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Mark Mothersbaugh Biography

Birth Name:Mark Allen Mothersbaugh

Birth Place:Akron, Ohio, United States

Profession Composer, Music department, Actor, Writer, Art department

Fast Facts

  • Recipient of an honorary degree from Kent State University in 2008
  • Honored with the Richard Kirk Award at the 2004 BMI Film and Television Awards
  • Studied art design at Kent State University in Ohio
  • Met future Devo bandmates, Jerry Casale and Bob Lewis, while a student at Kent State in the early '70s
  • Quote: "We learned something from the hippies that, unfortunately, the punks at the same time didn't learn, and that is that rebellion is obsolete․ In a healthy capitalistic world, rebellion is just something else to market․"
  • After singing lead vocals for Devo for more than two decades, he would slowly transition into the film industry, where he would go on to score films for directors such as Wes Anderson
  • Also enjoys completing scores for video games including the Crash Bandicoot series, Super Mario World and The Sims, among others
  • Notable for his unique choices in eyewear, he has gone on to design several collections of eyeglasses

Awards

  • 1991Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Music Direction and Composition: nominated
  • 1992Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Music Direction and Composition: nominated
  • 1997BMI TV Music Award-: winner
  • 1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries or a Special (Dramatic Underscore): nominated
  • 1998ASCAP Award-Top TV Series: winner
  • 1999BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
  • 1999BMI Film Music Award-: winner
  • 1999BMI TV Music Award-BMI TV Music Award: winner
  • 2000Best Music-: winner
  • 2001BMI Film Music Award-: winner
  • 2002BMI Cable Award-: winner
  • 2002Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition: nominated
  • 2003BMI Cable Award-: winner
  • 2003BMI TV Music Award-: winner
  • 2004BMI Cable Award-: winner
  • 2004Stinker Award-Most Intrusive Musical Score: nominated
  • 2006BMI TV Music Award-: winner
  • 2006BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
  • 2007Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition: nominated
  • 2010BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
  • 2011Film Achievement Award-Best Sound Design: winner
  • 2012BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
  • 2012BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
  • 2013Annie-Music in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
  • 2013BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
  • 2013BMI Cable Award-: winner
  • 2014Annie-Outstanding Achievement in Music in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
  • 2014BMI Cable Award-Top Television Series Underscore: winner
  • 2014HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Animated Film: nominated
  • 2015BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
  • 2015BMI Cable Award-Top Television Series Underscore: winner
  • 2017Felix-Best Score Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2018HFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score): nominated
  • 2021Annie-Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature: nominated
  • 2021HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Animated Film: nominated
  • 2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music: nominated