Simpsons Characters: Full List of Main and Supporting Roles

For more than three decades, the residents of Springfield have become as familiar as our own neighbors. Whether you grew up quoting Bart’s catchphrases or still chuckle at Homer’s mishaps, the show’s massive cast is part of what makes it endlessly rewatchable. This guide walks through the main family, the most memorable supporting characters, and how to find images and names for every character in the lineup.

First aired: December 17, 1989 (on The Tracey Ullman Show) ·
Number of seasons: 35 (as of 2024) ·
Main cast members: 5 (Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie) ·
Total episodes: over 760 ·
Creator: Matt Groening

The pattern here is clear: the show’s long run creates both a deep bench and a shifting canon, meaning any character guide must balance certainty with caveats.

The implication: the character universe is vast, but the core family anchors everything.

Who are the main characters in The Simpsons?

Homer Simpson

• Homer Jay Simpson is the bumbling, overweight father of the Simpson family. He works as a safety inspector at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• His catchphrases include “D’oh!” and “Mmm… donuts.” He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta (IMDb (film database)).

Marge Simpson

• Marjorie “Marge” Simpson is the patient, loving mother with a distinctive blue beehive hairstyle. She often serves as the moral compass of the family (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• Voiced by Julie Kavner since the show’s inception (IMDb (film database)).

Bart Simpson

• Bartholomew “Bart” Simpson is the mischievous 10-year-old son known for prank calls and his skateboard. His catchphrase “Eat my shorts!” became a cultural staple (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• Voiced by Nancy Cartwright (IMDb (film database)).

Lisa Simpson

• Lisa Marie Simpson is the intelligent, saxophone-playing 8-year-old daughter who often challenges authority and champions progressive causes (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• Voiced by Yeardley Smith (IMDb (film database)).

Maggie Simpson

• Margaret “Maggie” Simpson is the baby of the family, known for her pacifier and occasional moments of surprising competence. She rarely speaks but has been voiced by several actors for sounds (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• The family pets include Snowball II (the cat) and Santa’s Little Helper (the dog) (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

The pattern: each family member fills a specific dramatic role, and their interplay is what makes the show endure.

Who are the most notable supporting characters in The Simpsons?

Milhouse Van Houten

• Milhouse is Bart’s best friend, a nerdy and often unlucky 10-year-old with thick glasses and a distinctive voice. He is voiced by Pamela Hayden (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• His catchphrase “Everything’s coming up Milhouse!” is a running gag (IGN (gaming and entertainment media)).

Mr. Burns

• Charles Montgomery Burns is the elderly, wealthy owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. He is Homer’s boss and one of the show’s primary antagonists (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• Voiced by Harry Shearer. His catchphrase “Excellent…” is iconic (IMDb (film database)).

Moe Szyslak

• Moe is the bartender and owner of Moe’s Tavern, a dive bar frequented by Homer and his friends. He is voiced by Hank Azaria (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• His catchphrase “Hey, everybody! Get a load of this guy!” is a staple (IGN (gaming and entertainment media)).

Ned Flanders

• Nedward “Ned” Flanders is the Simpsons’ devoutly Christian, kind-hearted neighbor. He is known for his cheerful demeanor and catchphrase “Okely-dokely!” (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• Voiced by Harry Shearer (IMDb (film database)).

Chief Wiggum

• Chief Clancy Wiggum is the bumbling, overweight police chief of Springfield. He is the father of Ralph Wiggum (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• Voiced by Hank Azaria (IMDb (film database)).

Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

• Apu is the owner of the Kwik-E-Mart convenience store. He is known for his catchphrase “Thank you, come again!” (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• Voiced by Hank Azaria. The character has been the subject of controversy regarding racial stereotyping (The Guardian (news and opinion outlet)).

Krusty the Clown

• Herschel Shmoikel Pinchas Yerucham Krustofsky, known as Krusty the Clown, is a washed-up television clown and Bart’s idol. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• His catchphrase “Hey, hey, kids!” is widely recognized (IGN (gaming and entertainment media)).

Seymour Skinner

• Principal Seymour Skinner is the uptight, often neurotic principal of Springfield Elementary School. He is voiced by Harry Shearer (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• His catchphrase “I am not a weenie!” is a fan favorite (IGN (gaming and entertainment media)).

What categories of Simpsons characters exist (female, bus driver, bartender, etc.)?

Female characters

• Key female characters include Marge, Lisa, Maggie, Mrs. Edna Krabappel (Bart’s teacher), and Helen Lovejoy (the minister’s wife) (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• Other notable women: Dr. Julius Hibbert’s wife Bernice, and the elderly Mrs. Glick (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

School-related characters

• Principal Seymour Skinner, Mrs. Krabappel, Groundskeeper Willie, and Lunchlady Doris form the school staff (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• Student characters include Milhouse, Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, and Martin Prince (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

Workplace characters

• At the nuclear plant: Mr. Burns, Waylon Smithers (his executive assistant), Lenny Leonard, and Carl Carlson (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• At Moe’s Tavern: Moe Szyslak (bartender) and regulars like Barney Gumble (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

Villains

• Sideshow Bob (Krusty’s former sidekick and Bart’s nemesis), Mr. Burns, and the Squeaky-Voiced Teen are recurring antagonists (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• Kang and Kodos (the alien duo) appear in Halloween specials (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

Residents of Springfield

• Professor Frink (the eccentric scientist), Comic Book Guy (the sarcastic store owner), and Disco Stu (the disco-obsessed character) are among the town’s colorful residents (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• The bus driver is Otto Mann, a hippie bus driver who loves rock music (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

The pattern: these categories aren’t arbitrary; they reflect the social layers of Springfield itself, making the town feel lived-in.

How are Simpsons characters ranked (e.g., order of excellence, popularity)?

Fan rankings

• Comic Vine’s “Simpsons Characters, in Order of Excellence” ranks characters by humor and impact, with Mr. Burns and Moe often topping the list (Comic Vine (fan-driven database)).
• IGN’s “The Simpsons: 100 Greatest Characters” is a widely cited ranking that places Homer, Mr. Burns, and Moe in the top spots (IGN (gaming and entertainment media)).

Official lists

• No single official ranking exists from Fox or the show’s creators, but consensus favorites emerge from fan polls and media lists (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)).
• Wikipedia’s list is organized alphabetically, not by ranking, but provides the most comprehensive character catalog (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

Character popularity metrics

• YouTube videos ranking characters “Good to Evil” attract millions of views, indicating strong fan engagement (YouTube (video platform)).
• Mr. Burns and Moe are consistently cited as top characters across multiple ranking lists (IGN (gaming and entertainment media)).

The catch: any ranking reflects the bias of its creator, so using multiple sources gives a balanced view.

Where can I find images and names of all Simpsons characters?

Image galleries

• Getty Images and Pinterest host thousands of character images, many available under fair use for educational purposes (Oxford Reference (academic reference)).
• Fan sites like Scratchpad Fandom organize character images by category, with 94 items in their Simpsons characters category (Scratchpad Fandom (fan wiki)).

Official sources

• Fox’s official Simpsons website provides character bios and images (Fox (original network)).
• IMDb offers character pages with images and episode appearances (IMDb (film database)).

Fan wikis

• Wikipedia’s “List of The Simpsons characters” is the most comprehensive alphabetical reference, with descriptions and episode debut dates (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• GitHub Gists provide strict alphabetical lists, including obscure names like Valerie Togasaki-Rothman and Zutroy (GitHub Gist (developer community)).

The implication: image availability varies by source, and comprehensive catalogs differ by inclusion criteria — so cross-checking is essential.

“I wanted them to be dysfunctional and relatable. The Simpsons are based on my own family – my father was Homer, my mother was Marge, and I was Bart.”

— Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, in a 2012 interview with The Smithsonian

“The main episode characters, the Simpson family, are listed first; all other characters are listed in alphabetical order.”

— Wikipedia, “List of The Simpsons characters”

The Simpsons has created one of the most extensive character universes in television history. With over 100 recurring characters and countless one-off appearances, the show’s legacy depends on this rich cast. For fans looking to explore further, the Simpsons episodes guide and Simpsons history articles provide deeper context. For the casual viewer, the implication is clear: start with the main family, then explore the supporting cast — or risk missing half the jokes.

The full list of characters is complemented by a detailed guide to the voice actors behind the characters.

Frequently asked questions