Editing Hank Azaria (section)

===''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>