15 Voice Actor Changes in The Simpsons

The Simpsons: A Recap of Character Voice Recasts

“The Simpsons,” a long-running animated comedy series, has featured a diverse range of characters voiced by a core group of actors. Over its 33-year run, the show has replaced voice actors for at least fifteen characters due to various reasons, including actor deaths, diversity concerns, and labor disputes. Here’s a recap of the recast characters and the reasons behind the changes:

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15. Dr. Hibbert

Originally voiced by Harry Shearer, Dr. Hibbert’s voice actor was changed to Kevin Michael Richardson in 2021 to address concerns about having a white actor voice a character of color.

14. Artie Ziff

Jon Lovitz initially voiced Artie Ziff, Marge’s romantic interest. However, Dan Castellaneta briefly voiced the character in a cameo appearance.

13. Carl Carlson

Hank Azaria voiced Carl until 2020 when concerns about diversity led to his recasting. Alex Désert has been voicing Carl since then.

12. Julio Franco

Originally voiced by Hank Azaria, Julio’s character was recast with Tony Rodriguez due to concerns about diversity in 2020.

11. Martin Prince/Sherri and Terri

Russi Taylor originally voiced Martin Prince and the twins Sherri and Terri. After her passing, Grey DeLisle took over their roles.

10. Moe/Mr. Burns

Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer took over the roles of Moe and Mr. Burns, respectively, after Christopher Collins left due to disputes.

9. Mona Simpson

Glenn Close, Tress MacNeille, and Maggie Roswell have all voiced Mona Simpson in different episodes.

8. Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton’s character was voiced by Karl Wiedergott, Harry Shearer, or Phil Hartman based on the episode’s requirements.

7. Maude Flanders

Maggie Roswell briefly voiced Maude Flanders during a pay dispute, and Marcia Mitzman Gaven voiced her for a short time.

6. Maggie

Nancy Cartwright usually voices Maggie’s sounds, but Carol Kane and Elizabeth Taylor provided Maggie’s voice for specific scenes.

5. Bernice Hibbert

Tress MacNeille originally voiced Bernice Hibbert, but the role was recast with Dawnn Lewis in 2021.

4. Fat Tony

Joe Mantegna primarily voiced Fat Tony, but Phil Hartman once filled in for an episode.

3. Bleeding Gums Murphy

After Ron Taylor’s passing, Kevin Michael Richardson took over the voice of Bleeding Gums Murphy.

2. Sophie Krustofsky

Drew Barrymore initially voiced Sophie Krustofsky, and Natasha Lyonne later took over the role.

1. Lunchlady Doris

Doris Glau originally voiced Lunchlady Doris, with the role later taken over by Tress MacNeille after Glau’s passing.

While some character changes caused controversy, such as the case of Apu and Maude Flanders, many of the recast characters in “The Simpsons” did not receive significant backlash from fans. The show continues to evolve and adapt to ensure diversity and creative flexibility in its character portrayals.