The Cast Of "The Simpsons"
These are our descriptions of the actors who do the voices on "The Simpsons" - who they are, some of the voices they do, what they do with their lives, and what else they've done in the entertainment world. Enjoy.
Vocal Cast
Dan Castellaneta 
Born in Chicago and a graduate of the University of Northern Illinois, Dan Castellaneta has taken his Midwest upbringing and turned himself into one of the most recognizable voices in the English-speaking world. Although he occasionally has roles with his real persona (he has guest-starred on sitcoms like "The Drew Carey Show" and "Mad About You"), Dan has made his way in the world with voice-over roles. Besides doing Homer, Grampa Simpson, Barney Gumble, Krusty The Clown, and over thirty other voices on the show, Dan has also done voice work for the new animated show Kim Possible and two long-running favorites - Rugrats and Hey Arnold! He has also done work for a myriad of other animated projects, both television and film. With two Emmies under his belt (for 1992's "Lisa's Pony" and 1993's "Mr. Plow") and the starring role in the greatest series on television, things appear to be going strong for Castellaneta.
Julie Kavner 
Julie Kavner does the voice for Marge Simpson, the blue-haired housewife, and all of her family members. She began her career with a role in the 1970's sitcom "Rhoda", and won an Emmy for it. After a long lull in her career, she was revitalized by working with Woody Allen in the late 80's, leading her to a role on "The Tracey Ullman Show". "The Simpsons", of course, came out of this, and Kavner got a job as a voice actor which has kept to this day. Through the 90's she has starred in a small number of films as her real live self, while also dabbling into a few roles as a voice actor. She won an Emmy for her work in "I Married Marge".
Nancy Cartwright 
Probably the most outgoing Simpsons cast member, Nancy Cartwright fits the personality of her cartoon alter ego Bart Simpson perfectly. Nancy did voice acting and had live-action roles for much of the 1980's, including doing limited vocal work on "Alvin And The Chipmunks"but really put her name on the map with her role as Bart, Nelson, Ralph, and others in Springfield on "The Simpsons" when it debuted on "The Tracey Ullman Show". Her great voice talents created a national icon in Bart, and she has kept with the show ever since. IN the 90's she has lent her voice to "Rugrats" as Chuckie, "The Animaniacs", and "Kim Possible". She has also had a few live-action roles as well. She has also written an excellent book called "My Life As A Ten Year-Old Boy". To hear some excellent words from Nancy, be sure to check out the Season 3 DVD commentaries. Her lone, much-deserved Emmy came for 1992's "Separate Vocations".
Yeardley Smith 
Yeardley Smith does only one voice on the show, but given that it's Lisa Simpson, it's perfectly understandable. Yeardley's distinctive voice has turned Lisa into an entirely believable moral center for the show. The intelligent and funny actress has also had some high-profile movie roles, appearing in well-known movies such as "City Slickers" and "As Good As It Gets", as well as having a role in the television series "Dharma And Greg". Like Cartwright, Smith puts in some very interesting time on the Season 3 DVD set, and has also only won a sole Emmy for 1992's "Lisa The Greek".
Harry Shearer 
The highest-profile voice actor on "The Simpsons", Harry Shearer has been a mainstay in comedy since 1975 and his debut on "Saturday Night Live". He starred in the cult classic "This Is Spinal Tap" in 1984. In the 90's Shearer had roles in "Wayne's World 2", "Godzilla", "Almost Heroes", "Dick", and "A Mighty Wind". He also directed "Teddy Bear's Picnic" in 2002, a film which he also starred in. Having been in television since 1957, when he had a role on "Leave It To Beaver", the voice of Flanders, Burns, Smithers, Skinner, and other beloved characters shows no signs of fading.
Hank Azaria 
While his film career has not given him many starring roles, Hank Azaria has found his niche in both television appearances and theater. Azaria has played roles on "Mad About You", "Frasier", and also had a brief run with his own television series, "Imagine That". The voice of some of the funniest characters in Springfield (Moe, Apu, and Wiggum come to mind) has also found some success in movies with roles in "Mystery Men" and "Godzilla". He has lately taken to theater, starring in a play with Matthew Perry in 2003. The versatile Azaria has an impressive 3 Emmys for his work on the show, most recently for 2003's "Moe Baby Blues".
Marcia Wallace 
Marcia Wallace is a certified television veteran, dating all the way back to a major role in "The Bob Newhart Show". Since then she has been in a huge number of roles in both television and film, but her voicing of Ms. Krabappel on "The Simpsons" still remains her most prominent job. She won an Emmy for her work on the show for 1992's "Bart The Lover".
Pamela Hayden 
The immortal Milhouse Van Houten has all of his lines come from Pamela Hayden's mouth. She also does the voices for Rod Flanders, Jimbo Jones, and Lisa's friend Janey, and has filled in for her share of one-time characters. Besides her work on the show she's actually done very little work in television or movies, save for a few appearances on "Hey Arnold!" and some other scattered works, both live-action and animated.
Russi Taylor 
Russi Taylor is a long-time voice actor, all the way back to voicing some lines on the animated classic "The Flinstones". On "The Simpsons" she voices numerous schoolchildren, most notably Martin Prince, Sherri, Terri, and Uter. Since her first work in the 1960's she has lent her vocal talents to television shows like "Muppet Babies" and "Ducktales". She has also participated in a number of animated or partially animated movies, such as "Aladdin", "Babe", "A Bug's Life", "Fantasia 2000". She also seems to be the current top choice for any project requiring Minnie Mouse as a character, having participated in a number of projects with the mouse. She is currently married to Wayne Allwine, the current voice of Mickey Mouse, who she met during a voice-acting session.
Tress MacNeille 
Tress Macneille is a huge name in the world of voice-acting, having done the voices for an astounding amount of characters in a large amount of projects. An abbreviated list of the television shows she has worked on includes "The Smurfs", "Alvin And The Chipmunks", "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", "Tiny Toons", "Recess", "The Critic", and "Futurama". Her most beloved role, though, was as Dot Warner on the children's television classic "Animaniacs". She even contributed her voice to a segment in "The Animatrix", a Matrix-related animation piece. Still, with such a constant barrage of projects and commitments in the voice-over world, she continues to voice a few minor characters and many one-time characters on "The Simpsons", most notably Agnes Skinner.
Maggie Roswell 
Maggie Roswell is the only voice actor in the show's history to leave for a reason other than death - from 1999-2002 she left due to a protest over her low salary. This led to the killing off of Maude Flanders, one of her principal characters, in 1999's "Alone Again, Natura-Diddley". Besides the dead Maude, Roswell voices Helen Lovejoy, Miss Hoover, Luann Van Houten, and other women about the town. She earned an Emmy nomination for voicing Shary Bobbins in a 1997 episode. Besides "The Simpsons" Roswell has done very little in the entertainment industry, instead spending her time running a voice-over studio with her husband.
Part-Time Cast
Phil Hartman 
Phil Hartman was fairly new to the voiceover team when he joined the Simpsons staff in 1990, but his early presence on the show became influential to the future success of the cartoon. Having only appeared in voice-over roles in "The Jetsons" and "Scooby Doo", it appeared as if Harman's role would be limited. His natural talent quickly became evident in washed up movie star 'Troy McClure' and unsuccessful lawyer 'Lionel Hutz' (Often dubbed the easiest characters to write for.) Due to his hectic acting career, Phil would often tape several episodes in one reading, but his effort and pride in the parts never wavered. In 1998, Phil Hartman was tragically killed, and the Simpsons community suffered a considerable loss. Although neither Hutz or McClure were ever officialy written out, they haven't shown up in Springfield since the untimely death. On a side note, Hartman was initially chosen to voice Zap Brannigan in Matt Groening's second child Futurama, but was replaced by Billy West shortly after his death.
Jon Lovitz 
Long time supporter of 'The Simpsons' Jon Lovitz has become a common voice in Springfield, showing up in ten episodes as five different characters. Artie Ziff, Jay Sherman, Professor Lombardi, Llewelyn Sinclair, and Aristotle Amodopoulos, are all apart of Jon's repertoire, which continues to grow today. Although most of his character's voices' don't vary as widely as professionals Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer, it's Jon's enthusiasm and performance that keeps bringing him back to the recording studio. The Simpsons was his first cartoon appearance, but he certainly didn't seem like a rookie. His work was so impressive, that past executive producers Mike Reiss and Al Jean gave him the starring role in the short lived series "The Critic."
Kelsey Grammar 
Considered by many of 'The Simpsons' staff to be the easiest celebrity to work with, Kelsey Grammar has led the list of reoccurring voices for fifteen years, appearing in eleven episodes and counting. Grammar was the first major guest star to appear on the show dating back to 1990, and he hasn't forgotten to return. Acting as Bart's arch-nemesis 'Sideshow Bob', Grammar's character has slipped in and out of prison, appearing once every so often to shake up Springfield. To date, The Simpsons have been his only cartoon crossover, but his outstanding readings and dialogue suggest it may have a brighter voiceover future than one might think.
Executive Producers
The Simpsons can only be as great as the people behind the scenes which is greatly influenced by the showrunner. This position has only been attempted by a select group of men whose dedication has made "The Simpsons" the cultural icon it is today. The following are description of the brave executive producers who have strapped the show on their backs, and guided it on an ongoing path of success.
Seasons 1-2
Matt Groening 
Profound creator of The Simpsons Matt Groening boasts a success story that few other celebrities can match. In the mid-1980's, the struggling cartoonist moved to LA to begin a comic strip known as 'Life in Hell'. Meanwhile, James L. Brooks was looking for filler material for his hit television show 'The Tracy Ullman Show' and called upon Groening's services. A quick pitch, three seasons of shorts on the Tracy Ullman Show, and a whole lot of luck brought Matt's cartoon family 'The Simpsons' into the primetime spotlight. For the first two seasons of the show, Matt, with the aid of James L. Brooks and Sam Simon ran the Simpsons, and shaped the series into a rare goldmine. Aside from maintaining his weekly "Life in Hell" comic strip for the past 20+ years, Groening created his second brain child 'Futurama'. The futuristic animated program lasted five seasons, and an overwhelming success in DVD sales. After passing on his Executive Producer status in season three, Groening has written for the show, made various guest appearances, and has signed his name on thousands of pieces of "Simpsons" merchandise.
Sam Simon 
Sam joined Matt Groening and James L. Brooks in the show runner position in 1989, writing eight episodes scattered throughout the first three seasons. His success in the television industry spans before and after his work on "The Simpsons", gaining writing credits in classics like "Taxi", "Cheers", "It's Gary Shandling's Show", "The George Carlin Show", and "The Drew Carey Show". Simon's versatility extends to the directors chair, having directed episodes of "Friends", "The Michael Richards Show" and "Men Behaving Badly". In 1991, he left the show for the big screen, writing the humorous "The Super" which failed to meet box office expectations. Although Simon hasn't written a "Simpsons" episode since season 4, he continues to have a hand in the show's success.
James L. Brooks 
To most of the crew, "The Simpsons" is the highlight and peak of their careers. To James L. Brooks, it's just another milestone on his ongoing list of classics. He made it to the big time at the age of 20, writing for "The Andy Griffith Show" and "My Three Sons". In 1970, he gave birth to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", giving sitcoms a whole new shape and a fresh new look. His success kept rolling, quickly adding "Rhoda", "Room 222", and "Taxi" to his resume. Brooks has also directed many of his own projects, including "Terms of Endearment", "As Good as it Gets", and "Spanglish" - a movie he wrote, directed, and produced. His profile includes some of the greatest television shows from the last 100 years, and it just took him a short phone call to Matt Groening to begin the most revolutionary cartoon of all time, "The Simpsons". Brooks remains the only Executive Producer that has not written an episode, but he has been called upon by the Simpsons staff many times for episode endings, short gags, and new ideas.
Seasons 3 - 4; Seasons 13-16?
Al Jean 
After the second season, Groening handed off the show to two of the more talented writers on staff in Al Jean and Mike Reiss. The successful writing duel was promoted to the executive producer position and the show's popularity grew out of control. Jean was devoted to holding onto the ball, resulting in 20 hour work days, and thousands of script re-writes. During his time as show runner, he continued to write episodes with Mike Reiss, as well as oversee every script that made it to the small screen. In 1991 when he inherited the cartoon, his resume was not as full as either of his precursors. His experience consisted only of "Not Neccessarily the News", "Sledge Hammer", and "It's Garry Shandling's Show". Nonetheless, his work on "The Simpsons" remains as a major contributor to it's success and fame. After season four, Jean left with Reiss to create the short-lived "The Critic" - a cartoon starring Jon Lovitz that many agree was cancelled before it's time. Hoping for a similar outcome as the Simpsons, Brian J. Cowan enlisted in Jean's services for his new sitcom "Teen Angel". In hindsight, Jean has expressed that his time with the Disney Channel was not as enjoyable as his work with the Simpsons. After two seasons, "Teen Angel" was cancelled, and Jean and Reiss were once again out of a job. After two failed attempts away from the Simpsons, Jean rejoined the cartoon and wrote five episodes between seasons 9-13, before returning to the Executive Producer position, ten years after his first run. Although writing partner Mike Reiss was asked to join, he declined Jean's offer. Al Jean is currently signed through season 16 to act as show runner, and continues to make his mark on Springfield and the television industry.
Seasons 3 - 4
Mike Reiss 
Mike Reiss's career has followed a similar path as long-time friend Al Jean, and their work together has proven why the inseparable pair keep turning to each other for a helping hand. Reiss joined the Simpsons staff with the same resume as Jean, but his undeniable talent quickly bumped him up the corporate ladder. Although Reiss considers his time as Executive Producer as the peak of his career, he admits it was the hardest two years of his life. After 46 episodes, Reiss had gained 70 pounds, and left "The Simpsons" out of sheer exhaustion. The Harvard graduate joined Jean again, creating "The Critic" and running "Teen Angel". After both shows failed to pass a second season, Reiss wrote one episode for "The Simpsons" before leaving Jean to start his own project, "Queer Duck". The show never found its feet, and once cancelled, Reiss returned to the cartoon that got his career rolling. He was asked by Al Jean to reunite the Executive Producer combo, but fears of going through the daunting task again kept him from accepting the offer. Reiss currently acts as a consultant, and is working on a script for a Simpsons movie to be released in the near future.
Seasons 5 - 6
David Mirkin 
David Mirkin was the first Executive Producer to tackle the role on his own and the only independent Executive Producer that did not write an episode before accepting the position. It might seem like a risky move for a cartoon that was constantly gaining momentum, but Mirkin's track record was enough reassurance. Before moving to the animated world, Mirkin experienced success in long running sitcoms like "Three's Company", "Newhart", and "The Larry Sanders Show". Having been the Executive Producer for all three shows, he was well equipped to handle Homer and the gang. His one and only Simpsons episode was a season five standout, the much beloved "Deep Space Homer". Lately, Mirkin has shifted towards the directing spotlight, having directed episodes of "The Edge" and movies "Heartbreakers" and it's sequel "Heartbroken". His involvement in the show today is limited, but he will always be remembered for his efforts in two of the finest seasons ever produced.
Seasons 7 - 8
Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein   Al
Jean wisely replaced a departing Jay Kogen and Wallace Wolodarsky with the eager
writing pair of Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein for the show's third season.
The gig marked the pair's first big splash in Hollywood, although both Oakley
and Weinstein's hunger for comedy began many years earlier. In highschool,
the pair created a humour magazine "Alban Antic" (named after their school),
which would provide the duo experience for University. Oakley joined elite
company like Conan O'Brien and George Meyer as co-president of the Harvard
Lampoon, and Weinstein was made president of the Stanford Chapparal.
Keeping close contact in the summer, the inseparable writing twosome moved to
Las Angeles in the late 1980's, hoping to join the comedy mainstream.
Success didn't instantly fall their way, but their dedication to the craft kept
their spirits and aspirations intact. They moved from around from National
Lampoon, SPY, and America's Most Wanted, but it was their Seinfeld spec script
that caught the eye of Simpsons executive producer Al Jean. After
enlisting in their services, the writing pair showcased their talent in their
first penned episode "Marge Gets a Job". They quickly climbed ranks,
writing favourites like "$pringfield", "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacey", "Bart vs.
Australia", and the cliffhanger "Who Shot Mr. Burns" parts one and two.
After season 6, they replaced David Mirkin as the series showrunner, enjoying
two seasons at the Simpsons helm. Upon leaving the cartoon after season 8,
Oakley and Weinstein briefly worked on "Futurama", before creating their own
prime-time cartoon "Mission Hill". The program unfortunately premiered
during the late-90's cartoon boom, and with poor timesloting fro, the WB, the
series lasted only 13 episodes. The pair then wrote pilots for the
shortlived "Ruling Class" and "The Funkhousers". In 2003 they launched the
series "The Mullets", but UPN's poor programming offered little
support. Currently, Oakley and Weinstein are focusing their attention on
the big screen, and are in production of the their co-written comedy "The
Optimist" starring Shawn William Scott, set for theatrical release in 2006.
Although they're most prolific roles in Hollywood remain as showrunners of "The
Simpsons", it's clear that this writing pair isn't
finished making their imprints on the world of
television.
Seasons 9-12
Mike Scully 
When Mike Scully arrived on "The Simpsons" set in 1994, his television resume was empty. With the growing trend of doing no wrong while writing for Homer and the family, Scully tried his luck in Springfield and quickly found what it had to offer. After dishing out back to back Lisa classics in season 5, Scully found himself moving up in the ranks, from co-executive producer in season eight, to the covenant showrunner position in season nine. Like most good things eventually do, luck ran short for Scully, whose first season calling the shots proved to be the first step backwards in a show that was constantly gaining momentum. As the second independent Executive Producer, Scully was the first to continue writing episodes during his reign. He was also the first showrunner to exceed the two season term, and the result was a string of four seasons that landed well below previous achievements. In season 13, Mike Scully was relieved of duty by former Executive Producer Al Jean. Although he stayed as a consultant for the remainder of the season, he wrote one final episode to be aired the following year, and left the animation world behind. His first stop was at "Everybody Loves Raymond" where he wrote the premiere for Season 8, and co-wrote two others the same year. In 2003, Mike and his wife created the zany and shortlived "The Pitts" which was pulled after only five episodes, leaving two unaired. Hoping for a better result, Scully, his wife, and the same executive producer from "The Pitts" are currently in the midst of producing their second creation, "The Savages". While aspiring to surpass his previous five episode tally, Scully's newest show will likely fade in comparison to the unheard of 300+ run back in Springfield. |
