Hank Azaria

Henry Albert Azaria, born April 25, 1964, is an American actor and producer. He is best known for voicing a wide array of characters on the animated television series The Simpsons since 1989, including Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, Superintendent Chalmers, Comic Book Guy, Professor Frink, and Duffman. Alongside his voice work, Azaria has built a extensive career in live-action film, television series, and Broadway theater.

Azaria was raised in the Queens borough of New York City by his parents, Ruth and Albert Azaria. His family spoke Ladino at home, reflecting his Sephardic Jewish ancestry from Salonika and Bergama. He developed an interest in acting as a teenager after participating in a school play at The Kew-Forest School. Azaria studied drama at Tufts University from 1981 to 1985, where he met fellow actor Oliver Platt, and later trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles to pursue professional acting opportunities.

His early career developed gradually through minor screen roles and stage work. Azaria made his television debut in 1986 with a small part in the pilot episode of Joe Bash, though his line was cut prior to broadcast. To support himself while taking acting lessons from Roy London, Azaria performed stand-up comedy and worked as a bartender and busboy. During this period, he secured guest appearances on series such as Family Ties and Growing Pains, as well as a role in the television movie Nitti: The Enforcer.

In 1989, Azaria joined The Simpsons with minimal voice-acting experience, initially auditioning for the role of Moe Szyslak. His performance led to additional voices, including Chief Wiggum and Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, and he became a permanent cast member by the show's second season. He has earned four Primetime Emmy Awards for his voice performances on the series and reprised his roles in the 2007 feature film The Simpsons Movie. In 2020, Azaria ceased voicing the characters Apu and Carl Carlson over concerns regarding racial stereotypes.

In addition to his animated roles, Azaria expanded into live-action television and feature films. He appeared in films such as Quiz Show, Heat, Godzilla, and The Birdcage, earning a Screen Actors Guild Award for the latter, and won an Annie Award for his voice work in Anastasia. On television, he starred in the sitcom Herman's Head, had recurring roles on Friends and Mad About You, and earned Primetime Emmy Awards for his roles in Tuesdays with Morrie and Ray Donovan. He also starred in the series Huff and Brockmire, and made his Broadway debut in Spamalot, receiving a Tony Award nomination.