Moon Zappa
Encyclopedia
Moon Unit Zappa is an American actress, musician and author. She goes by the name Moon Zappa; "Unit" is her middle name.
, who worked in business, and musician Frank Zappa
. She has three younger siblings, Dweezil
, Ahmet
, and Diva
. Zappa's father was of Sicilian, Greek-Arab and French ancestry and her mother was of Danish, French, Irish and Portuguese ancestry. Moon attended Oakwood School in North Hollywood, California. She married Matchbox Twenty
drummer and guitarist, Paul Doucette
, in June 2002. They have one child, Mathilda Plum Doucette, born December 21, 2004.
". The song featured Moon Unit Zappa delivering a monologue in 'val-speak
', a collection of slang terms popular in the San Fernando Valley
, Los Angeles. In the mid-80s, Moon and her brother Dweezil were frequent guest VJs on MTV. Next to "Dancin' Fool", "Valley Girl" was Frank Zappa's biggest hit in the United States, and popularized phrases such as "grody to the max" and "gag me with a spoon". The song appeared on Zappa's 1982 album Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch
. She later made another recording titled "My Mother Is a Space Cadet", with guitar accompaniment by her brother Dweezil. She also guest-starred on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show
as Marylin.
As an adult she has worked as a stand-up comic
, magazine writer, and actress in the films National Lampoon's European Vacation
(1985), Spirit of '76
and the television sitcom
Normal Life. She appeared as a burka-clad Muslim woman in one episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm
, as Ted Mosby's cousin Stacy in an episode of How I Met Your Mother
and on an episode ("Pampered to a Pulp") of Roseanne
. She worked as a VJ on VH-1 in the mid-late 1990s. She also appeared on Rock & Roll Jeopardy!
, losing to Dave Mustaine
and George Clinton
.
She is the author of the novel America, the Beautiful, published in 2001, and articles in major periodicals.
Personal life
Zappa was born in New York City, the eldest child of Adelaide Gail SloatmanGail Zappa
Gail Zappa was the second wife of the late musician and composer Frank Zappa and is the executrix of the Zappa Family Trust. They met in 1966 when she was working at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, and they were married on September 21, 1967, while she was pregnant with her first child, Moon...
, who worked in business, and musician Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
. She has three younger siblings, Dweezil
Dweezil Zappa
Dweezil Zappa is an American rock guitarist and occasional actor.-Early life:Zappa was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of musician Frank Zappa and Adelaide Gail Sloatman, who worked in business. He is the second of four siblings: his older sister, Moon, younger sister Diva and younger...
, Ahmet
Ahmet Zappa
Ahmet Emuukha Rodan Zappa is an American musician, actor and novelist.-Early life:Ahmet was born in Los Angeles, California, the third of four children born to businesswoman Adelaide Gail Sloatman and musician Frank Zappa. Ahmet's father was of Sicilian, Greek-Arab and French descent and his...
, and Diva
Diva Zappa
Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen Zappa is an American artist, also known for several acting roles in film and television, as well as recording a one-off comedy single. She is the youngest daughter of musician Frank Zappa.-Personal life:...
. Zappa's father was of Sicilian, Greek-Arab and French ancestry and her mother was of Danish, French, Irish and Portuguese ancestry. Moon attended Oakwood School in North Hollywood, California. She married Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty is an American rock band, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1995...
drummer and guitarist, Paul Doucette
Paul Doucette
Paul John Doucette is the rhythm guitarist and former drummer for the band Matchbox Twenty. A native of North Huntington, Pennsylvania – a suburb located roughly 15 miles SE of Pittsburgh in Westmoreland County – Doucette graduated from Norwin High School in June 1990. He now lives in...
, in June 2002. They have one child, Mathilda Plum Doucette, born December 21, 2004.
Career
Apart from the novelty of her and her siblings' names, she first came to public attention at the age of fourteen, in 1982, as a vocalist on her father's hit single "Valley GirlValley Girl (song)
"Valley Girl" is a song by the musician Frank Zappa and his 14 year-old daughter, Moon Unit Zappa. It was released on Zappa's 1982 album Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch. Moon supplied Frank with much of the content, speaking typical "Valley girl" or "Valspeak" phrases she heard at...
". The song featured Moon Unit Zappa delivering a monologue in 'val-speak
Valspeak
Valleyspeak or Valspeak is a common name for an American sociolect, originally of Los Angeles, California, in particular Valley girls. This stereotype, which originated in the 1970s, became an international fad for a certain period...
', a collection of slang terms popular in the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
, Los Angeles. In the mid-80s, Moon and her brother Dweezil were frequent guest VJs on MTV. Next to "Dancin' Fool", "Valley Girl" was Frank Zappa's biggest hit in the United States, and popularized phrases such as "grody to the max" and "gag me with a spoon". The song appeared on Zappa's 1982 album Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch
Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch
Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch is an album by Frank Zappa, released in May 1982 and digitally remastered in 1991. It features five tracks composed by Zappa, and one song, "Valley Girl", co-written with Moon Unit Zappa, his daughter, who provided the spoken monologue mocking some of...
. She later made another recording titled "My Mother Is a Space Cadet", with guitar accompaniment by her brother Dweezil. She also guest-starred on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! is an American television series based upon Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 2 video games. It was originally broadcast via first-run syndication to mostly independent or Fox television stations from September 4, 1989, to December 1, 1989, with...
as Marylin.
As an adult she has worked as a stand-up comic
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
, magazine writer, and actress in the films National Lampoon's European Vacation
National Lampoon's European Vacation
European Vacation is a 1985 comedy film. The second film in National Lampoon's Vacation film series, it was directed by Amy Heckerling and stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. Dana Hill and Jason Lively replace Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall as Griswold children Audrey and Rusty...
(1985), Spirit of '76
Spirit of '76 (1990 film)
The Spirit of '76 is a 1990 comedy film that spoofs American culture of the mid-1970s. It stars David Cassidy, Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner, Olivia d'Abo, and the rock groups Redd Kross and Devo. The movie was initially released October 12, 1990...
and the television sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
Normal Life. She appeared as a burka-clad Muslim woman in one episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself...
, as Ted Mosby's cousin Stacy in an episode of How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
and on an episode ("Pampered to a Pulp") of Roseanne
Roseanne (TV series)
Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
. She worked as a VJ on VH-1 in the mid-late 1990s. She also appeared on Rock & Roll Jeopardy!
Rock & Roll Jeopardy!
Rock & Roll Jeopardy! is a variant of the quiz show Jeopardy! which centered entirely around popular music. The series was hosted by Jeff Probst and ran on VH1 from August 8, 1998 to May 12, 2001. Loretta Fox was the show's announcer for the first two seasons...
, losing to Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
and George Clinton
George Clinton (musician)
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
.
She is the author of the novel America, the Beautiful, published in 2001, and articles in major periodicals.
External links
- Moon Zappa's Website
- Moon Unit Zappa on NNDB