Editing Hank Azaria (section)

==Career==
===Early career (1986–1988)===
Azaria got along with talent agent Harry Gold, who was lukewarm about working with him but still sent him out for auditions after a woman Azaria had worked with in New York "got really furious with [Gold]" for breaking his promise to work with Azaria.<ref name=avclub /> He made his television debut with a role in the pilot episode of the 1986 [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] comedy-drama series ''[[Joe Bash]]''.<ref name=godzilla /><ref name=msn /> His part—a one-line role as the police officer Maldonado—was edited out before the show was broadcast, although the role secured him admission to the [[Screen Actors Guild]].<ref name=avclub /> Azaria appeared in the TV film ''Nitti: The Enforcer'', about the gangster [[Frank Nitti]], and appeared in the failed pilot ''Morning Maggie'' alongside [[Matthew Perry]], with whom he became good friends.<ref name=avclub /> He played Joe in an episode of the sitcom ''[[Family Ties]]'' in 1988 in which he had one line, and the following year he played Steve Stevenson in an episode of ''[[Growing Pains]]''.<ref name=avclub>{{cite news |url=https://www.avclub.com/articles/hank-azaria,61696/1/ |title=Random Roles – Hank Azaria |author=Harris, Will |date=September 14, 2011 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |archive-date=September 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925104035/http://www.avclub.com/articles/hank-azaria,61696/1/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Azaria has described his career progression as being gradual; he did not achieve overnight recognition or fame.<ref name=freshair /> In Los Angeles, Azaria was trained by acting coach [[Roy London]].<ref name=awards /> Between acting jobs he performed as a stand-up comedian,<ref name=msn /> and worked as a bartender for a catering firm.<ref name=godzilla>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-20-ca-51549-story.html |title=He Faced the Lizard and Lived to Tell |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 20, 1998 |author=Smith, Steven |access-date=September 22, 2011}}</ref>

===''The Simpsons'' (since 1989)===
Azaria is known for his voice work in the ongoing animated television series ''[[The Simpsons]]''. He joined the show having previously performed only one voice acting job—as the titular animated dog in the failed [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] pilot ''Hollywood Dog'', a show he described as "sort of [[Who Framed Roger Rabbit|Roger Rabbit]]-esque, where the dog was animated, but everybody else was real."<ref name=msn/> The first voice he performed on ''The Simpsons'' was that of town bartender [[Moe Szyslak]], replacing [[Christopher Collins]] who had initially recorded the character's voice. Having known him from ''Hollywood Dog'', casting director [[Bonita Pietila]] called Azaria and asked him to audition for the voice of Moe.<ref name=msn/> At the time he was performing the role of a drug dealer in a play, utilizing a voice based on [[Al Pacino]]'s performance in the film ''[[Dog Day Afternoon]]''. He used the voice in his audition for ''The Simpsons'' and, at the request of the show's executive producers [[Matt Groening]] and [[Sam Simon]], made the voice more "gravelly". Groening and Simon thought the resultant voice was ideal for Moe and took Azaria over to the Fox recording studio. Before he had even seen a script, he recorded several lines of dialogue as Moe for the episode "[[Some Enchanted Evening (The Simpsons)|Some Enchanted Evening]]", [[Dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbing]] Collins' voice.<ref name=freshair>{{cite interview |last=Azaria |first=Hank |interviewer=[[Terry Gross]] |title=Fresh Air |work=[[National Public Radio]] |publisher=[[WHYY-FM]] |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4679119 |location=Philadelphia |date=December 6, 2004 |access-date=August 15, 2007}}</ref><ref name=avclub/><ref name=barber/><ref>{{cite video |people=Silverman, David |date=2001 |title=The Simpsons season 1 DVD commentary for the episode "Some Enchanted Evening" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>

Azaria did not expect to hear from the show again, but they continued to call him back, first to perform the voice of [[Chief Wiggum]] and then [[Apu Nahasapeemapetilon]].<ref name="freshair" /> He felt that, initially, "[the producers] didn't seem too pleased with what I had done...[Simon] was very exacting...[and] was kind of impatiently directing me on the ABCs of comedy. But then, much to my surprise, he would still keep having me back every week. But each week, I thought it was going to be my last week because I really didn't think I had done that well."<ref name="avclub" /> Nevertheless, by the show's [[The Simpsons season 2|second season]] he was performing multiple recurring voices and so was given a contract and made a permanent member of the main cast.<ref name="freshair" /> Since he joined later than the rest of the cast, Groening still considered Azaria the "new guy".<ref>{{cite video |people=Groening, Matt |date=2001 |title=The Simpsons The Complete First Season DVD commentary for the episode "[[Some Enchanted Evening (The Simpsons)|Some Enchanted Evening]]" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> In addition to Moe, Wiggum and Apu, Azaria provides the voices of [[Comic Book Guy]], [[Lenny and Carl#Carl Carlson|Carl Carlson]] (until season 32, now voiced by [[Alex Désert]]), [[Cletus Spuckler]], [[Professor Frink]], Dr. [[Nick Riviera]], [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Lou|Lou]], [[Snake Jailbird]], [[Kirk Van Houten]], [[Bumblebee Man]], [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Sea Captain|the Sea Captain]], [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Superintendent Chalmers|Superintendent Chalmers]], [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Disco Stu|Disco Stu]], [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Duffman|Duffman]], [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Wiseguy|the Wiseguy]], and numerous guest characters.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McCann |first1=Jesse L. |last2=Groening |first2=Matt |title=[[The Simpsons Beyond Forever!: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family ...Still Continued]] |year=2002 |publisher=Harper Collins Publishers |isbn=0-06-050592-3 |pages=116 }}</ref> His co-star in ''The Simpsons'', [[Nancy Cartwright]], wrote that: "The thing about Hank that I most remember is that he started out so unassuming and then, little by little, his abilities were revealed and his contributions to the show escalated. I realized Hank was going to be our breakaway star."<ref>{{cite book|title=[[My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy]]|publisher=[[Hyperion (publisher)|Hyperion]]|year=2000|isbn=0-7868-8600-5|location=New York City|page=[https://archive.org/details/mylifeastenyearo00nanc/page/95 95]|author=Cartwright, Nancy|author-link=Nancy Cartwright}}</ref>

As Moe's voice is based on Al Pacino's, likewise many of Azaria's other recurring characters are based on existing sources. He took Apu's voice from the many Indian and Pakistani convenience store workers in Los Angeles that he had interacted with when he first moved to the area, and also loosely based it on [[Peter Sellers]]' character Hrundi V. Bakshi from the film ''[[The Party (1968 film)|The Party]]''.<ref name="freshair" /> Originally, it was thought that Apu being Indian was too offensive and stereotyped, but after Azaria's reading of the line "Hello, Mr. Homer", which the show's producers thought was hilarious, the character stayed.<ref name="msn" /><ref name="tvguide">{{cite news |title=Flash! 24 Simpsons Stars Reveal Themselves |url=http://simpsonsarchive.com/other/articles/flash.html |date=October 21, 2000 |work=[[TV Guide]] |first=Joe |last=Rhodes}}</ref> Azaria, however, disputed this on ''LateNet with [[Ray Ellin]]'', claiming that Apu was always intended to be stereotypical.<ref name="ellin">{{cite interview|subject=Azaria, Hank |interviewer=[[Ray Ellin]] |title=Hank Azaria on LateNet with Ray Ellin |url=http://www.dailycomedy.com/joke/10559 |work=LateNet with Ray Ellin |publisher=Daily Comedy |date=December 5, 2007 |access-date=April 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409175439/http://www.dailycomedy.com/joke/10559 |archive-date=April 9, 2008 }}</ref> Chief Wiggum's voice was originally a parody of [[David Brinkley]], but when Azaria was told it was too slow, he switched it to that of [[Edward G. Robinson]].<ref name="tvguide" /> Officer Lou is based on [[Sylvester Stallone]],<ref name="barber" /> and Dr. Nick is "a bad [[Ricky Ricardo]] impression."<ref>{{cite video |people=Azaria, Hank |date=2004 |title=The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode "[[Homer's Triple Bypass]]" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The "[[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Wiseguy|Wise Guy]]" voice is "basically [[Charles Bronson]],"<ref name="barber">{{cite video |people=Azaria, Hank |date=2004 |title=The Simpsons The Complete Fifth Season DVD commentary for the episode "[[Homer's Barbershop Quartet]]" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> while Carl is "a silly voice [Azaria] always did."<ref name="enemy" /> Two of the voices come from his time at college: Snake's is based on Azaria's old college roommate, while Comic Book Guy's voice is based on a student who lived in the room next door to Azaria and went by the name "F".<ref name="barber" /> Professor Frink is based on [[Jerry Lewis]]' performance in the original ''[[The Nutty Professor (1963 film)|The Nutty Professor]]'', and the Sea Captain is based on English actor [[Robert Newton]]'s portrayal of many pirates.<ref name="tvguide" /> Azaria based his performance for the one-time character [[Frank Grimes (Simpsons Character)|Frank Grimes]], from the episode "[[Homer's Enemy]]", on actor [[William H. Macy]]. He counts Grimes as the hardest, most emotional performance he has ever had to give in the history of ''The Simpsons''.<ref name="enemy">{{cite video |people=Azaria, Hank |date=2006 |title=The Simpsons The Complete Eighth Season DVD commentary for the episode "[[Homer's Enemy]]" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>

Azaria's work on the show has won him four Emmy Awards for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance|Outstanding Voice-Over Performance]], in 1998, 2001, 2003 and 2015. He was also nominated for the award in 2009 and 2010, but lost to co-star [[Dan Castellaneta]] and guest star [[Anne Hathaway]] respectively. He was nominated again in 2012.<ref name="emmys">{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.org/awards/awardsearch.php |title=Primetime Emmy Awards Advanced Search |publisher=Emmys.org |access-date=June 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080330160256/http://www.emmys.org/awards/awardsearch.php |archive-date=March 30, 2008 }}</ref> Azaria, with the rest of the principal cast, reprised all of his voice roles from ''The Simpsons'' for the 2007 film ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2006/film/features/homer-going-to-bat-in-07-1117940840/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100103100504/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117940840.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |url-status=live |archive-date=January 3, 2010 |title=Homer going to bat in '07 |access-date=August 16, 2007 |date=April 2, 2006 |first=Michael |last=Fleming |work=Variety }}</ref> Azaria notes that he spends "an embarrassingly small amount of time working on ''The Simpsons.''"<ref name="wales" /> He works for "an hour on Thursdays when we read through the script, then four hours on Monday when we record it, and I'll pop in again once or twice."<ref name="wales" /> He concludes it is "the best job in the world, as far as I'm concerned."<ref name="wales">{{cite news |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/film-in-wales/2009/05/22/hank-azaria-s-million-dollar-voice-91466-23688517/ |title=Hank Azaria's million dollar voice |publisher=[[Media Wales]] |work=Wales Online |date=May 22, 2009 |access-date=July 8, 2011}}</ref>

Up until 1998, Azaria was paid $30,000 per episode. Azaria and the five other main ''The Simpsons'' voice actors were then involved in a pay dispute in which Fox threatened to replace them with new actors and went as far as preparing for the casting of new voices. However, the issue was soon resolved and from 1998 to 2004, they received $125,000 per episode. In 2004, the voice actors intentionally skipped several script [[read-through]]s, demanding they be paid $360,000 per episode.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/02/1080544690429.html |title=Simpsons actors demand bigger share |access-date=February 9, 2008 |date=April 3, 2004 |first=Dan |last=Glaister |work=The Age |location=Australia}}</ref> The strike was resolved a month later,<ref>{{cite news |title='Simpsons' Cast Goes Back To Work |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/simpsons-cast-goes-back-to-work/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080913212830/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/01/entertainment/main615066.shtml |url-status=live |archive-date=September 13, 2008 |access-date=February 9, 2008 |date=May 1, 2004 |work=[[CBS News]]}}</ref> with Azaria's pay increasing to something between $250,000<ref>{{cite news |title=Meet the Simpsons |date=May 6, 2004 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|Daily Express]] |first=Peter |last=Sheridan}}</ref> and $360,000 per episode.<ref name="2008actors">{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Schneider |title=Still no deal for 'Simpsons' cast |work=Variety |date=May 19, 2008 |url=https://variety.com/2008/digital/markets-festivals/still-no-deal-for-simpsons-cast-1117986121/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525194610/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117986121.html?categoryId=14&cs=1 |url-status=live |archive-date=May 25, 2012 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> In 2008, production for the [[The Simpsons season 20|twentieth season]] was put on hold due to new contract negotiations with the voice actors, who wanted a "healthy bump" in salary.<ref name="2008actors" /> The dispute was later resolved, and Azaria and the rest of the cast received their requested pay raise, approximately $400,000 per episode.<ref>{{cite news |title=Simpsons cast sign new pay deal |work=BBC News |date=June 3, 2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7434296.stm |access-date=February 15, 2009}}</ref> Three years later, with Fox threatening to cancel the series unless production costs were cut, Azaria and the other cast members accepted a 30 percent pay cut, down to just over $300,000 per episode.<ref>{{cite news |last=Block |first=Alex Ben |title='The Simpsons' Renewed for Two More Seasons |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/simpsons-renewed-two-more-seasons-245748 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=October 15, 2011 |date=October 7, 2011}}</ref>

In an April 24, 2018 appearance on ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]'', Azaria discussed his reaction to ''[[The Problem with Apu]]'', a 2017 documentary by [[Hari Kondabolu]] that examined Azaria and other white actors who had played [[South Asia]]n roles as [[Stereotypes of South Asians|stereotypes]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/arts/television/apu-the-simpsons.html|title=Hank Azaria Offers to Stop Voicing Apu on 'The Simpsons' After Criticism|last=Haag|first=Matthew|date=April 25, 2018|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=May 11, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> During the interview, Azaria described how watching the documentary had changed his perspective on the issue: "The idea that anyone, young or old, past or present, was bullied or teased based on the character of Apu, it just really makes me sad."<ref name=":0" /> Azaria also offered to stop voicing the character: "I'm perfectly willing and happy to step aside, or help transition it into something new."<ref name=":0" /> In response, Kondabolu tweeted his appreciation for Azaria's statement: "Thank you, @HankAzaria. I appreciate what you said & how you said it." In early 2020, Azaria announced that he was stepping away from the Apu character, primarily because of the stereotypes and bias it perpetuated.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/25/arts/hank-azaria-simpsons-apu.html|title=Why Hank Azaria Won't Play Apu on 'The Simpsons' Anymore|date=February 25, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 25, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Later in the year he would retire from voicing Carl for similar reasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/the-simpsons-carl-voice-alex-desert-hank-azaria-1234782691/|title='The Simpsons' Season Premiere: Here's Who Took Over Carl's Voice From Hank Azaria (EXCLUSIVE)|first=Michael|last=Schneider|work=Variety|date=September 24, 2020|access-date=September 24, 2020}}</ref> In April 2021, Azaria formally apologized for voicing the Apu character, on [[Dax Shepard|Dax Shepherd]]'s podcast.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-04-13|title=The Simpsons: Hank Azaria apologises for voicing Indian character Apu|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-56731420|access-date=2021-04-13}}</ref>

===Further career (since 1991)===

====Television work====
[[File:Hank Azaria (25729757142) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Hank Azaria in 2016]]
With the continuing success of ''The Simpsons'', Azaria began taking on other, principally live-action roles. He was a main cast member on the show ''[[Herman's Head]]'' (1991–1994) playing Jay Nichols, alongside ''The Simpsons'' co-star [[Yeardley Smith]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Herman's Head |author=Lewisohn, Mark |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/h/hermanshead_1299001449.shtml |access-date=August 16, 2007 |work=BBC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040212000254/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/h/hermanshead_1299001449.shtml |archive-date=February 12, 2004}}</ref> He regularly recorded for ''The Simpsons'' and filmed ''Herman's Head'' during the same day.<ref name=Worcester/> Following the series' cancellation Azaria unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of [[Joey Tribbiani]], one of the lead characters in the sitcom ''[[Friends]]''.<ref name=avclub/> He was instead cast in the role of the scientist David, one of [[Phoebe Buffay]] ([[Lisa Kudrow]])'s boyfriends in the series. He appeared in the show's tenth episode "[[The One with the Monkey]]", before the character left for a research trip in [[Minsk]]. He reprised the role in the show's [[Friends season 7|seventh season]] (2001), before making several appearances in the [[Friends season 9|ninth]] (2003). This return culminates in David proposing to Phoebe; she rejects him, and David leaves the show for good.<ref name=avclub/><ref name=awards/> From 1995 to 1999, Azaria had a recurring role in the sitcom ''[[Mad About You]]'' as Nat Ostertag, the dog walker.<ref name="parents"/> Azaria was nominated for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series]] for his roles in both ''Mad About You'' (in 1998) and ''Friends'' (in 2003).<ref name="emmys"/> Azaria had the lead role in the short-lived sitcom ''[[If Not for You (TV series)|If Not for You]]'' in 1995, playing record producer Craig Schaeffer.<ref name=newsday>{{cite news |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/take-5-hank-for-the-memories-1.3154858 |title=Take 5: Hank for the memories |work=Newsday |author=Edelstein, Anthony |date=September 8, 2011 |access-date=September 8, 2011}}</ref>

Azaria produced and starred in the sitcom ''[[Imagine That (TV series)|Imagine That]]'' in 2002, replacing ''[[Emeril (TV series)|Emeril]]'' mid-season in the [[NBC]] lineup. He played Josh Miller, a comedy writer, who "transformed" each episode into a character Miller has imagined, "provid[ing] a humorous outlet for his frustrations at home and work".<ref name=faces/><ref>{{cite news |title=Funny guy Azaria gets his own show |work=[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |date=January 7, 2002 |first=Jill |last=Vejnoska |page=D1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=NBC yanks 'Emeril,' inserts 'Hank Azaria' – But future of replacement isn't too secure |work=[[The Deseret News]] |author=Pierce, Scott D. |date=December 6, 2001 |page=C08}}</ref> Production closed after five episodes and it was canceled after just two aired, due to poor critical reaction and ratings.<ref>{{cite news |title=Too-weak 'Imagine That' yanked after two weeks |date=January 21, 2002 |work=Houston Chronicle |page=3}}</ref> Azaria later commented on the show: "I wanted to do something really truthful and interesting and impactful. We had a bunch of executives sitting in the room, all agreeing that ''[[The Larry Sanders Show]]'' was our favorite thing on television, but we couldn't do it on NBC, and nor would we want to from a business standpoint; it simply wouldn't make enough money. By the time it aired, the writing was sort of on the wall, and I don't blame them at all. It was apparent it wasn't working."<ref name=msn/>

He starred as [[psychiatrist]] Craig "Huff" Huffstodt in the [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] drama series ''[[Huff (TV series)|Huff]]'', which ran for two seasons between 2004 and 2006, airing 24 episodes.<ref name=essential/><ref name=huffend/> Azaria served as an executive producer on the show and directed an episode of its second season.<ref name=mania>{{cite news |title=Playing Huff |url=http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/7960 |access-date=August 15, 2007 |date=March 31, 2006 |author=Lipton, Brian Scott |work=Theater Mania |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070718130602/http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/7960 |archive-date=July 18, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After reading the pilot script, he sent it to Platt, who took the role of Huff's friend Russell Tupper.<ref name=nyt/> Azaria enjoyed working on the show,<ref name=mania/> but struggled with the bleak subject matter and was often in dispute with its creator Bob Lowry, noting that it "was tough to marry our visions all the time, [because] we both cared so much about it that neither of us were willing to let go."<ref name=avclub/> [[Gillian Flynn]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' called Azaria "impressively subtle" in the role,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2004/11/05/huff/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126193603/http://www.ew.com/article/2004/11/05/huff |url-status=live |archive-date=November 26, 2015 |title=Huff |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=November 5, 2004 |access-date=August 1, 2011 |author=Flynn, Gillian}}</ref> while [[John Leonard (critic)|John Leonard]] of ''[[New York (magazine)|New York magazine]]'' said he was a "shrewd bit of casting."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/tv/reviews/10261/ |title=Crazy/Dutiful |author=Leonard, John |work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |date=May 21, 2005 |access-date=August 1, 2011}}</ref> The show garnered seven [[Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy]] nominations in 2005, including a nomination for Azaria for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]].<ref name="emmys"/> Despite the awards, the show continually received low ratings, and Showtime chose not to commission it for a third season.<ref name=huffend>{{cite news|title=Showtime Stops 'Huff'-ing |url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-huffcancellation,0,3078116.story?coll=zap-news-headlines |access-date=August 15, 2007 |date=June 23, 2006 |work=Zap2it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012152321/http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-huffcancellation%2C0%2C3078116.story?coll=zap-news-headlines |archive-date=October 12, 2007 }}</ref>

Returning to live-action television in 2011, Azaria starred in the NBC sitcom ''[[Free Agents (American TV series)|Free Agents]]'', a remake of the British [[Free Agents|series of the same name]]. He played Alex Taylor, a recently divorced public relations executive "who is missing his kids and trying to keep himself together", and ends up sleeping with a co-worker Helen Ryan ([[Kathryn Hahn]]).<ref name=nbcbio>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbc.com/free-agents/about/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129143744/http://www.nbc.com/free-agents/about/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 29, 2013 |title=About the Show |publisher=[[NBC.com]] |access-date=September 14, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/05/13/chelsea-handler-nbc/ |title=Chelsea Handler's sitcom gets greenlight at NBC |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=May 14, 2011 |author=Hibberd, James |date=May 13, 2011}}</ref> Azaria also served as a producer on the show.<ref name=avclub/> He was apprehensive about the project, disliking the lengthy schedule required of a lead actor in a single-camera series, and favoring the "sensibility" of cable shows. However, he liked the script and executive producer John Enbom's previous series ''[[Party Down]]'' and decided to accept the part.<ref name=sunday>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-sep-11-la-ca-conversation-20110911-story.html |title=The Sunday Conversation: Hank Azaria |work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 11, 2011 |access-date=September 14, 2011 |author=Lacher, Irene}}</ref> Despite Azaria mounting a campaign on [[Twitter]] to save it,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hankazaria-idUSTRE7945WR20111005 |title=Hank Azaria mounts Twitter campaign to save "Free Agents" |work=Reuters |access-date=October 6, 2011 |author=Molloy, Tom |date=October 5, 2011}}</ref> the series was canceled after four episodes due to low ratings.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/free-agents-canceled-by-nbc/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723061354/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20116777-10391698.html |url-status=live |archive-date=July 23, 2012 |title="Free Agents" canceled by NBC |author=Derschowitz, Jessica |date=October 6, 2011 |publisher=[[CBS News]] |access-date=October 6, 2011}}</ref> Between 2014 and 2016, Azaria had a recurring role in the second, third and fourth season of Showtime's ''[[Ray Donovan]]'', playing [[FBI]] agent Ed Cochran.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/showtimes-ray-donovan-adds-hank-677506|title=Showtime's 'Ray Donovan' Adds Hank Azaria for Season 2|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|author=Goldberg, Lesley|date=February 5, 2014|access-date=February 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/emmys-hank-azaria-ray-donovan-000000888.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFFwNp8WSRzN116zamuZB1ANcW49SZrM2WX-xEezUA1fl2iX8ooq26LcXjOaZOra-klQZOTi698w4YUWBoKCRYRIwMUD6Hhbf3eGboVzvBht-DQ7GRCsrvsfVEDkxFL50prmDZmjkgnY4swvHrkB51jZBfMxx0yBOcK0_sDiLP0X|title=Emmy Talk: Hank Azaria on the Fun of Playing His Disgraced 'Ray Donovan' FBI Agent, Ed Cochran|publisher=Yahoo! Entertainment|accessdate=2024-02-18|date=2016-08-26|author=Potts, Kimberly}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/awards-chatter-podcast-hank-azaria-921789/|publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|author=Feinberg, Scott|accessdate=2024-02-18|title=Awards Chatter' Podcast — Hank Azaria ('Ray Donovan')|date=2016-08-24}}</ref> He won the Emmy for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series]] for his work on the show in 2016, as well as earning a further nomination the same category the following year.<ref name=azariaemmy/>

Azaria starred in the [[IFC (U.S. TV network)|IFC]] series ''[[Brockmire]]'', which ran for four seasons from 2017-2020.<ref name="SeriesOrder">{{cite web|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|title=IFC Orders Comedy Series 'Brockmire,' 'Stan Against Evil' From Hank Azaria, Dana Gould|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/ifc-hank-azaria-brockmire-dana-gould-comedy-series-1201711803/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=February 22, 2016|access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Schwartz|first=Ryan|title=Brockmire to End With Future-Set Season 4 — Plus: Who's Returning? |url=https://tvline.com/2019/12/12/brockmire-ending-final-season-4/|work=[[TVLine]]|date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> He played the lead role of Jim Brockmire, a legendary baseball announcer, fired for a profanity-filled breakdown live on air after discovering his wife Lucy Brockmire ([[Katie Finneran]]) was having an affair. Azaria based the voice and style of Brockmire on several veteran sportscasters, including [[Bob Murphy (announcer)|Bob Murphy]] and [[Phil Rizzuto]].<ref name=brock1>{{cite interview |last=Azaria |first=Hank |interviewer=[[Dan Patrick (sportscaster)|Dan Patrick]] |title=Hank Azaria talks about the legend of Jim Brockmire |work=[[The Dan Patrick Show]] |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/blog/109541/index.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100509204941/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/blog/109541/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 9, 2010 |location=[[Milford, Connecticut]] |date=May 6, 2010 |access-date=September 6, 2012}}</ref> The character originated as part of the third episode of the [[Funny or Die]] web-series ''Gamechangers'', entitled "A Legend in the Booth", which Azaria also co-wrote.<ref name=brock1/> He subsequently appeared as Brockmire on the [[NFL Network]]'s ''[[Rich Eisen|The Rich Eisen Podcast]]'' to discuss the [[National Football League]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Eisen |first=Rich |url=http://richeisen.nfl.com/2012/09/05/rich-eisen-podcast-michael-lombardi-afc-south-preview-and-jim-brockmire/ |title=Rich Eisen Podcast: Michael Lombardi AFC South preview and Jim Brockmire |date=September 5, 2012 |access-date=September 6, 2012 |work=NFL.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912045456/http://richeisen.nfl.com/2012/09/05/rich-eisen-podcast-michael-lombardi-afc-south-preview-and-jim-brockmire/ |archive-date=September 12, 2012 }}</ref> In November 2012, Azaria sued actor [[Craig Bierko]] over the ownership of the Brockmire voice.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://news-briefs.ew.com/2012/11/16/hank-azaria-sues-over-a-character-voice/ |title=Hank Azaria sues over a character voice |author=Strecker, Erin |date=November 16, 2012 |access-date=November 17, 2012 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> The case was ruled in Azaria's favor in 2014. Both actors had been using a baseball announcer voice before and since meeting at a party in 1990, but US district judge [[Gary Allen Feess]] ruled that only Azaria's voice was, as Brockmire, a defined, "tangible" character and thus subject to copyright.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hank-azaria-wins-lawsuit-funny-682759|title=Hank Azaria Wins Lawsuit Over Funny Baseball Announcer Character|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=January 24, 2014|access-date=February 24, 2014|author=Gardner, Eriq}}</ref> In 2016, IFC confirmed development on the series, on which Azaria also served as an executive producer.<ref name="SeriesOrder"/> Azaria received three nominations for the [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series]] for his performance on the series.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tapley|first=Kristopher|title=Netflix, FX's 'Feud' Lead Critics' Choice TV Nominations|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/awards/critics-choice-tv-nominations-list-1202631798/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 6, 2017|access-date=December 29, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Crist|first=Allison|title=Critics' Choice Awards: 'Roma,' 'Americans,' 'Mrs. Maisel' Top Winners|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2019-critics-choice-awards-winners-list-full-1172261|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=January 13, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Nordyke">{{cite web|last=Nordyke|first=Kimberly|title=Critics Choice TV Awards: 'The Crown,' 'Ozark' Lead Noms With 6 Apiece|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/critics-choice-tv-awards-the-crown-ozark-lead-noms-with-6-apiece|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=January 18, 2021|access-date=January 18, 2021}}</ref>

====Film work====
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|quote="[Azaria's] appeal can best be summed up by, of all things, his hilarious cameo in the goofy comedy ''Dodgeball''. As Patches O'Houlihan, the dodgeball champion who will age into the magnificently gruff [[Rip Torn]], he delivers a pitch-perfect performance in an instructional video in which he chain-smokes, encourages a child to pick on those weaker than him, and steals the film from a cast of comedic greats. It's a wonderful, odd moment that could have failed miserably in the hands of a lesser actor, and he manages to pull it off with only seconds of dialogue. In my humble opinion, and using my limited knowledge of boxing terms: Pound for pound, Hank Azaria is the best actor working today."
|source=—Playwright Jenelle Riley on Azaria.<ref name=msn/>
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Azaria made his film debut in the direct-to-video release ''[[Cool Blue]]'' (1990), as Buzz.<ref name=avclub/> His first theatrically released feature film appearance came the same year in ''[[Pretty Woman]]'', as a police detective named Albertson.<ref name=awards/> His next major film role was as television producer [[Albert Freedman]] in the 1994 film ''[[Quiz Show (1994 film)|Quiz Show]]'', which was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]].<ref name="parents"/> In 1996, Azaria played gay Guatemalan housekeeper Agador Spartacus in the film ''[[The Birdcage]]''. For the role, which Azaria considers to be his "big break",<ref name=avclub/> he was nominated for the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role]],<ref name=awards/> and critically branded "the most hilarious performance in the film," by Alison Macor of ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'',<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Calendar/Film?Film=oid%3a138262 |title=The Birdcage |access-date=December 31, 2007 |first=Alison |last=Macor |date=March 8, 1996 |work=The Austin Chronicle}}</ref> while ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' wrote that he "[stole] the show."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.empireonline.com/features/remakes/default.asp?film=42 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729145113/http://www.empireonline.com/features/remakes/default.asp?film=42 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 29, 2012 |title=Remakes That Worked: The Birdcage |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |date=July 16, 2010 |access-date=April 16, 2011}}</ref> For the role he used a Guatemalan accent, and made himself sound as effeminate as possible. He had chosen two possible voices, an effeminate one and a tougher one. After advice from a drag queen, he chose the effeminate voice. Three weeks into production, he realized he sounded exactly like his grandmother, which aided his performance.<ref name=freshair/> Agador was originally going to be a single scene part, with the larger role of the housekeeper being played by [[David Alan Grier]]. With the producers fearing the racial connotations of a black actor in such a part, Azaria inherited the full role.<ref name=avclub/>

He appeared in numerous other films in the late 1990s, including ''[[Heat (1995 film)|Heat]]'' (1995), ''[[Grosse Pointe Blank]]'' (1997), ''[[Celebrity (1998 film)|Celebrity]]'' (1998) and worked opposite [[Gwyneth Paltrow]], as Walter Plane, in the 1998 adaptation of ''[[Great Expectations (1998 film)|Great Expectations]]''.<ref name="parents"/> He played photographer Victor "Animal" Palotti in ''[[Godzilla (1998 film)|Godzilla]]'' (1998).<ref name=msn/><ref name=awards/> ''Godzilla'' was one of Azaria's first starring roles in a [[blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]] film. Its five-month shoot was the longest of his career to date, but he considered it a good chance to boost his profile. He noted, "I'm so used to melding into every character I play. Even people in the business think the guy who did ''Birdcage'', ''Quiz Show'' and ''Great Expectations'' are three different actors—which in a way makes me proud, but in another way is very frustrating. It's the curse and blessing of the character actor".<ref name=godzilla/> The shoot's physical challenges, and the film's critical failure, led Azaria to later describe it as "tough to make, and very disappointing when it came out. It was one you definitely chalk up and say, 'That was part of paying your dues, better luck next time'."<ref name=avclub/> In 1999, he starred in the drama ''[[Mystery, Alaska]]'' as Charles Danner, and the comedy superhero film ''[[Mystery Men]]'', as the faux-British silverware throwing expert The Blue Raja.<ref name=avclub/><ref name=simp/> Other film roles included Hector Gorgonzolas in ''[[America's Sweethearts]]'' (2001), Claude in ''[[Along Came Polly]]'' (2004), and the young Patches O'Houlihan in ''[[DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story]]'' (2004), the latter two with [[Ben Stiller]].<ref name=avclub/><ref name=awards/> For his role of Claude, a French scuba instructor, in ''Along Came Polly'', Azaria donned a wig and worked out extensively to get into the physical shape the part required.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://movies.about.com/cs/alongcamepolly/a/pollyha011004.htm |title=Interview with ''Along Came Polly'' Co-Stars, Hank Azaria and Debra Messing |access-date=August 16, 2007 |first=Rebecca |last=Murray |work=About.com |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923202101/http://movies.about.com/cs/alongcamepolly/a/pollyha011004.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Azaria played composer [[Marc Blitzstein]] in [[Tim Robbins]]' film ''[[Cradle Will Rock]]'' in 1999.<ref name=msn/><ref name=simp>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesimpsons.com/bios/bios_actors_azaria.htm |title=Hank Azaria |access-date=August 16, 2007 |work=The Simpsons.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520055231/http://www.thesimpsons.com/bios/bios_actors_azaria.htm |archive-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref> [[Paul Clinton]] wrote that Azaria was "brilliant as the tortured (is there any other kind) artist Blitzstein."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/1999/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/10/review.cradlewillrock/index.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722044149/http://edition.cnn.com/1999/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/10/review.cradlewillrock/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |title=Review: 'Cradle Will Rock' brings history to life |publisher=CNN |author=Clinton, Paul |date=December 10, 1999 |access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref> The same year he appeared as author and journalist [[Mitch Albom]] alongside [[Jack Lemmon]] in the television film ''[[Tuesdays with Morrie (film)|Tuesdays with Morrie]]'',<ref name="parents">{{cite news |author=Davis, Ivor  |title=Hank Azaria Spends "Tuesdays With Morrie" |work=The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles |date=December 3, 1999 |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/articles/item/hank_azaria_spends_tuesdays_with_morrie_19991203/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130111052931/http://www.jewishjournal.com/articles/item/hank_azaria_spends_tuesdays_with_morrie_19991203/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 11, 2013 |access-date=December 13, 2006}}</ref> winning the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie]] for the role.<ref>{{cite news |title='West Wing' sets Emmy record |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/10/emmys.04/ |access-date=August 16, 2007 |date=September 11, 2000 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> Azaria described the latter as the "best work [he has] done."<ref name="parents"/> These were two of the first dramatic roles Azaria had taken; throughout his career, Azaria has primarily worked in comedy,<ref name=godzilla/><ref name=msn/> but tries to balance the two.<ref name=faces>{{cite news |title=His million faces – Hank Azaria adds more characters for 'Imagine That' |work=[[Ventura County Star]] |author=Mason, Dave |date=January 13, 2002 |page=K03}}</ref> Azaria commented: "all the roles I got were in comedy at first, and I was certainly happy to get those, so I never felt the lack of being considered a dramatic actor because I was so happy to get what I got. And then I became surprised later on when I got dramatic roles. But I never went, 'OK, now it's time to get a dramatic role.'"<ref name=msn/> His next dramatic part was in the television film ''[[Uprising (2001 film)|Uprising]]'' in 2001. The film was based on the 1943 [[Warsaw Ghetto Uprising]] and Azaria played [[Mordechaj Anielewicz]], one of the revolt's leaders. Azaria was confused by his casting in ''Uprising'' and frequently asked the film's producer and director [[Jon Avnet]] why he was selected. "I know [Avnet] liked the fact I was Jewish, and he knew I could do accents well. He cast me and [[David Schwimmer]] in [''Uprising''], and we were both sort of mystified. He had some instinct that he wanted people who were more known for being funny. He never explained it satisfactorily to me; I don't understand why."<ref name=msn/> His parts in ''Tuesdays With Morrie'' and ''Uprising'' affected him, causing a depressive state which he countered with DVDs of the comedy series ''[[Monty Python]]''.<ref name=msn/> Azaria found ''Uprising'' to be "very difficult very depressing very emotionally challenging" material.<ref name=faces/> In 2003, Azaria played journalist [[Michael Kelly (editor)|Michael Kelly]], the former editor of ''[[The New Republic]]'', in the drama film ''[[Shattered Glass (film)|Shattered Glass]]''. Kelly died a few months before the film was released and Azaria said the film "has become a weird kind of eulogy to him."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/A/Azaria_Hank/2004/01/19/756458.html |title=Hank Azaria buffs up for Polly |access-date=September 11, 2011 |author=Hobson, Louis B. |date=January 19, 2004 |publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer|Canoe.ca]] |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716204329/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/A/Azaria_Hank/2004/01/19/756458.html |archive-date=July 16, 2012 }}</ref>

Since ''Huff''{{'}}s conclusion in 2006, Azaria has continued to make multiple film appearances. He played the smooth-talking Whit Bloom in David Schwimmer's directorial debut ''[[Run Fatboy Run]]'' (2007). During production he became good friends with co-star [[Simon Pegg]], performing ''The Simpsons'' voices on request, frequently distracting Pegg when he was supposed to be filming.<ref>{{cite web |title=Run, Fat Boy, Run&nbsp;– Simon Pegg interview |url=http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Film-Review/run-fat-boy-run-simon-pegg-interview |access-date=September 11, 2007 |author=Foley, Jack |work=IndieLondon |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116064344/http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Film-Review/run-fat-boy-run-simon-pegg-interview |url-status=dead }}</ref> He worked with Stiller again on 2009's ''[[Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian]]'' in which Azaria played the villainous pharaoh Kah Mun Rah, utilizing a [[Boris Karloff]] accent.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-performance21-2009may21,0,552053.story |title=Hank Azaria: 'Night at the Smithsonian's' mummy dearest |first=Michael |last=Ordoña |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 25, 2009 |date=May 21, 2009}}</ref> Although the film received mixed reviews, critics praised Azaria's performance.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2009/05/22/movies/22nigh.html?ref=movies |title=Movie Review: ''Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian'' (2009) – Dad's at Another Museum. Does That Make Him an Exhibitionist? |date=May 22, 2009 |access-date=May 28, 2009 |work=The New York Times |first=A. O. |last=Scott}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/87192/night-at-the-museum-2.html |title=Night at the Museum 2 (2009) |work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] Issue 2022 |author=Adams, Derek |date=May 21, 2009 |access-date=April 16, 2011}}</ref> Perry Seibert of ''[[TV Guide]]'' wrote that "thanks to Azaria, a master of comic timing. His grandiose, yet slightly fey bad guy is equally funny when he's chewing out minions as he is when deliberating if [[Oscar the Grouch]] and [[Darth Vader]] are evil enough to join his team."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://movies.tvguide.com/night-museum-battle-smithsonian/review/297477 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713090726/http://movies.tvguide.com/night-museum-battle-smithsonian/review/297477 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |title=Night At The Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian: Review |magazine=TV Guide |access-date=May 28, 2009}}</ref> He appeared as [[Abraham]] in ''[[Year One (film)|Year One]]'' (2009),<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/moviereviews/a161415/year-one.html |title=Year One |work=[[Digital Spy]] |author=Papamichael, Stella |date=June 25, 2009 |access-date=January 6, 2011}}</ref> Dr. Stan Knight in 2010's ''[[Love & Other Drugs]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vogue.com/culture/article/jagged-little-pills-emlove-other-drugsem/ |title=Jagged Little Pills: Love & Other Drugs |author=Powers, John |work=Variety |access-date=January 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107051200/http://www.vogue.com/culture/article/jagged-little-pills-emlove-other-drugsem/ |archive-date=January 7, 2011 }}</ref> and played ''[[Deep Throat (film)|Deep Throat]]'' director [[Gerard Damiano]] in ''[[Lovelace (film)|Lovelace]]'' (2013).<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/12/20/linda-lovelace-biopic-male-co-stars/ |title=Linda Lovelace biopic lands Hank Azaria, Chris Noth, Bobby Cannavale, Robert Patrick |date=December 20, 2011 |access-date=December 21, 2011 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |author=Vary, Adam}}</ref>

Azaria played [[Gargamel]] in the animated/live-action adaptation of ''[[The Smurfs (film)|The Smurfs]]'' (2011).<ref name=smurfs>{{cite news |url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/03/17/hank-azaria-picks-up-gargamel-role-for-smurfs/ |title=Hank Azaria Picks Up Gargamel Role For 'Smurfs' |author=Warmoth, Brian |work=MTV |date=March 17, 2010 |access-date=March 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100506035453/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/03/17/hank-azaria-picks-up-gargamel-role-for-smurfs |archive-date=May 6, 2010 }}</ref> Azaria wore a prosthetic nose, ears, [[buck teeth]], eyebrows and a wig, as well as shaving his head. He spent approximately 130 hours in the make-up chair over the course of the production.<ref name="ProductionNotes">{{cite web |url=http://www.visualhollywood.com/movies_2011/smurfs/notes.pdf |title=The Smurf's Production Notes |publisher=[[Sony Pictures Entertainment]] |access-date=July 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930132048/http://www.visualhollywood.com/movies_2011/smurfs/notes.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 30, 2011}}</ref><ref name=cbr>{{cite news |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=32969 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119201837/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=32969 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2013 |title=CBR Visits the Set of "The Smurfs" |work=Comic Book Resources |access-date=July 6, 2011 |author=Campbell, Josie |date=July 24, 2011}}</ref> Azaria considered Gargamel's voice to be the most important part of his performance. The producers wanted an "old, failed, Shakespearean actor" voice, but Azaria felt this would lack energy and wanted something more Eastern European. He eventually selected a voice similar to that of [[Paul Winchell]]'s from the cartoon.<ref name=mw>{{cite news |url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/the-smurfs-take-over-sony-pictures-animation-part-1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129075302/http://www.movieweb.com/news/the-smurfs-take-over-sony-pictures-animation-part-1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 29, 2013 |title=The Smurfs Take Over Sony Pictures Animation – Part 1 |work=MovieWeb |date=July 1, 2011 |author=Gallagher, Brian |access-date=July 5, 2011}}</ref> Azaria disliked the cartoon when it first aired, and considered Gargamel too one-dimensional a character and "just this straight villain";<ref name=mw/> he opted to make Gargamel "more sarcastic" than in the cartoon, but "discovered that there's no way to play Gargamel without screaming your head off at certain points – ramping him up and getting him very upset over Smurfs".<ref name=metro11/> He interpreted him as "very lonely", adding that "he hates the Smurfs because they're such a happy family. He wants in really badly. I think he wants to be embraced as a Smurf".<ref name=metro11/> Azaria worked with the writers to "infuse" the script with some of his ideas about the character, "particularly with the 'married' relationship between Gargamel and [his cat] Azreal {{sic}}" which Azaria conceived.<ref name=mw/>

Reviewers from ''[[The San Francisco Chronicle]]'' and ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' commented on Azaria's "overacting" in the role of Gargamel.<ref>{{cite news|title=Smurfs are back with antics, lots of animated adventure |last=Hartlaub |first=Peter |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]] |date=July 29, 2011 |access-date=July 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211073646/http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/movies/20110729_Smurfs_are_back_with_antics__lots_of_animated_adventure.html |archive-date=December 11, 2017 |url-status=dead |url=http://articles.philly.com/2011-07-29/news/29829691_1_papa-smurf-gargamel-movie }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2011/07/29/ty_burr_says_cast_members_inject_fun_into_the_smurfs/ |title=The Smurfs |last=Burr |first=Ty |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |publisher=[[The New York Times Company]] |date=July 29, 2011 |access-date=July 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111132604/http://articles.boston.com/2011-07-29/ae/29830291_1_smurfette-peyo-sofia-vergara |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> More positive reaction came from Scott Bowles of ''[[USA Today]]'' called Azaria the "human standout";<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2011-07-28-smurfs_n.htm?csp=34life |title=Fans of old 'Smurfs' may feel a little blue |work=USA Today |author=Bowles, Scott |date=July 28, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2011}}</ref> Betsy Sharkey of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' felt he suffered the "greatest disservice" of the film's cast due to a poor script.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/reviews/la-et-smurfs-20110729,0,1742025.story?track=rss |title=Movie review: 'The Smurfs' |work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 6, 2011 |date=July 29, 2011 |author=Sharkey, Betsy}}</ref> Azaria noted in an interview with ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' that ''The Smurfs'' and ''Night at the Museum'' were films he agreed to do primarily for the money, but that "I won't even do that unless I think it will at least be fun to do...I really try to throw myself into it, figure out the funniest, cleverest way to get the material over, and make it fun to do and fun to watch."<ref name=avclub/> Azaria reprised his role in the 2013 sequel ''[[The Smurfs 2]]''.<ref name=smurfs2>{{cite news |title=Production Begins on The Smurfs 2 |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=89642 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723221944/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=89642 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 23, 2012 |access-date=April 26, 2012 |newspaper=ComingSoon.net |date=April 26, 2012}}</ref> In 2016, Azaria starred in ''[[Norman (2016 film)|Norman]]'' with [[Richard Gere]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/celebrities/article11374196.html|title=Hank Azaria, hanging out with mom|date=February 27, 2015|access-date=March 8, 2015|work=[[Miami Herald]]|author=Marr, Madeleine}}</ref>

====Further voice work====
Azaria performed a number of voice roles in addition to ''The Simpsons'', although he noted in 2005: "I started doing other voiceovers for cartoons for a couple of years, but I didn't really love it. I was spoiled by ''The Simpsons''."<ref name=msn/> He voiced [[Eddie Brock]] / [[Venom (character)|Venom]] in ''[[Spider-Man (1994 TV series)|Spider-Man: The Animated Series]]'' between 1994 and 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbc.com/free-agents/about/bios/hank-azaria/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908032402/http://www.nbc.com/free-agents/about/bios/hank-azaria/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 8, 2012 |title=Hank Azaria |publisher=[[NBC.com]] |access-date=September 14, 2011}}</ref> In the animated feature ''[[Anastasia (1997 film)|Anastasia]]'' (1997), he voiced Bartok the bat and reprised the role in the direct-to-video prequel ''[[Bartok the Magnificent]]'' (1999).<ref name=awards/> For his performance in ''Anastasia'', Azaria won the [[Annie Award]] for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Feature Production.<ref name=annie>{{cite web |url=http://annieawards.org/26thwinners.html |title=Legacy: 26th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (1998) |access-date=December 21, 2011 |publisher=[[Annie Awards]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517164005/http://annieawards.org/26thwinners.html |archive-date=May 17, 2008}}</ref> He also voiced Eric in the American dub of the series ''[[Stressed Eric]]'',<ref name=newsday/> Harold Zoid in the 2001 ''[[Futurama]]'' episode "[[That's Lobstertainment!]]",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/fbkh/futurama-that%27s-lobstertainment! |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201021139/http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/fbkh/futurama-that's-lobstertainment! |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 1, 2013 |title=Series 3 – 8. That's Lobstertainment! |work=[[Radio Times]] |access-date=September 11, 2011}}</ref> and [[Abbie Hoffman]] and [[Allen Ginsberg]] in ''[[Chicago 10 (film)|Chicago 10]]'' (2007).<ref name=avclub/> For the 2011 film ''[[Hop (film)|Hop]]'', Azaria voiced Carlos and Phil. The response to the film was mostly negative, but many reviewers praised Azaria's performance.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.emcstlawrence.ca/20110414/entertainment/Azaria+keeps+Easter+film+from+laying+an+egg |title=Azaria keeps Easter film from laying an egg |author=Haskins, Mark |date=April 14, 2011 |work=St. Lawrence EMC |access-date=April 14, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{Dead link|date=April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117944935?refcatid=31 |title=Hop |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |author=Debruge, Peter |date=March 31, 2011 |access-date=April 14, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_movies_blog/2011/03/movie-review-hop.html |title=Movie Review: Hop |author=Moore, Roger |access-date=April 14, 2011 |date=March 30, 2011 |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403060127/http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_movies_blog/2011/03/movie-review-hop.html |archive-date=April 3, 2011 }}</ref> For example, Sandie Chen of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' said "Azaria has been honing his over-the-top Spanish accent since ''The Birdcage'', so anything he says grabs some laughs",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/hop,1158858/critic-review.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112064321/http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/hop,1158858/critic-review.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 12, 2012 |title=Hop |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 1, 2011 |access-date=April 14, 2011 |author=Chen, Sandie}}</ref> while Emma Simmonds of ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' called him an "unflappable presence, voicing two characters with style".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/89590/hop.html |title=Hop (2011) |work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] Issue 2219 |author=Simmonds, Emma |access-date=April 14, 2011 |date=March 31, 2011}}</ref> Later in the year he voiced The Mighty Sven in ''[[Happy Feet Two]]''.<ref name=feet>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/04/2810411.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120529115320/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/04/2810411.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 29, 2012 |title=Sydney welcomes patter of Happy Feet 2 |access-date=February 14, 2010 |author=Collins, Antonette |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |date=February 4, 2010}}</ref> He also voiced the lead character, Texan [[U.S. Customs and Border Protection|border agent]] Bud Buckwald, in ''[[Bordertown (American TV series)|Bordertown]]'', which aired in 2016,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://deadline.com/2014/07/hank-azaria-lead-voice-seth-macfarlane-animated-series-bordertown-fox-806758/|title=TCA: Hank Azaria To Lead Voice Cast Of Seth MacFarlane's Fox Animated Series ''Bordertown''|magazine=Deadline|author=Andreeva, Nellie|date=July 20, 2014|access-date=July 21, 2014}}</ref> as well as Shelfish Sheldon in ''[[Mack & Moxy]]'' the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/kids-show-mack-and-moxy-1201743516/|title=Kids' Show ''Mack & Moxy'' Aims to Raise the 'Next Generation of Humanitarians'|last=Flores|first=Terry|work=Variety|date=April 2016 |access-date=April 4, 2016}}</ref>

Once ''The Simpsons'' was "going steadily" and Azaria had enough money to live on, he stopped working on commercials as he found them "demoralizing", feeling that he sounded sarcastic whenever he read for them. When recording the part of "Jell-O Man" for a [[Jell-O]] commercial, he was told to make the voice he offered "more likable and friendly so that children like him." After pointing out that "Jell-O Man" was a fictional character, he left and pledged to never record for an advertisement again.<ref name=freshair/> However, in 2012 he voiced several insects in a commercial for the [[Chevrolet Aveo|Chevrolet Sonic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.4-traders.com/GENERAL-MOTORS-COMPANY-6873535/news/GENERAL-MOTORS-COMPANY-Chevrolet-to-Debut-Five-Ads-on-Super-Bowl-Sunday-14001918/ |title=General Motors Company : Chevrolet to Debut Five Ads on Super Bowl Sunday |date=February 2, 2012 |publisher=4-traders}}</ref>

====Other work====
Azaria wrote and directed the 2004 short film ''[[Nobody's Perfect (2004 film)|Nobody's Perfect]]'', which won the Film Discovery Jury Award for Best Short at the [[The Comedy Festival|US Comedy Arts Festival]].<ref name=nbcbio/> In January 2007, he was confirmed to be directing ''Outsourced'',<ref>{{cite news |title=The Weekly Ketchup: "Indiana Jones" Is Back, "National Treasure 2" Gets A Name, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" To TV, And More! |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/national_treasure/news/1648055/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629080002/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/national_treasure/news/1648055/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2012 |access-date=August 29, 2007 |date=January 25, 2007 |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |author=Hershey, Nick}}</ref> a film about two American workers who journey to get their jobs back, after their factory is moved to Mexico.<ref>{{cite news |title=Azaria's job 'Outsourced' for Col |author=Siegel, Tatiana and Borys Kit |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i067b281b3efa8f0d4198dfceaa870aab |access-date=August 29, 2007 |date=January 3, 2007 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001000622/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i067b281b3efa8f0d4198dfceaa870aab <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=October 1, 2007}}</ref> In 2009, Azaria told ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' he was instead focusing on making a documentary about fatherhood.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=24785 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122044657/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=24785 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 22, 2013 |title=Stiller, Gervais & Azaria's Boys' Night |date=May 13, 2009 |access-date=May 25, 2009 |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |author=Phillips, Emily}}</ref> Two years later he told the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' that this project was "half-complete" and was "forever looking for financing to finish it."<ref name=sunday/> It eventually began in 2014, airing on [[AOL]] as an online series titled ''Fatherhood''. According to AOL, the series of short episodes documents Azaria's "touching, humorous, and often enlightening journey from a man who is not even sure he wants to have kids, to a father going through the joys, trials and tribulations of being a dad."<ref>{{cite web|title=Fatherhood – AOL On|url=http://on.aol.com/show/fatherhood-518018974/episode/518094370|publisher=AOL|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-date=January 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125054119/http://on.aol.com/show/fatherhood-518018974/episode/518094370|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/popcandy/2014/01/15/fatherhood-hank-azaria/4493851/|title=I love this Web series: Hank Azaria's 'Fatherhood'|work=[[USA Today]]|author=Matheson, Whitney|date=January 15, 2014|access-date=January 24, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Azariaspamalot.jpg|thumb|Azaria (''center'') performing in ''[[Spamalot]]'', December 2005]]
He has periodically returned to theatrical work, appearing in several productions. In 2003, he appeared as Bernard in a run of [[David Mamet]]'s play ''[[Sexual Perversity in Chicago]]'', along with [[Matthew Perry]] and [[Minnie Driver]], in London's [[West End theatre|West End]].<ref name=msn /><ref name=awards /> Azaria made his first appearance as Sir [[Lancelot]], the French Taunter, and four other characters in ''[[Spamalot]]'', the musical version of ''[[Monty Python and the Holy Grail]]'', which opened in Chicago in December 2004, before moving to the [[Shubert Theatre (New York City)|Shubert Theatre]] on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]].<ref name=msn/><ref name=awards/> The show met with critical acclaim and received fourteen [[Tony Award]] nominations in 2005; Azaria and [[Tim Curry]] both received nominations for the [[Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical]].<ref name=awards>{{cite web|url=http://www.sho.com/site/huff/cast.do?castid=hank |title=Behind the Scenes: Cast Bios&nbsp;— Hank Azaria |access-date=August 16, 2007 |work=Showtime |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930153742/http://www.sho.com/site/huff/cast.do?castid=hank |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }}</ref> Reuniting with ''The Birdcage'' director [[Mike Nichols]], and being a huge ''Monty Python'' fan, he saw it as an opportunity he could not pass up, describing it as "so much fun that I haven't realized how tiring it is,"<ref name=msn/> and "the most fun that I've ever had in my entire life."<ref name=tonyawards>{{cite web |title=2005 Tony Awards Q&A: Hank Azaria |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=3212 |access-date=August 15, 2007 |date=May 27, 2005 |author=Diamond, Robert |work=Broadway World}}</ref> He took a break from the show in June 2005 to work on ''Huff'', but returned in December 2005.<ref name=tonyawards/> [[Alan Tudyk]] played the role during Azaria's absence.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alan Tudyk replaces Hank Azaria in 'Spamalot |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/news/2005-05-23-alan-tudyk-spamalot_x.htm |access-date=August 29, 2007 |date=May 23, 2005 |work=USA Today |author=Shen, Miranda}}</ref> In late 2007 he starred in [[Aaron Sorkin]]'s ''[[The Farnsworth Invention]]'', playing [[RCA]] head [[David Sarnoff]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/109819.html |title=Azaria and Simpson to Star in Sorkin's Farnsworth Invention on Broadway |access-date=August 29, 2007 |date=July 25, 2007 |work=[[Playbill]] |author=Gans, Andrew |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930185737/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/109819.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }}</ref> In 2016, he starred in the world premiere of ''Dry Powder'' opposite [[Claire Danes]], [[John Krasinski]], and [[Sanjit De Silva]], directed by [[Thomas Kail]], at the [[off-Broadway]] [[The Public Theater|Public Theater]] in New York City.<ref>{{cite news | title=The Verdict: What Do Critics Think of ''Dry Powder''? |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/the-verdict-what-do-critics-think-of-dry-powder| date=March 23, 2016| author=Clement, Olivia| work=[[Playbill]]}}</ref>

In August of 2024, after his 60th birthday, Azaria began touring with [[Bruce Springsteen]] [[tribute act]] Hank Azaria and the EZ Band.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nevins |first=Jake |date=2024-08-14 |title=Hank Azaria's Next Act? Becoming Bruce Springsteen. |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/hank-azaria-becoming-bruce-springsteen |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Interview Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-13 |title=Hank Azaria Announces Tour Dates with Bruce Springsteen Tribute Band |url=https://consequence.net/2024/08/hank-azaria-springsteen-tribute-band-tour-dates/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |language=en-US}}</ref>