Editing Dan Castellaneta

{{short description|American actor (born 1957)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Dan Castellaneta
| image              = Dan Castellaneta 1988 Press Photo.jpg
| alt                = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption            = Castellaneta in 1988
| birth_name         = Daniel Louis Castellaneta
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1957|10|29}}
| birth_place        = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S.
| alma_mater         = [[Northern Illinois University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| occupation         = Actor
| years_active       = 1979–present
| party              = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Deb Lacusta]]|1987}}
| signature          = Dan Castellaneta signature.svg
}}
'''Daniel Louis Castellaneta''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|æ|s|t|ə|l|ə|ˈ|n|ɛ|t|ə}} {{respell|KAST|ə|lə|NET|ə}}; born October 29, 1957)<ref name = sweethome/> is an American actor. He is best known for voicing [[Homer Simpson]] on the animated series ''[[The Simpsons]]'' (as well as other characters on the show such as [[Grampa Simpson]], [[Krusty the Clown]], [[Groundskeeper Willie]], [[Mayor Quimby]], [[Sideshow Mel]], [[Mr. Teeny]], [[Santa's Little Helper]], [[The Itchy & Scratchy Show|Itchy]], and [[Barney Gumble]]). Castellaneta is also known for voicing Grandpa in Nickelodeon's ''[[Hey Arnold!]]'', and has had voice roles in several other programs, including ''[[Futurama]]'', ''[[Sibs]]'', ''[[Darkwing Duck]]'', ''[[The Adventures of Dynamo Duck]]'', ''[[The Batman (TV series)|The Batman]]'', ''[[Back to the Future (TV series)|Back to the Future: The Animated Series]]'', ''[[Aladdin (animated TV series)|Aladdin]]'', ''[[Earthworm Jim (TV series)|Earthworm Jim]]'', and ''[[Taz-Mania]]''.

In 1999, he appeared in the Christmas special ''[[Olive, the Other Reindeer]]'' and won an [[Annie Award]] for his portrayal of the Postman. Castellaneta released a comedy album ''[[I Am Not Homer]]'', and wrote and starred in a [[one-person show]] titled ''Where Did Vincent van Gogh?''

==Early life==
Daniel Louis Castellaneta was born on October 29, 1957, at Roseland Community Hospital on Chicago's south side and was raised in [[River Forest, Illinois|River Forest]] and [[Oak Park, Illinois]].<ref name = sweethome>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/sweethomecookcounty/documents/2007sweethome.pdf|title=Sweet Home Cook County; Dan Castellaneta|date=2007|page=6|access-date=October 2, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528132937/http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/sweethomecookcounty/documents/2007sweethome.pdf|archive-date=May 28, 2016}}</ref><ref name="matthau"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/dan-castellaneta/bio/145811|title=Dan Castellaneta: Biography|work=[[TV Guide]]|publisher=NTVB Media|location=New York City|access-date=August 5, 2011}}</ref> He is of [[Italians|Italian]] descent, born to Elsie ({{née|Lagorio}}; 1926–2008) and Louis Castellaneta (1915–2014),<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/29398287-421/father-of-homer-simpson-voice-actor-dead-at-99.html|work=Chicago Sun-Times|title=Politics: Things To Do}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| title= Death Notice: Elsie Castellaneta |date= January 16, 2008 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/news/chi-sp-louis-castellaneta-father-of-homer-simpson-voiceactor-dead-at-99-20141218-story.html|title=Louis Castellaneta, father of 'Homer Simpson' voice-actor, dead at 99|first=Maureen|last=O'Donnell|website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=August 21, 2014 }}</ref> an amateur actor who worked for a printing company.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.oakpark.com/2014/09/30/lou-castellaneta-99-father-of-the-voice-of-homer-simpson/ | title=Lou Castellaneta, 99, father of the voice of Homer Simpson | date=September 30, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="The Age"/>

Castellaneta became adept at impressions at a young age and his mother enrolled him in an acting class when he was 16 years old. He would listen to his father's comedy records and do impressions of the artists.<ref name="The Age"/> He was a "devotee" of the works of many performers, including [[Alan Arkin]] and [[Barbara Harris (actress)|Barbara Harris]] and directors [[Mike Nichols]] and [[Elaine May]].<ref name="matthau"/> He attended [[Oak Park and River Forest High School]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=A storied history of excellence|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=May 9, 2007}}</ref> and upon graduation, started attending [[Northern Illinois University]] (NIU) in the fall of 1975.<ref name="Laziest">{{Cite news |title='I Am Not Homer'&nbsp;– The voice of TV's laziest nuclear-safety engineer looks back on his start in DeKalb|author=Parisi, Tom|date=August 23, 2002|work=The Beacon News}}</ref>

Castellaneta studied art education, with the goal of becoming an art teacher.<ref name="The Age"/> He became a [[student teacher]] and would entertain his students with his impressions.<ref name="matthau"/><ref name="The Age"/> Castellaneta was a regular participant in ''The Ron Petke and His Dead Uncle Show'', a radio show at NIU. The show helped Castellaneta hone his skills as a voice-over actor. He recalled "We did parodies and sketches, we would double up on, so you learned to switch between voices. I got my feet wet doing a voiceover. The show was just barely audible, but we didn't care. It was that we got a chance to do it and write our own material."<ref name="Laziest"/> He took a play-writing class and auditioned for an improvisational show. A classmate first thought Castellaneta would "fall on his face with improvisation" but soon "was churning out material faster than [they] could make it work."<ref name="Laziest"/>

==Career==
===Early career===
Castellaneta began his acting career after his graduation from [[Northern Illinois University]] in 1979.<ref name="The Age"/> He decided that if his career went nowhere he would still have a chance to try something else.<ref name="The Age"/> He began taking [[Improvisational theatre|improvisation]] classes, where he met his future wife [[Deb Lacusta]]. He started to work at [[The Second City]], an improvisational theatre in [[Chicago]], in 1983 and continued to work there until 1987.<ref name="matthau"/> During this period, he did voice-over work with his wife for various radio stations.<ref name="The Age"/>

He auditioned for a role in ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]'' and his first meeting underwhelmed [[Tracey Ullman]] and the other producers. Ullman decided to fly to Chicago to watch Castellaneta perform. His performance that night was about a [[Visual impairment|blind]] man who tries to become a comedian and Ullman later recalled that although there were flashier performances that night, Castellaneta made her cry. She was impressed and Castellaneta was hired.<ref name="matthau"/>

===''The Simpsons''===
Castellaneta is most famous for his roles on the longest-running American animated television show ''[[The Simpsons]]'', most notably as [[Homer Simpson]]. ''The Tracey Ullman Show'' included a series of animated shorts about a [[dysfunctional family]]. Voices were needed for the shorts, so the producers decided to ask Castellaneta and fellow cast member [[Julie Kavner]] to voice Homer and [[Marge Simpson]] respectively, rather than hire more actors.<ref name="The Age">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/02/27/1046064146568.html|title=D'oh, you're the voice|access-date=February 15, 2009 |date=February 27, 2003|author=Lee, Luaine|work=[[The Age]]|location=Melbourne}}</ref><ref name="FN">{{cite news| url= https://www.foxnews.com/story/doh-the-voice-of-homer-is-deceivingly-deadpan|title=D'oh!: The Voice of Homer Is Deceivingly Deadpan|access-date=February 15, 2009 |date= August 18, 2007| last= Elber| first= Lynn|publisher=[[Fox News]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130703090128/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C129665%2C00.html|archive-date=July 3, 2013|url-status= live |df= mdy-all}}</ref> Homer's voice began as a loose impression of [[Walter Matthau]], but Castellaneta could not "get enough power behind that voice" and could not sustain his Matthau impression for the nine- to ten-hour long recording sessions.<ref name="MTV">{{cite news| url= http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1565538/20070725/story.jhtml|title='Simpsons' Trivia, From Swearing Lisa To 'Burns-Sexual' Smithers| access-date= February 15, 2009|date=July 26, 2007|author=Carroll, Larry|publisher=[[MTV]]|url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071220140402/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1565538/20070725/story.jhtml|archive-date=December 20, 2007}}</ref>

He tried to find something easier, so he "dropped the voice down", and developed it into a more versatile and humorous voice during the second and third season of the half-hour show.<ref name="matthau">{{cite news|url=http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/castellaneta99.html|author=Brownfield, Paul| title= He's Homer, but This Odyssey Is His Own|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 6, 1999|access-date=February 15, 2009|url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080512004132/http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/castellaneta99.html|archive-date=May 12, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Aspen">{{cite news| last= Harden| first= Mark |url= http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/castellaneta00.html|title='Simpsons' voice Dan Castellaneta has some surprises for Aspen fest|work=[[The Denver Post]] |date= February 9, 2000|access-date=February 15, 2009|url-status=dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090710115213/http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/castellaneta00.html|archive-date=July 10, 2009}}</ref> To perform Homer's voice, Castellaneta lowers his chin to his chest,<ref name="The Age"/> and is said to "let his IQ go."<ref name="Mirkin">[[Mirkin, David]]. (2004). Commentary for "[[Bart's Inner Child]]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season'' [DVD]. Twentieth Century Fox.</ref>

Castellaneta likes to [[Method acting|stay in character]] during recording sessions,<ref name="Tribune"/> and tries to visualize a scene in his mind so that he can give the proper voice to it.<ref>Castellaneta, Dan. (2005). Commentary for "[[Homer the Great]]", ''The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season'' [DVD]. Twentieth Century Fox.</ref> Despite Homer's fame, Castellaneta claims he is rarely recognized in public, "except, maybe, by a die-hard fan."<ref name="Tribune">{{cite news|url=http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/jun/23/voice-homer-simpson-leads-his-own-simple-life|title=Voice of Homer Simpson leads his own, simple life|author=Morrow, Terry|access-date=February 15, 2009|date=June 23, 2007| agency= Scripps Howard News Service |work=[[The Albuquerque Tribune]]|url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131012024317/http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/jun/23/voice-homer-simpson-leads-his-own-simple-life|archive-date=October 12, 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Simpsons voice actors.jpg|thumb|left|Castellaneta with fellow ''Simpsons'' voice actors [[Nancy Cartwright]], [[Yeardley Smith]] and [[Julie Kavner]] in 2009]]
Castellaneta also provides the voices for numerous other characters, including [[Grampa Simpson]], [[Barney Gumble]], [[Krusty the Clown]],<ref name= spot /> [[Groundskeeper Willie]], [[Mayor Quimby]], [[Hans Moleman]], [[Sideshow Mel]], [[The Itchy & Scratchy Show|Itchy]], [[Kang and Kodos|Kodos]], [[Arnie Pye]], the [[Squeaky Voiced Teen]] and [[Gil Gunderson]]. Krusty's voice is based on Chicago television's [[Bob Bell (actor)|Bob Bell]], who had a very raspy voice and portrayed [[WGN-TV]]'s [[Bozo the Clown]] from 1960 to 1984.<ref name="Guide">{{cite news |title=Flash! 24 Simpsons Stars Reveal Themselves |date=October 21, 2000 |work=[[TV Guide (magazine)|TV Guide]] |author=Rhodes, Joe}}</ref> During early recording sessions, he recorded a new version of Barney's loud trademark belch for every episode but discovered that it was not easy for him to belch each time a script called for it. Castellaneta chose a recording of what he believed was his best belch and told the producers to make that the standard.<ref>Jean, Al (2002). Commentary for "[[Blood Feud (The Simpsons)|Blood Feud]]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Second Season'' [DVD]. Twentieth Century Fox.</ref>

Groundskeeper Willie's first appearance was in the [[The Simpsons season 2|season two]] episode "[[Principal Charming]]". The character was written as an angry janitor, and Castellaneta was assigned to perform the voice. He did not know what voice to use and [[Sam Simon]], who was directing at the time, suggested he use an accent. Castellaneta first tried using Hispanic voicing, which Simon felt was too [[cliché]]d. He then tried a "big dumb [[Sweden|Swede]]", which was also rejected. For his third try, he used the voice of a grumpy [[Scotsman]], which was deemed appropriate enough and was used in the episode.<ref name="Reiss">Reiss, Mike (2002). Commentary for "[[Principal Charming]]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Second Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> The voice was based partially on Angus Crock, a [[kilt]]-wearing chef from the sketch comedy show ''[[Second City Television]]'', who was portrayed by [[Dave Thomas (actor)|Dave Thomas]].<ref name="Times">{{cite news |url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article581035.ece|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604091429/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article581035.ece|url-status= dead|archive-date= June 4, 2011| title= The strange world of Oor grown-up Wullie|work=[[The Times]]|date=October 23, 2005| first=Adrian|last=Turpin|access-date=February 15, 2009|location=London}}</ref>

Mayor Quimby, who first appeared in "[[Bart Gets an 'F']]{{-"}}, is a parody of various members of the [[Kennedy family]]. The episode script did not call for Quimby to be a parody of them, and Castellaneta improvised the accent.<ref>Groening, Matt (2005). Commentary for the episode "[[Sideshow Bob Roberts]]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season'' [DVD]. Twentieth Century Fox.</ref> Sideshow Mel's voice is Castellaneta's impression of [[Kelsey Grammer]], the voice of [[Sideshow Bob]].<ref name="JeanBW">Jean, Al. (2003). Commentary for "Black Widower", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season'' [DVD]. Twentieth Century Fox.</ref> Hapless Gil Gunderson is a spoof of actor [[Jack Lemmon]]'s portrayal of Shelley Levene in the 1992 [[Glengarry Glen Ross (film)|film adaptation]] of the play ''[[Glengarry Glen Ross]]''.<ref name="Gil">Scully, Mike (2006). Commentary for "[[Realty Bites]]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Ninth Season'' [DVD]. Twentieth Century Fox.</ref> Showrunner [[Mike Scully]] thought that Gil would be "a one-shot thing"<ref>Scully, Mike (2006). Commentary for "[[Natural Born Kissers]]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Ninth Season'' [DVD]. Twentieth Century Fox.</ref> but "Dan Castellaneta was so funny at the [[table read]] doing the character, we kept making up excuses in subsequent episodes to put him in."<ref name="Gil" /> The [[Blue-Haired Lawyer]]'s voice, as well as his demeanor, is based on lawyer [[Roy Cohn]].<ref>Reardon, Jim (2005). Commentary for "[[Bart the Fink]]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season'' [DVD]. Twentieth Century Fox.</ref>

Castellaneta has won several awards for voicing Homer, including four [[Primetime Emmy Award]]s for "[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance|Outstanding Voice-Over Performance]]" in 1992 for "[[Lisa's Pony]]", 1993 for "[[Mr. Plow]]",<ref name="Emmys">{{cite web| url= http://www.emmys.org/awards/awardsearch.php|title=Primetime Emmy Awards Advanced Search|publisher=Emmys.org|access-date=February 16, 2009|url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080113103340/http://www.emmys.org/awards/awardsearch.php|archive-date=January 13, 2008}}</ref> 2004 for voicing several characters in "[[Today I Am a Clown]]",<ref>{{cite news |url= https://variety.com/2004/scene/awards/emmy-speaks-for-homer-1117908929/|title=Emmy speaks for Homer|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | last= Schneider| first= Michael|access-date=September 3, 2008 |date= August 10, 2004}}</ref> and 2009 for voicing Homer in "[[Father Knows Worst]]".<ref name= "cdn.emmys.tv">{{Cite web| url= http://cdn.emmys.tv/awards/2009ptemmys/61stemmys_nomswin_crtv.php?action=search_db#1|title=61st Primetime Emmy Awards Quick Search |access-date= September 12, 2009|date=September 12, 2009|publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]|url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090916135515/http://cdn.emmys.tv/awards/2009ptemmys/61stemmys_nomswin_crtv.php?action=search_db|archive-date=September 16, 2009}}</ref>

In 1993, Castellaneta was given a special [[Annie Award]], "Outstanding Individual Achievement in the Field of Animation", for his work as Homer on ''The Simpsons''.<ref>{{cite news|title='Aladdin' tops Annies|work=Variety|date=November 8, 1993|url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/aladdin-tops-annies-115692/|author=Sandler, Adam|access-date=February 16, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Legacy: 21st Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (1993)|publisher=[[Annie Award]]s|url=http://annieawards.org/21stwinners.html|access-date=February 16, 2009|url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080509183423/http://annieawards.org/21stwinners.html|archive-date=May 9, 2008}}</ref>

In 2004, Castellaneta and [[Julie Kavner]] (the voice of Marge) won a [[Young Artist Award]] for "Most Popular Mom & Dad in a TV Series".<ref name="YAA">{{cite news|url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms25.htm|title=25th Annual Winners and Nominees|access-date=February 16, 2009 | work= Youngartistawards.org|url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110802044855/http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms25.htm|archive-date=August 2, 2011}}</ref> Homer was placed second on ''[[TV Guide (magazine)|TV Guide]]''{{'}}s 2002 Top 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters,<ref name="Bugs">{{cite news |url= http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/30/cartoon.characters|title=Bugs Bunny tops greatest cartoon characters list|access-date=August 25, 2007 |date= July 30, 2002|publisher=[[CNN]]|url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070811182438/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/30/cartoon.characters|archive-date=August 11, 2007}}</ref> and in 2000, Homer and the rest of the Simpson family were awarded a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] located at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=February 16, 2009|url=http://www.tibp.com/cgi-bin/foxweb.dll/wlx/dir/wlxdirectory?cc=WOFAME++++&lcName=The+Simpsons| title= Hollywood Icons |work= tibp.com |publisher= Hollywood Chamber of Commerce}}</ref>

Until 1998, Castellaneta was paid $30,000 per episode.<ref name=Glaister/> During a pay dispute in 1998, Fox threatened to replace the six main voice actors with new actors, going as far as preparing for casting of new voices.<ref name=Glaister/> The dispute was soon resolved and Castellaneta began receiving $125,000 per episode until 2004, when the cast demanded to be paid $360,000 an episode.<ref name=Glaister>{{cite news |url= http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/02/1080544690429.html|title=Simpsons actors demand bigger share|access-date=February 15, 2009 |date=April 3, 2004| last= Glaister| first= Dan|work=The Age|location=Melbourne}}</ref> The issue was resolved a month later,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/simpsons-cast-goes-back-to-work/|title='Simpsons' Cast Goes Back To Work|access-date=February 15, 2009|date=May 1, 2004|work=[[CBS News]]|archive-date=September 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913212830/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/01/entertainment/main615066.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> with Castellaneta starting to earn $250,000 per episode.<ref>{{cite news|title=Meet the Simpsons|date=May 6, 2004|work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|Daily Express]]|author=Sheridan, Peter}}</ref> Following salary negotiations in 2008, the cast received 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> In 2011, with Fox threatening to cancel the series unless production costs were cut, the cast accepted a pay cut to around $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 the early 1990s, Castellaneta and his wife [[Deb Lacusta]] wrote a script for an episode in which Barney becomes sober, and pitched it to showrunner [[Al Jean]]. He liked the story but turned it down because he felt that it was too similar to "[[Duffless]]", an episode that the writers were already working on. The two waited for nearly a decade and offered an updated version of the script to later showrunner [[Mike Scully]], who liked it and had them make a few changes.<ref name="Wine">Affleck, Neil; Castellaneta, Dan; Lacusta, Deb; Maxtone-Graham, Ian; Meyer, George; Scully, Mike (2008). Commentary for "[[Days of Wine and D'oh'ses]]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Eleventh Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> Their script became the episode "[[Days of Wine and D'oh'ses]]".<ref>{{cite book|last=McCann|first=Jesse L. |title=[[The Simpsons Beyond Forever!: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family ...Still Continued]] |year= 2002|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|isbn=0-06-050592-3}}</ref> Castellaneta and his wife have also written the episodes "[[Gump Roast]]", "[[The Ziff Who Came to Dinner]]", "[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore]]", and "[[The Fight Before Christmas (The Simpsons)|The Fight Before Christmas]]". In [[59th Writers Guild of America Awards|2007]], they were nominated for a [[Writers Guild of America Award]] for the episode "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore".<ref name="WGA07">{{cite news| url= http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=2267|title=2007 Writers Guild Awards Television & Radio Nominees Announced|access-date=December 6, 2007 |publisher= Writers Guild of America|url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101224084340/http://wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=2267|archive-date=December 24, 2010}}</ref> Castellaneta is also credited as a consulting producer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Simpsons cast sign new pay deal|work=[[BBC|BBC News]]|date=June 3, 2008 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7434296.stm|access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref>

===Further career===
[[File:Dan Castellaneta 2.jpg|thumb|Castellaneta in 2002]]
Castellaneta has been a regular cast member in several other television series. In 1991, he played Warren Morris in the short-lived [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] live-action sitcom ''[[Sibs]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|work=[[Los Angeles Daily News]]|title=Castellaneta's Can-'D'oh' attitude|author=Whipp, Glenn|date=June 30, 1999}}</ref> Heide Perlman, creator of ''Sibs'', wrote the part with Castellaneta in mind.<ref name="carries">{{Cite news|title=Castellaneta's voice carries in Hollywood|author=King, Susan|date=April 12, 1992|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

He provided the voice of the eponymous character in ''The Adventures of [[Dynamo Duck]]'', [[Megavolt (Darkwing Duck)|Megavolt]] in ''[[Darkwing Duck]]'', [[Emmett Brown|"Doc" Emmett Brown]] in ''[[Back to the Future (TV series)|Back to the Future: The Animated Series]]'',<ref name="carries"/> the lead character in ''[[Earthworm Jim (TV series)|Earthworm Jim]]''<ref>{{Cite news|title=Worm conquers airwaves&nbsp;— Denair Grad's creation becomes new TV show|work=[[The Modesto Bee]]|author=Coats, Rusty|date=July 4, 1995}}</ref> and several characters, including Grandpa Phil and the Jolly Olly Man, the mentally unstable [[ice cream truck]] driver, on [[Nickelodeon]]'s ''[[Hey Arnold!]]''.<ref name="Ledger">{{Cite news|title=The voices behind 'The Simpsons'|work=[[The Star-Ledger]]|author=Duffy, Mike|date=January 6, 1997}}</ref> He guest starred as [[The Robot Devil]] in five episodes of ''[[Futurama]]'', as well as the ''Futurama'' film ''[[The Beast with a Billion Backs]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/arts/story.html?id=79746194-9cd1-4006-aaea-60072afbf292|title=Futurama back as baseball throws curve to schedule|author=Strachan, Alex|work=[[Victoria Times-Colonist]]|date=October 26, 2008|access-date=February 16, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006095644/http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/arts/story.html?id=79746194-9cd1-4006-aaea-60072afbf292|archive-date=October 6, 2011}}</ref>

Castellaneta has also made guest appearances in a number of television series episodes. In 1992, he guest-starred in an episode of the [[legal drama]] ''[[L.A. Law]]'', as a Homer Simpson [[meetable character]] at a California [[amusement park]] who is dismissed for inappropriate behavior while in costume.<ref>{{Cite news|title=New writers give 'L.A. Law' a needed lift|work=[[Dayton Daily News]]|author=Hopkins, Tom|date=October 22, 1992}}</ref> 
In 1996, he made a guest appearance as a Zoo Keeper in Season 2, Episode 12 "[[The One After the Superbowl]]" in [[Friends]].
In 2005, he appeared in the episode "Sword of Destiny" in ''[[Arrested Development]]'' as Dr. Stein, a [[deadpan]] incompetent doctor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DVD Review: Arrested Development&nbsp;— Season Two|url=http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=3602|work=The Trades|author=Burriel, Raul|date=October 12, 2005|access-date=February 16, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623143254/http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=3602|archive-date=June 23, 2009}}</ref>

In 2005, Castellaneta guest-starred as Joe Spencer in the ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' [[Stargate SG-1 (season 8)|season eight]] episode "[[Citizen Joe]]".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Richard Dean Anderson Marks SG-1's 200th|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/Richard-Dean-Anderson-39758.aspx|work=[[TV Guide (magazine)|TV Guide]]|date=August 18, 2006|access-date=February 16, 2009|author=Rudolph, Ileane}}</ref> He also appeared in episodes of ''[[ALF (TV series)|ALF]]'', ''[[Campus Ladies]]'', ''[[Castle (TV series)|Castle]]'', ''[[Entourage (American TV series)|Entourage]]'', ''[[Everybody Loves Raymond]]'', ''[[Frasier]]'', ''[[Friends]]'', ''[[Greek (TV series)|Greek]]'', ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/05/05/how-i-met-your-mother-right-place-right-time|title=How I Met Your Mother: Right Place Right Time|author=Keller, Joel|date=May 5, 2009|access-date=May 5, 2009|publisher=[[TV Squad]]}}</ref> ''[[Mad About You]]'', ''[[Married... with Children]]'', ''[[Murphy Brown]]'', ''[[NYPD Blue]]'', ''[[Parks and Recreation]]'', ''[[Reba (TV series)|Reba]]'', ''[[Reno 911!]]'', ''[[That '70s Show]]'', ''[[Veronica Mars]]'', ''[[Hot in Cleveland]]'', ''[[Yes, Dear]]'',<ref name="FoxFlash">{{Cite web|url=http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z2z2z175z13z4&bioid=1671|title=Dan Castellaneta|publisher=FoxFlash|access-date=February 15, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929001954/http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z2z2z175z13z4&bioid=1671|archive-date=September 29, 2011}}</ref> and ''[[Desperate Housewives]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/s21/desperatehousewives/news/a184185/simpsons-actor-to-visit-housewives.html|title='Simpsons' actor to visit 'Housewives'|last=Moody|first=Mike|date=October 29, 2009|website=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=October 29, 2009}}</ref>

He appeared as the [[Genie (Disney)|Genie]] in the ''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]'' sequel ''[[The Return of Jafar]]'' and on the 1994 ''[[Aladdin (animated TV series)|Aladdin]]'' television series. The Genie had been voiced by [[Robin Williams]] in ''Aladdin'', and Castellaneta described replacing him as "sort of like stepping into ''[[Hamlet (1948 film)|Hamlet]]'' after [[Laurence Olivier]] did it, how can you win?" He also provided Genie's voice in the ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' video game series<ref name="Aspen"/> for both ''[[Kingdom Hearts (video game)|Kingdom Hearts]]'' and ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'' (with archived audio used for ''[[Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories]]'' and its remake as well as for the later HD collections ''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix]]'' and ''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix]]''). Castellaneta portrayed [[Aaron Spelling]] in the 2004 [[NBC]] film ''Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Charlie's Angels'', which followed the true story of how Spelling created the show. Other films in which Castellaneta has appeared include ''[[Nothing in Common]]'', ''[[Say Anything...]]'', ''[[Super Mario Bros. (film)|Super Mario Bros.]]'', ''[[The Client (1994 film)|The Client]]'', ''[[Space Jam]]'', ''[[My Giant]]'', ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]'', ''[[Rugrats in Paris: The Movie]]'', ''[[Recess: School's Out]]'', ''[[Hey Arnold!: The Movie]]'', ''[[The Cat in the Hat (film)|The Cat in the Hat]]'' and ''[[The Pursuit of Happyness]]''.<ref name="FoxFlash"/>

In 2000, he won an [[Annie Award]] for his portrayal of the Postman in the animated Christmas television special ''[[Olive, the Other Reindeer]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Legacy: 28th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (2000)|publisher=[[Annie Award]]s|url=http://annieawards.org/28thwinners.html|access-date=February 16, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424041350/http://annieawards.org/28thwinners.html|archive-date=April 24, 2008}}</ref> In 2006, he appeared in [[Jeff Garlin]]'s independent film ''[[I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With]]'' along with several other [[List of alumni of the Second City|Second City alumni]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With|work=Variety|author=Scheib, Ronnie|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117930742.html?categoryid=31&cs=1|date=June 5, 2006|access-date=March 7, 2009}}</ref>

On February 22, 2000, his first music CD ''Two Lips'' was published.<ref>{{Cite news|work=[[Courier News]]|title=New releases|date=February 17, 2000 |author=Junior, Chris M.}}</ref> It was followed on April 23, 2002, by his first comedy CD, ''[[I Am Not Homer]]'', in which he and his wife perform several comedy skits. The majority of the sketches had been written and performed before the CD was recorded, and Castellaneta thought that it would be a good idea to preserve them "since [he and Lacusta] don't perform them much anymore."<ref name=celebcafe/>

Some came from their sketch series on a local radio station in Chicago and had to be lengthened from the "two-minute bits" that they were original, while several others were stage sketches performed in a comedy club in [[Santa Monica]].<ref name=barnes>{{cite news|url=http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/Interview.asp?CTR=583498|title=The Voice Behind Homer Simpson Steps into the Spotlight and...D'oh!|access-date=November 20, 2007|date=April 25, 2002|publisher=[[Barnes & Noble]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927002206/http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/Interview.asp?CTR=583498|archive-date=September 27, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Additionally, "Citizen Kane", a sketch in which two people discuss the film ''[[Citizen Kane]]'' with different meanings, was something the pair had performed at an art gallery.<ref name=barnes/> Castellaneta noted that "we already knew that these skits were funny, [but] some of them we polished and tightened."<ref name=barnes/> The skits were principally written by improvising from a basic point, transcribing the results, and then editing them to the finished scene.<ref name=barnes/> Castellaneta chose the title ''I Am Not Homer'' as a parody of [[Leonard Nimoy]]'s famous first autobiography ''[[I Am Not Spock]]'', as well as to show that most of the comedy featured "is not the typical [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] comedy."<ref name=celebcafe>{{cite news|url=http://www.thecelebritycafe.com/interviews/dan_castellaneta.html |title=Castellaneta, Dan&nbsp;— voice of Homer Simpson |access-date=November 19, 2007 |author=Miserandino, Dominick A. |publisher=The Celebrity Cafe |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212114904/http://thecelebritycafe.com/interviews/dan_castellaneta.html |archive-date=December 12, 2007 }}</ref>

Alongside his television and film work, Castellaneta has appeared in a number of theatrical productions. In 1992, he starred in ''Deb & Dan's Show'' alongside his wife.<ref>{{Cite news|title='Deb & Dan' funny but a bit long-winded |work=Los Angeles Daily News|author=Leader, Jody|date=April 11, 1992}}</ref> In 1995, Castellaneta started writing ''Where Did Vincent van Gogh?'', a [[one man play]] in which he portrays a dozen different characters, including artist [[Vincent van Gogh]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=A Parade of Lost Characters in Search of a Story Line|url=http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?pagewanted=print&res=9803E5D7173AF936A1575AC0A9669C8B63|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Weber, Bruce|date=September 25, 2000}}</ref> He first officially performed the play at the [[ACME Comedy Theatre]] in Los Angeles in 1999.<ref name="Aspen"/> In 2007, he appeared in ''The Bicycle Men'' at [[King's Head Theatre]] in London.<ref>{{Cite news|title=All the world's a stooge&nbsp;— The Bicycle Men|work=[[The Times]]|date=November 12, 2007|author=Nightingale, Benedict}}</ref>

Castellaneta hosted the final of [[New York City|New York]] comedy show Thrills and Spills on December 31, 2015. The final was held in [[Montgomery, Alabama]].{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

==Personal life==
In 1987, Castellaneta married writer and actress [[Deb Lacusta]], whom he had met at an [[Improvisation|improv]] class in [[Chicago]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/castellaneta99.html |author=Brownfield, Paul |title=He's Homer, but This Odyssey Is His Own |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=1999-07-06 |access-date=2009-02-15 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080512004132/http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/castellaneta99.html |archive-date=2008-05-12 }}</ref> They divide their time between [[Los Angeles]] and [[Santa Barbara, California]].<ref name= spot>{{cite news| url= https://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/hot-property/la-fi-hotprop-dan-castellaneta-20151021-story.html| title= Voice actor Dan Castellaneta of 'The Simpsons' buys a spot in Santa Barbara| work= Los Angeles Times| first= Lauren| last= Beale| date= October 21, 2015| access-date= September 20, 2020}}</ref>

Castellaneta is a [[vegetarian]] and [[Teetotalism|does not drink alcohol]]. He enjoys exercising regularly.<ref name="Tribune"/>

==Filmography==
{{see also|Dan Castellaneta filmography}}

==Discography==
{{See also|The Simpsons discography}}
{|class="wikitable"
!Album
!Released
!Label
!Notes
|-
| ''Two Lips''
| February 2000
| Oglio Records
| All-music comedy album<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic |class=album |id=r466043 |pure_url=yes}} |title=Two Lips: The Lost Album |website=Allmusic |author=Mason, Stewart |access-date=February 18, 2009}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[I Am Not Homer]]''
| April 23, 2002
| Oglio Records
| Comedy album released with Deb Lacusta<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic |class=album |id=r584566 |pure_url=yes}} |title=I Am Not Homer |website=Allmusic |author=Torreano, Bradley |access-date=February 18, 2009}}</ref>
|}

Also featured in:
* ''[[The Simpsons Sing the Blues]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Songs in the Key of Springfield]]'' (1997)
* ''[[The Yellow Album]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Go Simpsonic with The Simpsons]]'' (1999)
* ''[[The Simpsons: Testify]]'' (2007)

==Awards and nominations==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!style="background-color: #B0C4DE;"| Year
!style="background-color: #B0C4DE;"| Award
!style="background-color: #B0C4DE;"| Category
!style="background-color: #B0C4DE;"| Role
!style="background-color: #B0C4DE;"| Series
!style="background-color: #B0C4DE;"| Result
|-
| [[44th Primetime Emmy Awards|1992]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy Award]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance|Outstanding Voice-Over Performance]]
| Homer Simpson, Grampa, various others
| ''[[The Simpsons]]'': "[[Lisa's Pony]]"
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[45th Primetime Emmy Awards|1993]]
| Homer Simpson
| ''[[The Simpsons]]'': "[[Mr. Plow]]"
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Annie Award]]
| Outstanding Individual Achievement in the Field of Animation
| Various characters
| ''[[The Simpsons]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| 2000
| Outstanding Voice Acting by a Male Performer in a Television Series
| The Postman
| ''[[Olive, the Other Reindeer]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[2003 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards|2004]]
|[[Stinkers Bad Movie Award]]
|Most Annoying Non-Human Character
| rowspan="2" |[[Thing 1]], [[Thing 2]]
| rowspan="2" |[[The Cat in the Hat (film)|''The Cat in the Hat'']]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Golden Raspberry Award]]
|[[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Combo|Worst Screen Couple]]
|{{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance|Outstanding Voice-Over Performance]]
| Various characters
| ''[[The Simpsons]]'': "[[Today I Am A Clown]]"
| {{won}}
|-
| Young Artist Award
|Most Popular Mom & Pop in a Television Series
| Homer Simpson
| rowspan="2" | ''[[The Simpsons]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| 2007
| WGA Award
| Animation
| 
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[61st Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|2009]]
| rowspan="5" | [[Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance|Outstanding Voice-Over Performance]]<ref name="cdn.emmys.tv"/>
| Homer Simpson
| ''[[The Simpsons]]'': "[[Father Knows Worst]]"
|{{won}}
|-
| [[62nd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|2010]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance|Outstanding Voice-Over Performance]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/sites/emmys.com/files/62ndemmys_noms.pdf |title=2010 Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations |access-date=July 8, 2010 |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]}}</ref>
| Homer Simpson, Grampa Simpson
| ''[[The Simpsons]]'': "[[Thursdays with Abie]]"
|{{nom}}
|-
| [[63rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|2011]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance|Outstanding Voice-Over Performance]]<ref name=mainpage>{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/simpsons |title=The Simpsons |work=Emmys.com |publisher=Academy of Television Arts and Sciences |access-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref>
| Homer Simpson, Barney Gumble, Krusty the Clown, Louie
| ''[[The Simpsons]]'': "[[Donnie Fatso]]"
|{{nom}}
|-
| [[67th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|2015]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance|Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance]]<ref name="mainpage-2" />
| Homer Simpson
| ''[[The Simpsons]]'': "[[Bart's New Friend]]"
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[70th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|2018]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance|Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance]]<ref name="mainpage-2">{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/simpsons |title=The Simpsons |work=Emmys.com |publisher=Academy of Television Arts and Sciences |access-date=July 12, 2018}}</ref>
| Homer Simpson/Krusty the Clown/Groundskeeper Willie and Sideshow Mel
| ''[[The Simpsons]]'': "[[Fears of a Clown]]"
| {{nom}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Portal|The Simpsons|Biography}}
* {{IMDb name|144657}}
* {{tcmdb name}}
* {{EmmyTVLegends name|dan-castellaneta}}

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{{s-bef|before=[[Jeff Bergman]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=''Thrills & Spills'' final host|years=2015}}
{{s-aft|after=[[David Walliams]]}}
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{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Dan Castellaneta
|list =
{{Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production}}
{{EmmyAward VoiceOver}}
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[[Category:1957 births]]
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[[Category:American impressionists (entertainers)]]
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