![Alf & the Tanner family](https://comicvine.gamespot.com/a/uploads/scale_small/10/101435/2092094-alf_serie_tv_02_g.jpg)
Gordon Shumway is an alien from the planet Melmac who crashed his spaceship into the Tanner family home sometime after the destruction of his home planet. After seeing Gordon in his home Willie Tanner referred to him as ALF an acronym for Alien Life Form and the nickname stuck.