Along with the Simpson family, The Simpsons includes a large array of characters: co-workers, teachers, family friends, extended relatives, townspeople, as well as local celebrities. The creators originally intended many of these characters as one-time jokesters or for fulfilling needed functions in the town. A number of them have gained expanded roles and subsequently starred in their own episodes. According to creator Matt Groening, the show adopted the concept of a large supporting cast from the Canadian sketch comedy show Second City Television.
The main episode characters, the Simpson family, are listed first; all other characters are listed in alphabetical order. Only main, supporting, and recurring characters are listed. For other recurring characters, see List of recurring The Simpsons characters.
Characters Character Voice actor(s) Character's role Episode debut Original air datesHomer Simpson Dan Castellaneta Husband of Marge; father of Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. He is lazy, unintelligent and often eats donuts, which are his favorite food. He works in a nuclear power plant. His mother Mona left him and his father Abe when he was younger, and he later gets to reunite with her until her death. "Good Night" 1987-04-19Marge Simpson Julie Kavner Wife of Homer; mother of Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. She is kind-hearted and stays at home as a housewife. Her father Clancy died when her children Bart and Lisa are 7 and 5 years old and she is of French origin like him. "Good Night" 1987-04-19 Bart Simpson Nancy Cartwright Oldest child and only son of Homer and Marge; brother of Lisa and Maggie. He thinks of himself as a destructive "bad boy" who is rebellious and mischievous to a fault. Enjoys pulling pranks. "Good Night" 1987-04-19 Lisa Simpson Yeardley Smith Middle child and elder daughter of Homer and Marge; sister of Bart and Maggie. She is intelligent and plays with her saxophone, she is two years younger than her older brother Bart. "Good Night" 1987-04-19 Maggie Simpson Liz Georges, Gábor Csupó, Harry Shearer, Yeardley Smith, Nancy Cartwright, Elizabeth Taylor, James Earl Jones, Jodie Foster, Kevin Michael Richardson, Amy Sedaris, Lindsay Lohan Youngest child and younger daughter of Homer and Marge; sister of Bart and Lisa. She does not talk. "Good Night" 1987-04-19 Kumiko Albertson Tress MacNeille (2014–2020), Jenny Yokobori (2021–present) Japanese artist and the wife of Comic Book Guy. "Married to the Blob" 2014-01-12 Tress MacNeille, Maggie Roswell Sunday school teacher. "The Telltale Head" 1990-02-25 Harry Shearer, Dan Castellaneta Grampa's closest neighbor at the Retirement Castle. "Homer's Odyssey" 1990-02-04 Benjamin, Doug, and Gary Dan Castellaneta, Hank Azaria, and Harry Shearer Springfield University students. "Homer Goes to College" 1993-10-14 Bill and Marty Dan Castellaneta and Harry Shearer KBBL Radio co-hosts. "Bart vs. Thanksgiving" 1990-11-22 Blinky Unvoiced Three-eyed fish. "Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish" 1990-11-01 Blue-Haired LawyerGimple, p. 86 Dan Castellaneta Attorney. "Bart Gets Hit by a Car" 1991-01-10 Booberella Tress MacNeille Host of late night TV monster movies. "I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can" 2003-02-16 Russi Taylor, Tress MacNeille, Pamela Hayden, Grey DeLisle-Griffin Student at Springfield Elementary School. "Homer's Odyssey" 1990-01-21 Clancy Bouvier Harry Shearer The chain-smoking husband of Jacqueline; father of Marge, Patty, and Selma, and grandfather of Ling. He was of French origin. He died when his grandchildren Bart and Lisa are 7 and 5 years old and prior to the original series. "The Way We Was" 1991-01-31 Julie Kavner Mother of Selma and Patty and Marge, Grandmother of Bart, Lisa, Maggie and Ling. She is now a widower after her husband Clancy died when her grandchildren Bart and Lisa are 7 and 5 years old. "Bart vs. Thanksgiving" 1990-11-22 Julie Kavner Twin sister of Selma and older sister of Marge. Like her twin Selma, she can be seen smoking. "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" 1989-12-17 Julie Kavner Twin sister of Patty and older sister of Marge. Adoptive mother of Ling. Like her twin Patty, she can be seen smoking. She is single, but she adopted a Chinese little girl named Ling. "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" 1989-12-17 Harry Shearer Channel 6 News anchor. "Krusty Gets Busted" 1990-04-29 Bumblebee Man Hank Azaria (1992–2020), Eric Lopez (2020–present) Star of slapstick sketch comedy show on Canal Ocho. "Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie" 1992-11-03 Chazz Busby Hank Azaria Owner of Chazz Busby Ballet Academy. "Smoke on the Daughter" 2008-03-30 Christopher Collins (early season 1), Harry Shearer Owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" 1989-12-17 Capital City Goofball Tom Poston Mascot of the Capital City Capitals baseball team. "Dancin' Homer" 1990-11-08 Hank Azaria (1990–2020) Alex Désert (2020–present) Springfield Nuclear Power Plant employee; one of Homer Simpson's friends. "Homer's Night Out" 1990-03-25 Crazy Cat Lady