breakthrough came in 1984 with "Eat It," a parody of Michael Jackson's "Beat It," which earned national recognition.[1][5] He has released 14 studio albums since his 1983 self-titled debut, including hits like *Straight Outta Lynwood* (2006), featuring his first Billboard Top 10 single "White & Nerdy" (peaking at No. 9), and *Mandatory Fun* (2014), his first No. 1 album and a Grammy winner for Best Comedy Album.[1][2][5] Other notable parodies include "Smells Like Nirvana," "Amish Paradise," "Fat," and "Word Crimes." He has sold over 12 million albums worldwide, with four gold and six platinum records in the U.S., and earned five Grammy Awards plus 11 nominations.[1][3][4] Beyond music, Yankovic wrote, directed, and starred in the 1989 cult film *UHF*, hosted *The Weird Al Show* (1997), and appeared in shows like *The Simpsons* and *30 Rock*, plus MTV/VH1 specials.[1][4] A Lynwood High School valedictorian and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo architecture graduate, he received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2018.[1][3][4] Yankovic remains relevant with a five-decade career outlasting many parody targets, recent Grammy wins (including for *Squeeze Box*), and tours like *The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour*.[2][4] He continues performing intimate shows with his longtime band.[4]