Dan Castellaneta (b. 1957)

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Biography

Daniel Louis Castellaneta 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, Kodos, Itchy, Santa's Little Helper, and Barney Gumble. Castellaneta is also known for voicing Grandpa Phil 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, Back to the Future: The Animated Series, Aladdin, Earthworm Jim, and Taz-Mania.

Timeline

The story of Dan Castellaneta, told in moments.

1957 Birth

Born on Chicago's south side and raised in River Forest, Illinois. His father was Italian-American. Studied theater at Northern Illinois University.

Did growing up on Chicago's south side shape your sense of humor? When did you know comedy was your path?

1987 Life

Began voicing Homer Simpson on The Tracey Ullman Show short segments. The character started as a Walter Matthau impression and evolved from there.

How did Homer evolve from a Walter Matthau impression? What piece of yourself is in Homer?

1989 Event

The Simpsons premiered as a half-hour series on Fox. Castellaneta voiced Homer, Grampa Simpson, Krusty the Clown, Groundskeeper Willie, Barney Gumble, Mayor Quimby, and dozens more characters.

Did you realize the show would run for decades? Which of all those characters is closest to you?

1992 Event

Won his first Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance. He'd win four in total. "D'oh" was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2001.

How does it feel to have a word you created in the Oxford Dictionary? Did the Emmys feel deserved?

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