Hank azaria may well be the most prolific voice and character actor of our time. Jeffrey jeff albertson, better known as comic book guy, is the. Comic book guy joins a host of simpsons characters sharing pearls of wisdom during voice actor hank azarias commencement. He voices apu nahasapeemapetilon, moe szyslak, chief wiggum, comic book guy, jonathan frink, snake jailbird and numerous other characters on the simpsons. The producers of the longrunning animated series have now provided a statement to the new york. In addition to moe, wiggum and apu, azaria provides the voices of comic book guy, carl carlson, cletus spuckler, professor frink, dr. We suspect that hank azarias comic book guy will be among one of barts biggest victims.
Rubberfaced comic actor and vocal artist extraordinaire hank azaria initially plied his trade. Over the course of 25 seasons, hank azaria has voiced approximately 8,000 different characters on the simpsons. Hank azaria was born on april 25, 1964 in queens, new york city, new york, usa as henry albert azaria. Hank azaria explains why he will no longer voice apu the episode revolves around bart simpson, who accidentally sees a major superhero movie a month before it comes out. From the simpsons comic bookdoms portly purveyor of fourcolor fiction has his own comic miniseries. It should be clarified that this doesnt mean that azaria is leaving the simpsons for good, as he also provides the roles of characters like carl carlson, chief wiggum, comic book guy, and moe szyslak. American actor and renowned voice artist hank azaria is perhaps best known for his voice work on foxs popular animated series the simpsons 1989, gaining attention for his oddball interpretations of moe the bartender, apu the kwikemart owner, police chief wiggums, comic book guy, cletus, professor frink and snake. Bart and homer become social media celebrities when a video of them fighting goes viral. With hank azaria superhero retelling, slightly edging out thor. The simpsons universe and the marvel cinematic universe are about to collide, syfy wire has confirmed. He also appeared in movies such as the birdcage 1996, and on stage as sir lancelot in the monty pythoninspired musical, spamalot. Find out what hank azaria had to say about the simpsons apu problem below. Carl carlson professor frink comic book guy moe szyslak magnesium man voice. Hank azaria is by far the most versatile voice actor on the simpsons.
A longrunning gag on the show was never to reveal the characters name, with other characters referring to him as comic book guy. He is noted for being one of the principal voice actors on the animated television series the simpsons 1989present, on which he performs the voices of moe szyslak, apu nahasapeemapetilon, chief wiggum, comic book guy, carl carlson and numerous others. Hank azaria breaks down his iconic simpsons voices and. List of recurring the simpsons characters wikipedia. On the simpsons, azaria gives voice to moe the bartender, apu the kwikemart owner, police chief wiggum, professor frink, dr. Comic book guys character folder in the hall of records on the simpsons website. Is the shows voice cast properly paid for their years of duty in springfield. Bang bang voiced by hank azaria, where he simply states worst cameo ever.
Moe szyslak, apu nahasapeemapetilon, chief wiggum, the comic book guy, carl carlson, and numerous others. Comic book guy is also a fan of marvel and dc comics such as superman. Im perfectly willing and happy to step aside, or help transition the character into something new, he said tuesday on the late show with stephen colbert. Man who voices apu on the simpsons ready to give it up. A scene featuring marge reading a bedtime story to lisa leads to lisa directly addressing the tv audience to say, something that started decades ago. The simpsons tv series 1989 hank azaria as moe szyslak, chief wiggum, carl, lou, comic book guy, apu, carl carlson, superintendent chalmers, apu nahasapeemapetilon, kirk van houten. He is based on every comic book store guy in america and represents a stereotypical middleaged comi. Hank azaria based comic book guys voice on a student who went by the. And i have to tell them, no, its every comicbookstore guy in america.
The simpsons producers release statement on hank azaria no. He is voiced by hank azaria and first appeared in the secondseason episode three men and a comic book, which originally aired on may 9, 1991. And now hes bringing another character to the mainstream. He is known for his voice characterizations as a variety of characters in the animated sitcom the simpsons 1989present, which has included moe szyslak, apu nahasapeemapetilon 19902020, chief wiggum, comic book guy. Hank azaria is an actor, voice actor, comedian as well as a producer perhaps best known as the voice actor in the animated series the simpsons 1989present,and who has voiced such personalities as carl carlson, comic book guy, chief wiggum, apu nahasapeemapelon and moe szyslak. Everyman avery mann is a superhero created by comic book guy, whom homer portrays in the film adaptation. The simpsons, the longest running sitcom in television history, is about to launch its 29th season on fox. In the midst of the ongoing controversy surrounding the depiction of apu on the simpsons, actor hank azaria has offered to stop voicing the indianamerican character. He is known for his voice characterizations as a variety of characters in the animated sitcom the simpsons 1989present, which has included moe szyslak, apu nahasapeemapetilon 19902020, chief wiggum, comic book guy, carl carlson and others. While harry shearer does lots of the voices on the simpsons that arent of members of the simpsons family, hank azaria does all the other voices.
He is an actor, known for the simpsons 1989, free agents 2011 and the birdcage 1996. Henry albert azaria born april 25, 1964 is an american actor, voice actor, producer, and comedian. After dinner with my friend angie tonight, we sat down to watch some tv. A hollywood studio makes a movie based on comic book guys comic book character everyman, and homer is cast in the lead. Last sundays episode of the simpsons addressed controversy over the character of apu voiced by the very notindian hank azaria in a scene which is, if anything, only intensifying criticism that the character is an insensitive caricature. In january, hank azaria revealed that he will no longer provide the voice of apu in the simpsons. Hank azaria who voices the indian immigrant and has been. Bart and milhouse discover that comic book guy has been creating a series of comics, and instead of mocking him, are in fact interested in the series. Azaria also loves that the character is an adult who argues with kids as if theyre his peers.
Hank azaria based comic book guys voice on a student who went by the name f, and lived in the room next door at his college. The simpsons bart the bad guy tv episode 2020 imdb. The simpsons team considering how to handle apu backlash, hank azaria says. You even know him by ear, as the memorable voice behind.
The winter of our monetized content is an episode of the simpsons starring dan castellaneta, julie kavner, and nancy cartwright. Hank azaria offers to step aside as apu amid simpsons. Its possible that the simpsons writes apu out of the show completely, or that he will be recast with a new actor. Three men and a comic book is the twentyfirst episode of the simpsons second season. The simpsons team is handling apu backlash, hank azaria. They talk about comic book guy from the simpsons on latenet with ray ellin.
As he uses his newfound knowledge to terrorize other fans, a pair of movie executives the russo brothers try to convince bart not to leak the movies plot. Hank azaria simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The simpsons hank azaria has spoken on the controversy surrounding his racist and heavily stereotyped character, apu. Just imagine what is in store for you when an entire comic book title is given over to explore the adventures and pet peeves of one of the comic industrys very own. Henry albert azaria is an american actor, voice actor, comedian and producer. Some of the many recurring and regular characters in the simpsons. Apu, moe the bartender, chief wiggum, comic book guy, dr. He is voiced by hank azaria and first appeared in the secondseason. See image of hank azaria, the voice of comic book guy jeff albertson in the simpsons tv show.
Comic book guy is the common, popular name for jeffrey jeff albertson, a recurring fictional character in the animated television series the simpsons. The longtime simpsons voice actor addressed the ongoing debate over apu and claims the show will address it either publicly or creatively. The work hes done for the simpsons alone has earned him a permanent place in the pop culture zeitgeist. The one constant throughout the shows three decades has been its sterling voice cast, which consists of dan.
Hank azaria has announced that he will no longer be providing the. Azaria, who attended tufts university, joined the show with little voice acting. To whip homer into superhero shape, the movie studio hires celebrity fitness trainer lyle. Super funny ray ellin talks to odd woman online, then with hank azaria. In addition to his work on the simpsons, azaria became more widely known.
The creators originally intended many of these characters as onetime. Simpsons hank azaria gives tufts university commencement. Was trained at the american academy of dramatic arts in new york. Fans of the simpsons know him as the man behind the voices of illtempered bartender moe syzslak, gluttonous police chief chauncey wiggum, sadsack comic book guy, hillbilly cletus spuckler and americas favorite convenience store. As a middle aged white guy, im offended by how homer is portrayed.
Thank you for asking me about the problem with apu, azaria said. Simpsons actor hank azaria confirms he will no longer. Hank azaria has won several primetime emmy awards for outstanding voice over performance for his work on the simpsons, winning one in 2001 for voicing. Bart accidentally sees a new superhero movie a month before it comes out and the world cowers before. Simpsons voice actor and former helen hunt captive hank azaria recently appeared on an internet chat show called latenet with ray ellin i know, me. For more simpsons news, find out what to expect from the. Although rarely featured on the show, she has been a recurring character in the simpsons comic book series. The only nonaustralian that can is, ironically, tracey ullman. The days of apu, the beloved proprietor of kwikemart on the simpsons, may be numbered. He voices moe szyslak, chief wiggum, apu nahasapeemapetilon, comic book guy and numerous other characters on the simpsons.
But it may be azarias personal advice on following your own instincts that. He voiced many characters in the fox animated television series the simpsons. He voices everyone from moe, to apu, to comic book guy, to kirk van houten, to cletus spuckler. A longrunning gag on the show was never to reveal the characters name, with other characters referring to him as comic. It originally aired on the fox network in the united states on may 9, 1991. Hank azaria born april 25, 1964 is an american actor, voice actor, comedian, producer, director and writer. This just means he wont be providing apus voice anymore. Lou, voiced by hank azaria, is by far the most intelligent and competent of the springfield police force. The simpsons addressed the controversy in an episode earlier this month with a scene of. Hank azaria breaks down his iconic simpsons voices and movie roles gq.
Hank azaria has said he was through with voicing apu, yet the socalled australian accent of airshot done by an american is so poor it transcends parody and is just plain bad you cant do australian accents, get it in your head. The simpsons homer the whopper tv episode 2009 imdb. Hank azaria breaks down his most iconic voices and movie roles, from heat to the simpsons. Azaria had the crowd in stitches as he dispensed advice from chief wiggum, moe the bartender, apu, and comic book guy. Along with the simpson family, the simpsons includes a large array of characters. Hank azaria is very popular and is most widely renowned for his work on the simpsons, and also very famous for his roles in the birdcage, and the critically praised series, huff. Hank azaria does comic book guy from the simpsons on. In the episode, bart sees the rare first issue of radioactive man for sale at a comic book convention. The simpsons actor hank azaria will no longer perform the voice of convenience store owner apu on the longrunning animated show. How many voices does hank azaria do on the simpsons. The simpsons is the longestrunning adult animated series.
Yes there are many comic stereotypes in one show and it is collectively one big. Comic book guy makes a brief appearance in the simpsonsfamily guy crossover episode the. Access all areas, the simpsons 20th anniversary special in 3d. Hank azaria gives a hilarious and moving commencement. Bart uses spoilers for a superhero movie he saw to get what he wants, but two movie executives will stop at nothing to keep his. I once again thought what a great actor hank azaria is, especially as he voices not only moe but also my absolute favourite springfield resident comic book guy. Nick, snake the criminal, bumblebee man, superintendent chalmers principal skinners boss, professor frink, and milhouss dad kirk.
The voice of the simpsons, hank azaria, talks about how he came up with professor frink, comic book guy, and meeting jerry lewis. Nick riviera, lou, snake jailbird, kirk van houten, the sea captain, superintendent chalmers, disco stu, duffman, the wiseguy and numerous onetime characters. Comic book guy jeff albertson voice the simpsons tv show. The simpsons will definitely address the debate over his character apu. One of my favorite comic book guy moments is when he is trying to return some belt he won, and gil says oh.