Alexander Michael Hemphill was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas. His parents are Michael Hemphill, drywall company owner and operator, and Melissa Hemphill, furniture sales specialist in Kansas City, MO. Al moved with his parents at the age of 6 to Liberty, MO. He would move 5 more times around the area, before heading to Chicago, IL at the age of 18 to pursue comedy and film at Columbia College Chicago.

Since then, Al has done various sketch and performance work at The Second City Training Center, written for an online comedy outlet, directed and produced several short films, and garnered festival success at AFF with a comedy television pilot. Al went into production on his first feature film in April, 2022. The Red Frame is a modern day, hard boiled noir expecting a release in 2023.