Editing Hank Azaria (section)

====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>