The Shocking Truth Behind The Simpsons: Unveiling 15 Surprising Voice Actor Replacements
The Simpsons shook up their voice cast, resulting in 15 memorable character transformations From Dr Hibbert to Lunchlady Doris, discover the surprising changes that brought these beloved Springfield residents to life in a whole new way
Summary
The Simpsons has replaced at least fifteen voice actors throughout its 33-year run, due to reasons like actor deaths, concerns about diversity, and labor disputes.
In recent years, there have been efforts to promote diversity within the show, resulting in the recasting of characters such as Dr. Hibbert, Artie Ziff, and Carl Carlson. Although a few changes sparked controversy, the majority of these character recasts in The Simpsons were met with minimal backlash from fans.
The show, The Simpsons, which has been on the air for over 33 years, has a vast cast of thousands of characters. However, at least fifteen of these characters have had their voice actors changed for various reasons. Despite the early recasting of Moe and Mr. Burns, the show has had to replace voice actors multiple times due to actor deaths, concerns about diversity, and labor disputes. While some of these actors returned to their original roles, others were permanently recast. Although the retirement of certain characters like Apu and Maude Flanders caused controversy, most of the show’s recast characters have not sparked significant outcry.
15 Dr. Hibbert
14 Artie Ziff
In a move to address representation concerns, the creators of The Simpsons made a change regarding the portrayal of Dr. Hibbert. Harry Shearer, who had played the character for several decades, was replaced by Kevin Michael Richardson as the new voice of Dr. Hibbert starting from 2021. This decision sparked public discussion and debate, with Shearer expressing his disagreement with the character's recasting. Prior to his role as Dr. Hibbert, Kevin Michael Richardson had lent his voice to various animated shows such as The Boondocks, American Dad, and Rick and Morty.
Jon Lovitz, a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live, portrayed Artie Ziff, who was Marge's potential love interest, in almost all of his appearances on the show. Artie, who was rejected by Marge during their high school years, later became a millionaire in the tech industry. While Lovitz played Ziff in four significant episodes, he made a brief cameo in "The Front," episode 19 of season 4 of The Simpsons, and was voiced by Dan Castellaneta, the actor who plays Homer.
13 Carl Carlson
12 Julio Franco
: Carl Carlson, Homer's companion at the bar and a recurring character in plots centered around Moe's Tavern, has had his family history explored in two episodes. He was originally portrayed by Hank Azaria until 2020, when concerns were raised about the show's lack of diversity, prompting a recasting. Since then, Alex Désert has taken on the role of The Simpsons character. Interestingly, before the exploration of Carl's backstory, Harry Shearer played the character in two episodes prior to Azaria assuming the part.
Julio Franco, portrayed by Hank Azaria, was introduced as a gay character in The Simpsons season 14, episode 17, titled "Three Gays of the Condo." However, in 2020, the role was recast to prioritize diversity, considering that Azaria is not a gay actor. Tony Rodriguez has since taken over the voice acting for Julio in his appearances on the series from 2021 onwards.
11 Martin Prince/Sherri and Terri
Originally, the resident teacher’s pet of Springfield Elementary was portrayed by Russi Taylor, the voice actor known for bringing life to various characters such as both of Lisa’s twin frenemies Sherri and Terri. However, in 2019 Taylor passed away, resulting in her characters being temporarily written out of the show. Eventually, they made a triumphant return with their voices now being provided by the talented Grey DeLisle. Although Taylor is no longer with us, her legacy lives on, particularly through her iconic portrayal of Minnie Mouse.
10 Moe/Mr. Burns
The live-action adaptation of The Simpsons would face a major hurdle due to the multifaceted nature of the show's cast members, particularly the talented Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer. In a single scene, Azaria effortlessly switches between portraying the ill-tempered bartender Moe, while Shearer impeccably embodies the iconic role of the primary antagonist, Mr. Burns. Interestingly, these characters were originally voiced by Christopher Collins, a prominent figure in 1980s Saturday morning cartoons. Regrettably, due to creative differences with the show's creators, Collins departed from The Simpsons early on, necessitating the need for recasting these roles.
9 Mona Simpson
8 Bill Clinton
In an emotionally-gripping installment of The Simpsons, iconic actress Glenn Close portrayed Homer's estranged activist mother, Mona Simpson. Nevertheless, Close's portrayal of the character is not the sole rendition, as Tress MacNeille and Maggie Roswell have also assumed the role in two episodes where Close's presence wasn't necessary due to the limited significance of the character.
The Simpsons often poked fun at former US President Bill Clinton, but they didn't stick to just one voice actor for the role. Depending on the episode, Clinton was portrayed by Karl Wiedergott, Harry Shearer, or Phil Hartman. Hartman, who was known for his Clinton impression on Saturday Night Live, passed away prematurely, leading The Simpsons to bring in another impressionist.
7 Maude Flanders
6 Maggie
It is infamous that Maude Flanders was killed off on The Simpsons due to a breakdown in pay negotiations with her actor Maggie Roswell. Surprisingly, during Roswell's dispute, the character of Maude was temporarily voiced by Marcia Mitzman Gaven. The struggles between Roswell and the producers ultimately led to the recasting of the character, followed by her untimely demise.
While Nancy Cartwright typically provides the voice for Maggie's pre-verbal vocalizations, there was a particular instance in an early episode of The Simpsons where Carol Kane stepped in to voice Maggie during a fantasy sequence envisioned by Bart. Additionally, the iconic Elizabeth Taylor, a Hollywood legend, delivered Maggie's first official word in the heartwarming conclusion of season 4, episode 10 of The Simpsons titled "Lisa's First Word."
5 Bernice Hibbert
While The Simpsons season 34 marked a significant resurgence for the series, it also witnessed the show's ongoing efforts to address its previous missteps with miscast characters such as Dr. Hibbert and Carl. Initially voiced by Tress MacNeille for several decades, Bernice Hibbert, the wife of Dr. Hibbert, underwent a replacement in 2021 to ensure a more suitable voice portrayal. The character is now portrayed by Dawnn Lewis.
4 Fat Tony
Joe Mantegna has become synonymous with the portrayal of the mobster Fat Tony in The Simpsons. However, due to Mantegna's extensive acting career, the creators of the show had to seek an alternative actor to temporarily assume the role. In one of the episodes of season 7, the character was portrayed by Phil Hartman. Nonetheless, Mantegna has consistently resumed his portrayal of Fat Tony both before and after this occurrence.
3 Bleeding Gums Murphy
Originally portrayed by Ron Taylor, the tragic jazz musician Bleeding Gums Murphy continued to make on-screen appearances after Taylor's passing in 2002, with Kevin Michael Richardson taking over the role. Among the many comical side characters in the cartoon sitcom, Bleeding Gums Murphy's appearances consistently evoked heartfelt moments for The Simpsons.
2 Sophie Krustofsky
Drew Barrymore originally voiced Krusty's daughter, Sophie Krustofsky, but Natasha Lyonne now lends her voice to the character. The timing of this change is quite intriguing as Barrymore had just returned to The Simpsons in season 34 to portray herself in a few episodes before Lyonne took over the role of Sophie. The reason behind this switch remains unclear, considering the show was able to bring Barrymore back.
1 Lunchlady Doris
The role of Lunchlady Doris was initially portrayed by Doris Glau. However, after Glau's passing in 195, Tress MacNeille took over the role. It is worth mentioning that Glau also assumed a previous role in the series. The character of country singer Lurleen Lumpkin was originally played by Beverly D'Angelo, but Glau portrayed her in subsequent appearances on The Simpsons.
