The Simpsons, the longest-running American sitcom, is an animated series about the working-class Simpsons family living in the fictional town of Springfield. Started as a series of animated shorts, the program became immensely popular when it debuted in 1989, and has been running strong ever since. And now with a movie sequel and spinoff talks in the works for the series, we’ll be getting plenty more of the nuclear family on both the big and small screens.
We can lend much of the show’s success not only to the witty, satirical writing, but also the wonderful cast of voice actors who have given each character their distinct personality. And many of these voice actors provide the vocal talents for more than one character. You might know about a few, but here are 20 characters who are all voiced by the same 10 people.
Homer Simpson and Groundskeeper Willie
You likely already knew that Dan Castellaneta voices the main character of patriarch Homer Simpson, and that he provides the voice for a number of other characters on the series as well, including Grampa Simpson, Barney Gumble, and Krusty the Clown. But did you also know that he is the voice of Groundskeeper Willie?
Groundskeeper Willie, the shaggy, red-bearded janitor at Springfield Elementary School, has a very distinct Scottish accent with an angry attitude to match, an amazing six-pack thanks to all of the hard labour he does, and a list of stories to tell about his rough upbringing.
Bart Simpson and Nelson Muntz
Isn’t it ironic that both Bart and his bully Nelson are voiced by the same person, Nancy Cartwright? Nelson is short but stocky and the leader of the school bullies who loves to pick on Bart. His voice is much lower pitched than Bart’s, even when shouting his signature phrase, “Ha ha!”
The long-time voice of troublemaker Bart also voices a number of other characters on the series in addition to Nelson, including Ralph Wiggum, Bart’s odd and eccentric classmate, Todd Flanders, and Maggie Simpson’s coos and pacifier sucks.
Ned Flanders and Mr. Burns
The same man who voices the religious fanatic Ned Flanders, neighbour to The Simpsons, also voices the evil wealthy businessman Mr. Burns. Harry Shearer voices both characters who couldn’t be more polar opposite to one another. But in addition to their personalities, their voices are very different as well, with one saying his usual “hi-diddly-does” and the other muttering an evil “yes” under his breath as he plots his next dastardly plan.
Like many other cast members, Shearer also provides the voice for plenty of other characters, including Principal Skinner, Kent Brockman, and Dr. Hibbert.
Marge Simpson and Her Sisters
Julie Kayner provides that signature raspy voice for mom Marge Simpson, but she also voices both of Marge’s siblings, Patty Bouvier and Selma Bouvier, as well as her mother Jacqueline Bouvier and Aunt Gladys. Patty and Selma, Marge’s older identical twin sisters, both work at the DMV, chain smoke, and have raspy voices just like Marge.
It would make sense, after all, that all family mebers would sound alike. Kavner has suggested that she chose her voice for the sisters to sound like women who “suck the life out of everything.” Interestingly, while Marge’s voice is similar, it has a different feel to it that’s far more positive, though also neurotic.
Lisa Simpson and Grandma Flanders
How could the woman who provides the high-pitched voice for Lisa Simpson, Yeardley Smith, also voice the character of the Flanders grandmother? Indeed, she does.
Grandma Flanders is the elderly and frail grandmother of the Simpsons neighbour Ned who was near death on several occasions, including when left to babysit Bart, Lisa, and the Flanders kids Rod and Todd. Her frazzled hair, buck tooth, and wrinkly skin is in stark contrast to the bright, bubbly, and young Lisa. She has a bit of a twang to her voice and often frightens Brat unintentionally.
Moe Szyslak and Chief Wiggum
Hank Azaria rose to fame voicing many characters on The Simpsons and has since become a well-known actor in film and on TV, too. Best known for voicing the convenience store owner Apu and Moe, owner of the local bar Moe’s Tavern, Azaria also provides the vocal talents for the tubby police chief Wiggum.
Moe’s voice is sad and depressed, has an accent that suggests he might be of Italian heritage, even though he once revealed that he came to the U.S. from the Netherlands. The accent is also similar to a New York/New Jersey accent. Meanwhile, Chief Wiggum’s voice is slightly similar but more nasal-y and goofy.
Milhouse Van Houten and Jimbo Jones
Pamela Hayden provides the nerdy voice for Milhouse, Bart’s best friend, as well as Jimbo Jones, the long-haired, cap-wearing teenager and bully at Springfield Elementary. He hangs with Dolph, Kearney, Nelson, and Weasels, picking on all of the little kids. In sixth grade, it’s clear he’s older than he should be, and was likely held back a number of years. Jimbo has a typical teenage boy voice, while the squeaky Milhouse has a stereotypical enthusiastic, extra-annunciated geeky boy voice.
Hayden also voices Rod Flanders, Janey Powell, and Sarah Wiggum, among others.
Agnes Skinner and Crazy Cat Lady
Both Agnes Skinner and Crazy Cat Lady are voiced by Tress MacNeille, who provides many other voices on the show as well, including Dolph, Lunchlady Doris, and Bernice Hibbert.
Skinner is the overbearing and strict mother to Principal Seymour Skinner who still tries to control the grown man as if he is a young boy. Married four times herself, she seems to have strong opinions about who her son dates. Eleanor Abernathy, meanwhile, otherwise known as Crazy Cat Lady, is a mentally ill hoarder who lives in the neighbourhood and is always seen surrounded by her cats. Her voice work usually consists of just gibberish.
Helen Lovejoy and Maude Flanders
Both religious characters Helen Lovejoy and Maude Flanders are voiced by the same person, Maggie Roswell, who also voices Miss Hoover and Luann Van Houten, among others.
Lovejoy is the Reverend’s wife, and a woman who, despite her strong religious beliefs, can be mean-spirited, judging people and spreading gossip. Flanders, meanwhile, is the devout Christian wife of Ned and mother to Todd and Rod who wasn’t as preachy as her husband, but still held the same beliefs. She sadly passed away after being struck by shirts flying from T-shirt cannons.
Edna Krabappel and Ms. Mellon
The distinct voice of Edna Krabappel, known to the kids at Springfield Elementary as Ms. Krabappel, was fitting to her name, which was a play on the word “crab apple” suggesting she was a cranky and depressed middle-aged single woman still looking for love. It was one of the most recognizable voices of the series until the teacher retired in 2013.
But this wasn’t the only character voice Marcia Wallace provided for the series. She also voiced Ms. Mellon, the fourth grade teacher that Bart briefly had when attending the Enriched Learning Center for Gifted Children after he cheated on an intelligence test.