Harry Shearer's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) The Simpsons Ned Flanders Lenny Leonard Montgomery … Waylon Smit… Principal S… Kent Brockman Rev. Lovejoy Dr. Hibbert Rainer Wolf… Blinky Tonight with Jonathan Ross (UK) Derek Smalls Rockline on MTV Derek Smalls Sunday Best (1991) Sketch Char… The Cutting Edge Harry Shearer

Main Movie Roles

BIOGRAPHY:

Harry Shearer was born in 1943 in Los Angeles, California. His film debut was with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello (I) in Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953), followed by The Robe (1953). Probably best known for his "Saturday Night Live" (1975) gigs, his NPR satire program "Le Show" and "The Simpsons" (1989), where he plays 21 characters. His best film may be This Is Spinal Tap (1984), where he played bass player Derek Smalls. There was also an episode on "The Simpsons" (1989) where he reprised this role. His film work includes Godzilla (1998), in which "Simpsons" cast members Hank Azaria and Nancy Cartwright (I) also appeared. Shearer has also directed a film, Teddy Bears' Picnic (2002), in which he also stars.


TRIVIA:

• Is the voice of the announcer for between-show trivia tidbits and network commercials on TV Land.
• He's the only one of the six principal voice actors on _"The Simpsons" (1989)_ (qv) not to have done a DVD commentary for the series.
• One of three voice artists on _"The Simpsons" (1989)_ (qv) to guest star on the show _"Friends" (1994)_ (qv). The other two are 'Dan Castellaneta' (qv) and 'Hank Azaria' (qv).
• Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". New Revision Series, Volume 171, pages 373-377. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Cengage Learning, 2008.
• Although he was the second actor to voice Mr. Burns on _"The Simpsons" (1989)_ (qv), he was the first to utter the line "Smithers . . . release the hounds.".
• His middle name is Julius, which is also the first name of Dr Hibbert, a character for which he does the voice on _"The Simpsons" (1989)_ (qv).
• At 21 characters, he has the widest range of roles on _"The Simpsons" (1989)_ (qv), including the maniacal Mr. Burns, local celebrity news anchor Kent Brockman and the Springfield God Squad Reverend Lovejoy and Ned Flanders.
• Appeared in _This Is Spinal Tap (1984)_ (qv) before being cast on _"The Simpsons" (1989)_ (qv). In the episode "The Otto Show," Bart and Milhouse go to a Spinal Tap concert. Shearer, as well as 'Michael McKean (I)' (qv) and 'Christopher Guest (I)' (qv), all reprised their roles. This marked the only time on the show that a cast member reprised a film role for the series and makes Shearer the only regular cast member to have done so.