Since 1989, Harry Shearer has voiced multiple characters on The Simpsons, including Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, and Principal Skinner. In a recent interview with The i Paper, the actor acknowledged the animated sitcom’s “up and down” quality over the past 20 years and admitted he doesn’t keep up with the show.
In response to writer Shaun Curran’s suggestion that the show’s 1990s peak has “aged remarkably well,” Shearer said, “I don’t know. I haven’t seen it.”
When it was pointed out that the show is on TV “all the time,” he replied, “That’s what I hear! But it’s good to hear you say that.”
Shearer’s voice has appeared in over 800 Simpsons episodes, according to IMDb. Other notable characters include Waylon Smithers, Reverend Lovejoy, Kent Brockman, and Dr. Julius Hibbert until 2021.
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While the Spinal Tap star has openly criticized The Simpsons’ inconsistent quality and engaged in tense contract negotiations over the years, he also pushed back against rumors that he wants out.
“I still enjoy playing all these characters,” he said. “It was the reason I did this instead of some other television show where you’re pretty much limited to one character. I liked the idea of the variety of characters, and I still like that.
That being said, Shearer is nostalgic for the early days, when all the voice actors recorded together in the same room. “Normal animation is always done one part at a time, so you’re never hearing what the other actors are saying,” he explained. “It was appealing to be doing what I regard as real acting, which is hearing the other performer and taking that into account in your performance.”
Season 37 of The Simpsons is currently airing, with a second movie set to arrive on September 3rd, 2027. You can watch the first 36 seasons on Disney+, with newer episodes streaming on Hulu.
For more, revisit our oral history of the classic Simpsons episode “Homerpalooza,” and check out our 2018 interview with Shearer about his solo album as his Spinal Tap character Derek Smalls.
