Mark Mothersbaugh

Mark Mothersbaugh Headshot

Composer • Singer • Musician • Artist

Birth Date: May 18, 1950

Age: 73 years old

Birth Place: Akron, Ohio

Mark Mothersbaugh rose to cult stardom as the bespectacled frontman of new wave pioneers Devo before becoming an unlikely Hollywood mainstay after reinventing himself as an in-demand soundtrack composer, a role in which he found even greater success.

Born in Akron, OH, in 1950, Mothersbaugh's versatile career began when he met musicians Jerry Casale and Bob Lewis while studying art at Kent State University in 1970. Taking their name from their 'de-evolution' concept, which argued that mankind has regressed rather than evolved, the trio officially formed Devo three years later and following various line-up changes, signed to Warner Bros in 1978. A major creative force within the band, Mothersbaugh undoubtedly helped to shape the influential blend of robotic synth-pop, arresting futuristic visuals and extensive use of irony which transformed them into cult favorites at the start of the '80s and spawned a surprise US Top 20 hit with the single "Whip It." But Mothersbaugh soon began to explore different avenues, working on the score to the bizarre Neil Young comedy "Human Highway" (1982) that he also played a nuclear garbage man in, writing the theme tune to "Pee Wee's Playhouse" (CBS 1986-1990) and releasing a brace of ambient instrumental albums before Devo's 1991 split allowed him to pursue these extra-curricular activities full-time. Mothersbaugh initially focused his attention on scoring children's TV, most notably the animated video game adaptation of "Super Mario World" (NBC 1991) and the cult favorite "Rugrats" (Nickelodeon 1991-2004), whose character of Chuckie was reportedly designed with Mothersbaugh in mind. But after making his mark on the video game world with the music for "Crash Bandicoot," Mothersbaugh started to do the same on the big screen with his work on "Happy Gilmore" (1996), "The Last Supper" (1996) and "Bottle Rocket" (1996), the last of which saw him strike up a partnership with director Wes Anderson which would result in further collaborations on "Rushmore" (1998), "The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001) and "The Life Aquatic" (2004). Continuing to build up his Mutato Muzika production company's portfolio, Mothersbaugh composed soundtracks for everything from fluffy rom-com "A Guy Thing" (2003) to hard-hitting indie "Thirteen" (2004) to skater biopic "Lords of Dogtown" (2005), wrote the theme tunes to polygamy-based drama "Big Love" (HBO 2006-2011) and sci-fi hit "Eureka" (Syfy 2006-2012) and also provided the distinctive background music for Apple's award-winning "Get A Mac" commercials. While having previously landed minor roles in comedy "The Spirit Of '76" (1990) and superhero pastiche "Mystery Men" (1999), Mothersbaugh appeared in front of the camera again when he hosted the drawing segments on children's series "Yo Gabba Gabba!" (Nickelodeon 2007-). After returning to the studio with Devo for the first time in twenty years on 2010's Something For Everybody, Mothersbaugh worked on a number of box-office hits including "Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" (2011), "21 Jump Street" (2012) and "Hotel Transylvania" (2012) as well as critically-acclaimed small-screen dramas "House Of Lies" (Showtime, 2012-), "Shameless" (Showtime, 2011-) and "Enlightened" (HBO 2011-2013). After appearing in an episode of "The Aquabats! Super Show!" (Hub Network, 2012-), a side project from the creators of "Yo Gabba Gabba," Mothersbaugh reached the Billboard Top 50 with his soundtrack for "The Lego Movie" (2014), featuring the Mothersbaugh-penned hit single "Everything Is Awesome!" featuring vocals by Tegan & Sara with The Lonely Island.

Credits

Cocaine BearStream

Original Music
Movie
2023
66%

The Magician's ElephantStream

Original Music
Movie
2023
65%

Vacation Friends 2Stream

Original Music
Movie
2023
19%

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Original Music
Movie
2023

Hotel Transylvania: TransformaniaStream

Original Music
Movie
2022
47%

Hotel Transsilvanien 4 - Eine Monster Verwandlung

Original Music
Movie
2022

Hotel Transsilvanien 4: Eine Monster Verwandlung

Original Music
Movie
2022

Hotel Transylvania 4: Transformania

Original Music
Movie
2022

The Mitchells vs. the Machines

Original Music
Movie
2021

America: The Motion PictureStream

Original Music
Movie
2021
35%

Familjen Mitchell mot maskinerna - sv.tal

Original Music
Movie
2021

The Croods: A New AgeStream

Original Music
Movie
2020
77%

In & of Itself

Original Music
Movie
2020

The Croods: A New Age

Original Music
Movie
2020

Croods - En ny tid

Original Music
Movie
2020

The Croods: A New Age

Original Music
Movie
2020

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second PartStream

Original Music
Movie
2019
84%

Lego Filmen 2 - sv.tal

Original Music
Movie
2019

Lego Filmen 2 - sv.tal

Original Music
Movie
2019

La grande aventure Lego 2

Original Music
Movie
2019

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part

Original Music
Movie
2019

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

Original Music
Movie
2018

Pandas

Original Music
Movie
2018

Holmes & WatsonStream

Original Music
Movie
2018
10%

Hotell Transylvanien 3: En monstersemester - sv.tal

Original Music
Movie
2018

Hôtel Transylvanie 3 : Les vacances d'été

Original Music
Movie
2018

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

Original Music
Movie
2018

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

Original Music
Movie
2018

Hotel Transylvania 3: Een Monsterlijk Leuke Vakantie

Original Music
Movie
2018

Thor: RagnarokStream

Original Music
Movie
2017
93%

The LEGO NINJAGO Movie

Composer
Movie
2017

The LEGO NINJAGO Movie

Original Music
Movie
2017

Beatriz at DinnerStream

Original Music
Movie
2017
76%

Brad's Status

Original Music
Movie
2017

The LEGO NINJAGO Movie - sv.tal

Original Music
Movie
2017

Puppy!

Music
Movie
2017

LEGO Ninjago: le film 3D

Original Music
Movie
2017

LEGO Ninjago: le film

Original Music
Movie
2017

Soundbreaking

Self
Show
2016

Pee-wee's Big HolidayStream

Original Music
Movie
2016
80%

Score: A Film Music Documentary

Self
Movie
2016

Programming the Nation?

Self
Show
2015

Articulate With Jim Cotter

Guest
Show
2015

Pitch Perfect 2Stream

Original Music
Movie
2015
65%

Hotel Transylvania 2Stream

Original Music
Movie
2015
56%

VacationStream

Original Music
Movie
2015
27%

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip

Original Music
Movie
2015

Forever

Original Music
Movie
2015

Hotel Transsilvanien 2

Original Music
Movie
2015

Hotel Transylvania 2 - sv.tal

Original Music
Movie
2015

Alvin och gänget 4 - Gasen i botten

Original Music
Movie
2015

Hotel Transsylvanië 2

Original Music
Movie
2015

Alvin en de Chipmunks: Road Trip

Original Music
Movie
2015

Alvin ja pikkuoravat: Reissussa

Original Music
Movie
2015

Cosmic Scrat-tastrophe

Music
Movie
2015

Alvin et les Chipmunks : à fond la caisse

Original Music
Movie
2015

Hôtel Transylvanie 2

Original Music
Movie
2015

Hotel Transylvania 2

Original Music
Movie
2015

Hotel Transylvania 2

Original Music
Movie
2015

Hotel Transylvania 2

Original Music
Movie
2015

The Lego MovieStream

Original Music
Movie
2014
96%

22 Jump StreetStream

Original Music
Movie
2014
84%

Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

Original Music
Movie
2014

Lego - filmen - sv.tal

Original Music
Movie
2014

La LEGO película

Original Music
Movie
2014

The LEGO Movie

Original Music
Movie
2014

De Lego film

Original Music
Movie
2014

The LEGO Movie

Original Music
Movie
2014

LEGO elokuva 3D

Original Music
Movie
2014

La grande aventure LEGO

Original Music
Movie
2014

Sound of Cinema

Guest
Show
2013

Lluvia de albóndigas 2

Original Music
Movie
2013

Hanburgesa zaparrada 2

Original Music
Movie
2013

Wolkig mit Aussicht auf Fleischbällchen 2

Original Music
Movie
2013

Het regent gehaktballen 2

Original Music
Movie
2013

Det regner kjøttboller 2

Original Music
Movie
2013

L'Île des Miam-nimaux : Tempête de boulettes géantes 2

Original Music
Movie
2013

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2

Original Music
Movie
2013

Het regent gehaktballen 2

Original Music
Movie
2013

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2

Original Music
Movie
2013

Last VegasStream

Original Music
Movie
2013
46%

Hotel Transylvania

Original Music
Movie
2012

Hotel Transsilvanien

Original Music
Movie
2012

Hôtel Transylvanie

Original Music
Movie
2012

몬스터 호텔

Original Music
Movie
2012

Hotel Transylvania

Original Music
Movie
2012

Goodnight Mr. Foot

Original Music
Movie
2012

SafeStream

Original Music
Movie
2012
60%

21 Jump StreetStream

Original Music
Movie
2012
85%

What to Expect When You're ExpectingStream

Original Music
Movie
2012
23%

Moonrise KingdomStream

Original Music
Movie
2012
93%

Hotel TransylvaniaStream

Original Music
Movie
2012
47%

Beauty Is Embarrassing

Actor
Movie
2012

Alvin och gänget 3 - sv.tal

Original Music
Movie
2011

Alvin und die Chipmunks 3: Chipbruch

Original Music
Movie
2011

Alvin ja pikkuoravat 3

Original Music
Movie
2011

Alvin en de Chipmunks 3

Original Music
Movie
2011

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

Original Music
Movie
2011

Alvin et les Chipmunks 3

Original Music
Movie
2011

Programming the Nation?

Actor
Movie
2011

Born to Be Wild

Original Music
Movie
2011

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

Original Music
Movie
2011

Saving Private Pérez

Original Music
Movie
2011

Ramona and Beezus

Original Music
Movie
2010

Det regnar köttbullar! - sv.tal

Original Music
Movie
2009

Wolkig mit Aussicht auf Fleischbällchen

Original Music
Movie
2009

Lluvia de albóndigas

Original Music
Movie
2009

Het regent gehaktballen

Original Music
Movie
2009

Fanboys

Original Music
Movie
2009

Tempête de boulettes géantes

Original Music
Movie
2009

Tempête de boulettes géantes

Original Music
Movie
2009

Cloudy with a Chance of MeatballsStream

Original Music
Movie
2009
86%

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Original Music
Movie
2009

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Original Music
Movie
2009

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Original Music
Movie
2009

Falling Up

Original Music
Movie
2009

Circle of Eight

Original Music
Movie
2009

The Invention of Dr. NakaMats

Music
Movie
2009

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Original Music
Movie
2008

Quid Pro Quo

Original Music
Movie
2008

Yo Gabba Gabba!Stream

Guest Star
Series
2007

Yo Gabba Gabba!Stream

Self
Series
2007

Yo Gabba Gabba!Stream

Voice
Series
2007

Mama's Boy

Original Music
Movie
2007

How to Eat Fried WormsStream

Original Music
Movie
2006
61%

The Dog Problem

Original Music
Movie
2006

The Big White

Original Music
Movie
2005

Herbie: Fully Loaded

Original Music
Movie
2005

Lords of DogtownStream

Original Music
Movie
2005
55%

The RingerStream

Original Music
Movie
2005
40%

Envy

Original Music
Movie
2004

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

Original Music
Movie
2004

The Life Aquatic with Steve ZissouStream

Original Music
Movie
2004
57%

Les Razmoket rencontrent les Delajungle

Composer
Movie
2003

A Guy ThingStream

Composer
Movie
2003
25%

ThirteenStream

Composer
Movie
2003
81%

Rugrats Go Wild

Composer
Movie
2003

Good Boy!

Music
Movie
2003

Last Call With Carson Daly

Guest
Talk
2002

Sorority Boys

Original Music
Movie
2002

Welcome to Collinwood

Original Music
Movie
2002

Cheats

Original Music
Movie
2002

Second String

Original Music
Movie
2002

The Royal TenenbaumsStream

Original Music
Movie
2001
81%

Sugar & Spice

Original Music
Movie
2001

Glass, Necktie

Music
Movie
2000

Les Razmoket à Paris, le film

Original Music
Movie
2000

The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle

Original Music
Movie
2000

Rugrats in Paris: The Movie

Original Music
Movie
2000

FuturamaStream

Guest Voice
Himself
Series
1999

Drop Dead Gorgeous

Original Music
Movie
1999
47%

Mystery Men

Original Music
Movie
1999

Les Razmoket, le film

Original Music
Movie
1998

Best Men

Original Music
Movie
1998

Dead Man on Campus

Original Music
Movie
1998

RushmoreStream

Original Music
Movie
1998
90%

The Rugrats Movie

Original Music
Movie
1998

Breaking Up

Original Music
Movie
1997

Bottle RocketStream

Original Music
Movie
1996
86%

Happy GilmoreStream

Original Music
Movie
1996
62%

The BirdcageStream

Original Music
Movie
1996
83%

Flesh Suitcase

Original Music
Movie
1995

The Last Supper

Original Music
Movie
1995

Devo: The Complete Truth About De-Evolution

Actor
Show
1993

RugratsStream

Guest Voice
Reptar/Jingle Singer
Series
1991

Devo: The Men Who Make the Music

Actor
Movie
1981

Devo: The Men Who Make the Music

Director
Movie
1981

Devo: The Men Who Make the Music

Writer
Movie
1981