Summary

  • The talented voice actors of The Simpsons , including Nancy Cartwright, Harry Shearer, and Hank Azaria, bring depth and magic to the show's iconic characters.
  • These voice actors have been with the show for nearly three decades, crafting unique voices that will be remembered as some of the best in TV history.
  • The show's most prolific voice actors, such as Dan Castellaneta and Tress MacNeille, have voiced over 30 notable characters each, showcasing their versatility and contribution to the rich tapestry of The Simpsons .

The Simpsons has a hugely talented cast, and many characters are portrayed by just 10 voice actors. This is part of the reason a live-action version of The Simpsons would never work. The work of talented actors, including Nancy Cartwright, Harry Shearer, and Hank Azaria would be a struggle to replicate; any new actors taking on the iconic roles may find it difficult to capture the magic of what makes The Simpsons special. Every Springfield resident, including the central Simpson family, has a distinct voice. It's incredible how many characters are actually voiced by the same group of people.

The Simpsons' most prolific voice actors have been with the show for three decades. In that time, they've been able to really craft unique voices, delivering voice performances that will surely be remembered as some of the best in television history. The cast has regular characters they're responsible for but also jump into background roles, which can make it difficult to pin down the exact number of characters they've each taken on over the years, but these talented voice actors are the most prolific in The Simpsons.

Collage of SImpsons characters
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10 Yeardley Smith - 2

Lisa Simpson smiling with her hands together on The Simpsons

Yeardley Smith is best known for playing two of The Simpsons' most important characters: the accomplished Lisa Simpson and the baby of the family, Maggie. Smith has been voicing Lisa since the character appeared in shorts on the Tracy Ullman Show in 1987 and won an Emmy in 1992. Maggie, however, has been voiced by multiple people throughout the show's run, from guest stars to other series regulars, and is currently attributed to Nancy Cartwright. Smith's contribution to The Simpsons as the smart and sweet Lisa is immeasurable, but the voice actor also takes on smaller, background roles.

Though Smith is primarily known for her voiceover work, she's also appeared in plenty of guest-starring roles in live-action series like The Mindy Project, Mom, and Fresh Off The Boat. Smith is also a producer on several projects, working behind the camera or the microphone.

9 Julie Kavner - 4

Marge appears shocked in The Simpsons

Julie Kavner is the unmistakable voice of The Simpsons matriarch Marge. Kavner originated the role, carving out Marge's distinctive gravelly tone. Kavner brings this same vocal style to Marge's sisters, Patty and Selma Bouvier, and their mother, Jacqueline, helping to create a connection through all the Bouvier women. She won an Emmy for her work on the show. Though Kavner has had plenty of other roles in her long career, since 2006, she has only been working on The Simpsons or projects featuring the characters she voices for the show.

Kavner's last live-action appearance was in the Adam Sandler movie Click. Prior to becoming so heavily involved in voiceover work, Kavner also appeared in movies like I'll Do Anything and Hannah And Her Sisters. Her best known live-action role, however, is as Brenda in the series Rhoda. She played the character in The Mary Tyler Moore Show spinoff for all 109 episodes of the run.

8 Russi Taylor - 6

Sherri and Terri in The Simpsons

The late Russi Taylor is perhaps most well-known for providing the voice of Minnie Mouse for 33 years, but during her time on The Simpsons, she voiced six notable characters. Taylor's voice work for the show included Martin Prince, Sherri and Terri, Üter Zörker, Wendell Borton, and Lewis. Following her death in 2019, Taylor's characters Martin Prince, Sherri, and Terri have been voiced by Grey DeLisle.

Likely because of her long-time work with Disney playing Minnie Mouse, Taylor also voiced numerous characters for Disney just as she did for The Simpsons. Taylor also voiced multiple characters for the Ducktales franchise and multiple characters in Disney princess projects, like one of Cinderella's stepsisters and her fairy godmother since those original voice actors had passed away years earlier. She voiced the characters for animated series, specials, and video games.

7 Maggie Roswell - 12

Maude Flanders standing in a kitchen in The Simpsons

Maggie Roswell is most notable for voicing Maude, the late wife of The Simpsons' Ned Flanders. Roswell joined the cast in 1990 but left in 1999 over a pay dispute, at which time The Simpsons killed off Maude Flanders. However, Roswell later returned in 2002 after reaching an agreement to record her lines from her home in Denver. As well as Maude, Roswell is responsible for the voices of Helen Lovejoy, Luann Van Houten, Elizabeth Hoover, and more for a total of at least 12 The Simpsons characters over the years.

In recent years, Roswell has mostly devoted her time to voicing The Simpsons characters and making short films. She, however, had a more prolific career in live-action projects before she began working on The Simpsons in the 1990s. Roswell can be seen in the original TV versions of Quantum Leap and Murphy Brown as well as movies like Pretty In Pink.

6 Nancy Cartwright - 12

Bart plays tennis with pickles in The Simpsons season 34

Nancy Cartwright is famous for voicing the precocious Bart Simpson, but she also lends her talent to many other characters in The Simpsons. Throughout her career, Cartwright has proved that she's adept at voicing both male and female characters, though her work in The Simpsons is mainly young male characters. Aside from Bart, she also voices Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, and Todd Flanders, as well as a host of others that take her up to at least 12 notable characters in The Simpsons. She also won an Emmy for the series in 1992.

While Cartwright is undoubtedly best known for her work in The Simpsons (and its movies, video games, shorts, etc.), she is one of the most prolific voice actors today. She's also voiced characters in Rugrats, The Replacements, Animaniacs, Kim Possible, and The Land Before Time video franchise. Cartwright doesn't appear in many live-action roles today, but she did have guest starring spots in '90s classics like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Baywatch Nights.

Collage of Bart Simpson and Mo
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5 Pamela Hayden - 21

Millhouse and Bart high fiving in The Simpsons

From The Simpsons' start in 1989 to the current season, Pamela Hayden has voiced at least 21 notable characters. Like co-star Nancy Cartwright, Hayden has been utilized to voice some of The Simpsons' young male characters, like Millhouse Van Houten, Jimbo Jones, and Rod Flanders. Millhouse is perhaps her most notable role in The Simpsons, but those with a keen sense of hearing might be able to recognize her voice in female characters including Malibu Stacy, Amber Simpson, and Sarah Wiggum.

Like many of the actors who voice so many of The Simpsons characters, much of Hayden's modern voice acting is devoted to the series and its supplemental materials, like video games. Hayden, however, has also provided voice work for other TV shows, like the children's show Pound Puppies, and to other video games, like the Spyro franchise.

4 Tress MacNeille - 30+

Agnes looking angry in The Simpsons

Though her name might not be as recognizable as some of The Simpsons' other voice actors, Tress MacNeille is actually the show's most prolific female voice actor. Since 1990, she has voiced a range of The Simpsons' female characters, including Agnes Skinner, the mother of Principal Skinner, and Brandine Spuckler, the wife of Cletus Spuckler. While MacNeille doesn't voice any of The Simpsons' female leads, namely Lisa or Marge, her work on regular characters helps to enhance the residents of Springfield's unique characters.

The Simpsons is easily Tress MacNeille's longest-running role. Her voice has appeared in more than 600 episodes of the series. She also, however, has voiced numerous animated characters for Disney animated series, Nickelodeon projects, and played multiple roles in both Futurama and Disenchantment. She's also known for the iconic voices of Dot in Animaniacs and Babs Bunny in Tiny Toons, making her a huge part of the voice-acting community.

3 Hank Azaria - 30+

Moe answers Bart's prank call in The Simpsons

Hank Azaria's first role in The Simpsons was bartender Moe Szyslak, but the voice actor quickly expanded his repertoire to become one of The Simpsons' most prolific voice actors. He now voices at least 30 notable characters, including Comic Book Guy, Chief Wiggum, Superintendent Chalmers, Dr. Nick, Disco Stu, and various background characters. Azaria is also notable for being the original voice actor of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, a role that ended in season 29 following Hari Kondabolu's documentary The Problem with Apu which highlighted the use of harmful racial stereotypes and the issue of Azaria voicing an Indian character.

Azaria is also likely one of the few voice actors in The Simpsons who is just as well known for his live-action work as he is his voiceover work. Azaria has appeared in recent series like The Idol and Maniac, but he's also known for his parts in iconic movies like The Birdcage and cult classic Mystery Men. He's won four Emmys for his work on The Simpsons.

2 Harry Shearer - 30+

Mr. Burns holding a drink in The Simpsons

Harry Shearer's most notable roles in The Simpsons include Mr. Burns and his sidekick Smithers, Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, Lenny Leonard, Reverend Lovejoy, and Otto Man. From 1990 to 2021, when all The Simpsons' POC characters were rightfully recast, Shearer also voiced Dr. Hibbert. Shearer has a roster of over 30 notable The Simpsons characters to his name but also provides voice work for plenty more background characters in the show too, making him one of The Simpsons' most notable actors. He won an Emmy for his work on the show in 2014.

Shearer has one of the most diverse careers in the entertainment industry. In addition to voice acting, live-action roles, and appearing in cameo spots in music videos, he's also hosted a radio show for NPR, and written for several television series, including Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons.

Moe and Mr Burns in front of other Simpsons characters
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1 Dan Castellaneta - 30+

Homer is a referee in The Simpson

Dan Castellaneta is The Simpsons' most prolific voice actor. Castellaneta has been the voice behind Homer Simpson since the start. In addition to Homer, Castellaneta is responsible for voicing regular characters including Krusty the Clown, Grampa Simpson, Barney Gumble, and Groundskeeper Willie. Aside from his regular duties, Castellaneta has lent his versatile voice to one-off characters and even celebrities like Donald Trump, Bob Dylan, and Elvis Presley.

While it's hard to pin down the exact number of characters Castellaneta has voiced over The Simpsons' 35 seasons because of the background characters voiced, it's well into double-digits, and he's won four Emmys for his work.

Castellaneta is particularly known as a character actor in comedies, appearing in projects like Merry Happy Whatever and Baby Daddy, but he's also well-versed in dramatic parts as well. Castellaneta appears in big-screen movies like Super 8 as well as small-screen unauthorized "true stories" like his role of producer Aaron Spelling in The Unauthorized Story Of Melrose Place. He's also written for The Simpsons and is now a producer on the show, making Dan Castellaneta one of the biggest contributors to The Simpsons over the years.