Warning: This post contains minor spoilers for Weird: The Al Yankovic StoryWhen audiences think of biopics, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is not the kind that might come to mind. The film, written and directed by Eric Appel, is a parody of the musician known as “Weird Al” Yankovic, who makes parodies of various popular songs, including Madonna’s “Like a Virgin.”
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story follows the life of the title musician — from his childhood and first moments with an accordion, and into an adulthood that brings him fame and success. The film assembles a star-studded cast to portray many of the real-life people who have been a part of Weird Al’s life, including Daniel Radcliffe, who portrays the musician himself. Here is a full guide to the actors in the cast, which real-life personas they portray, what they actually look like, and in what other TV series and movies they’ve been in before.
Daniel Radcliffe As "Weird Al" Yankovic
Born Alfred Matthew Yankovic, “Weird Al” Yankovic is a parody singer, songwriter, and renowned accordion player who is known for his parody hits, “Amish Paradise” and “Eat It.” In Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, the musician is portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, who is best known for playing the title character in the Harry Potter movie franchise. Radcliffe has also starred in The Woman in Black, the comedy series Miracle Workers, Now You See Me 2, The Lost City, Kill Your Darlings, and Swiss Army Man.
Evan Rachel Wood As Madonna
Madonna is a singer, songwriter, and actress. In Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, it’s suggested that she came to Yankovic with the idea of working together to boost her career with a parody song. The film version of Madonna is portrayed by Evan Rachel Wood, who is best known for roles in the HBO series Westworld, The Ides of March, True Blood, and Thirteen.
Rainn Wilson As Dr. Demento
Dr. Demento is a radio broadcaster and the host of the Dr. Demento Show, which inspired “Weird Al” Yankovic. In the film, Dr. Demento is portrayed by Rainn Wilson, who is best known for playing Dwight Schrute on all seven seasons of The Office. He also appeared in the series Six Feet Under and the movie My Super Ex-Girlfriend.
Toby Huss As Nick Yankovic
Nick Yankovic is Al's father, who is portrayed as someone who doesn’t want his son to become a musician, but a factory worker like him. Nick Yankovic is portrayed by Toby Huss, who is best known for his roles in the Apple TV+ series Dickinson, the Netflix film Blonde, starring Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe, Reno 911!, 2016’s Ghostbusters, The Invitation, and Halt and Catch Fire.
Julianne Nicholson As Mary Yankovic
Mary Yankovic is Al’s mother. As a parent, she is less strict than Nick and buys Al his first accordion. Mary Yankovic is portrayed by Julianne Nicholson, who is best known for her roles in Blonde, August: Osage County, I, Tonya, the HBO series Mare of Easttown, Boardwalk Empire, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story ing Cast & Characters
Weird Al Yankovic as Tony Scotti - The real Weird Al Yankovic makes a cameo in the biopic, playing Tony Scotti, the president of Scotti Brothers Records.
Richard Aaron Anderson as Al - Anderson portrays the child version of Al Yankovic. The actor is known for The Shrink Next Door.
David Bloom as Al - David Bloom plays the teenage version of Weird Al Yankovic. Bloom is known for Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, and The Goldbergs.
Quinta Brunson as Oprah Winfrey - Oprah Winfrey is a talk show host, actress, producer, and author who interviewed Weird Al in the 1980s. In Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, Oprah is portrayed by Quinta Brunson, who is best known for the hit comedy series Abbott Elementary, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Miracle Workers, and Broke.
Spencer Treat Clark as Steve Jay - Steve Jay is a bass player who is a member of Weird Al’s band. Spencer Treat Clark is known for playing Werner von Strucker in the Marvel ABC series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Animal Kingdom.
Will Forte as Ben Scotti - Ben Scotti a former football player with the NFL and a co-founder of the record label that released “Weird Al’s” music. Will Forte is known for his roles in MacGruber, Nebraska, The Lego Movie, the TV series The Great North, Booksmart, The Last Man on Earth, and Gravity Falls.
James Preston Rogers as Hulk Hogan - Hulk Hogan is a wrestler who is played by James Preston Rogers in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Rogers is known for The Righteous Gemstones and Frontier.
Tommy O'Brien as Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz - Jon Schwartz is a drummer who worked with Weird Al Yankovic. Tommy O’Brien is known for the TV series Stumptown and Grown-ish.
Nina West as Divine - Divine (whose real name was Harris Glenn Milstead) was an actor and drag queen. Nina West is known for roles in Lipstick Heels and a 45.
Arturo Castro as Pablo Escobar - Pablo Escobar was a Colombian drug lord. Arturo Castro is known for his roles in Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, the TV series Broad City, Narcos, and the satire The Menu.
Conan O'Brien as Andy Warhol - Andy Warhol was an artist and director. Conan O’Brien is a comedian and TV host who often plays himself in films, and has voiced characters like The Riddler in The Lego Movie.
Jack Black as Wolfman Jack - Wolfman Jack (aka, Robert Weston Smith) was an American DJ. Jack Black is best known for his roles in School of Rock, The Holiday, Nacho Libre, King Kong, Shallow Hal, and the animated film Kung Fu Panda.
Akiva Schaffer as Alice Cooper - Alice Cooper is a singer and is played by Akiva Schaffer, who is best known for roles in Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.
David Dastmalchian as John Deacon - John Deacon is a musician who was the bassist for the rock band Queen. David Dastmalchian is known for roles in The CW’s superhero series The Flash, Dune, the Polka-Dot Man in The Suicide Squad, and the TV series MacGyver.
Thomas Lennon as salesman - Thomas Lennon plays the crucial role of the salesman who sells Weird Al’s first accordion. Lennon is known for roles in the hit comedy series How I Met Your Mother, Reno 911!, the Arrowverse series Supergirl, I Love You, Man, and Santa Clarita Diet.
Lin-Manuel Miranda as ER Doctor - Lin-Manuel Miranda plays an ER doctor who resuscitates Weird Al. Miranda is best known for playing Alexander Hamilton in the Broadway hit musical Hamilton, directing Tick, Tick… Boom, Mary Poppins Returns, and for writing the music for In the Heights.
Patton Oswalt as heckler - Patton Oswalt portrays someone who heckles the musician in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Oswalt is known for roles in the Pixar animation Ratatouille, the Netflix series The Sandman, the narrator in The Goldbergs, BoJack Horseman, and ABC’s Marvel series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
