Hank Azaria

Actor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his one-hour-and-forty-five-minute interview, Hank Azaria talks about his early life and his decision to pursue a career in acting, which led to his first job, in an Italian gum commercial. He describes going on several auditions in both New York and Los Angeles, which led to him being cast as "Moe Szyslak" on The Simpsons. He recounts his many years on The Simpsons, working with Sam Simon and James L. Brooks, and voicing such characters as "Apu Nahasapeemapetilon," "Jeff Albertson a.k.a. The Comic Book Guy," "Snake," "Lou the Cop," "Professor Frink," and others. Azaria discusses the cultural impact of The Simpsons and the legacy of the show. He outlines working with Jack Lemmon in the made-for-television movie Tuesdays with Morrie, and details the experience of working with Lemmon and what he learned from him. He talks about other projects, including the documentary series Fatherhood, his guest-starring role on Friends, and playing "Craig Huffstodt" in the Showtime series Huff. He concludes by discussing career highlights and regrets, and talking about how he'd like to be remembered. Jenni Matz conducted the interview on April 6, 2015 in New York, NY.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"The Simpsons was brilliant writing, it was hilarious, and from the get-go unbelievably well-received. You knew you were part of something amazing right from the beginning."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Hank Azaria on playing "Moe Szyslak" on The Simpsons
02:24
Hank Azaria on playing "Apu Nahasapeemapetilon" on The Simpsons
04:45
Hank Azaria on playing "Mitch Albom" in Tuesdays with Morrie, co-starring Jack Lemmon 
07:42
Hank Azaria on guest-starring on Friends
02:35
Hank Azaria on advice to an aspiring actor
02:11
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on television he watched growing up; on moving to New York to pursue acting
On his first professional acting job in an Italian gum commercial; on moving to Los Angeles and getting an agent; on going on various auditions
On being cast as "Moe Szyslak" on The Simpsons; on what attracted him to The Simpsons and the state of FOX when it was launched; on working with James L. Brooks on The Simpsons
On playing "Moe Szyslak" on The Simpsons; on playing "Apu Nahasapeemapetilon" on The Simpsons; on playing "Jeff Albertson a.k.a. The Comic Book Guy", "Snake", "Lou the Cop", "Kirk Van Houten", and "Professor Frink" on the show
On playing "Dr. Nick Riviera" and "Disco Stu" on The Simpsons and improving lines on the show; on characters he wishes he could have done on The Simpsons and his favorite character; on the production on an episode of The Simpsons; on the cultural impact of the show
On censorship issues on The Simpsons; on winning Emmy Awards for his work on The Simpsons  

Chapter 2

On the guest stars of The Simpsons; on keeping The Simpsons fresh for himself; on the cast's contract negotiations; on the legacy of The Simpsons
On guest-starring on Friends; on starring as "Craig Huffstodt" on the series Huff; on playing "Mitch Albom" in Tuesdays with Morrie, co-starring Jack Lemmon 
On producing and directing the documentary series Fatherhood;  on his mentors; on advice to an aspiring actor
On his proudest career achievement and his career regrets; on dream roles or projects; on how he'd like to be remembered 
Shows

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Hank Azaria on winning Emmy awards for his work in The Simpsons
02:06

Friends

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Hank Azaria on guest-starring on Friends
02:35

Huff

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Hank Azaria on starring as "Craig Huffstodt" on the series Huff
03:21

Simpsons, The

View Show Page
Hank Azaria on being cast as "Moe Szyslak" and other characters on The Simpsons and working with Sam Simon on developing the voices
05:39
Hank Azaria on what attracted him to The Simpsons and the state of FOX when it was launched
02:49
Hank Azaria on working with James L. Brooks on The Simpsons
01:34
Hank Azaria on playing "Moe Szyslak" on The Simpsons
02:24
Hank Azaria on playing "Apu Nahasapeemapetilon" on The Simpsons
04:45
Hank Azaria on playing "Jeff Albertson a.k.a. The Comic Book Guy," "Snake," and "Lou the Cop" on The Simpsons
03:25
Hank Azaria on playing "Kirk Van Houten" and "Professor Frink," who was based on Jerry Lewis, on The Simpsons
02:28
Hank Azaria on playing "Dr. Nick Riviera" and "Disco Stu" on The Simpsons and improving lines on the show
04:17
Hank Azaria on characters he wishes he could have done on The Simpsons and his favorite character
01:56
Hank Azaria on the production on an episode of The Simpsons
04:11
Hank Azaria on censorship issues on The Simpsons
01:56
Hank Azaria on winning Emmy awards for his work in The Simpsons
02:06
Hank Azaria on playing "Frank Grimes" on The Simpsons episode "Homer's Enemy" and other favorite episodes of his
03:54
Hank Azaria on the cultural impact of The Simpsons
04:02
Hank Azaria on the guest stars of The Simpsons
02:46
Hank Azaria on keeping The Simpsons fresh for himself; on the cast's contract negotiations 
02:43
Hank Azaria on the legacy of The Simpsons
01:51
Topics

Advice

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Hank Azaria on advice to an aspiring actor
02:11

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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Hank Azaria on censorship issues on The Simpsons
01:56

Characters & Catchphrases

View Topic
Hank Azaria on being cast as "Moe Szyslak" and other characters on The Simpsons  and working with Sam Simon on developing the voices
05:39
Hank Azaria on playing "Moe Szyslak" on The Simpsons
02:24
Hank Azaria on playing "Apu Nahasapeemapetilon" on The Simpsons
04:45
Hank Azaria on playing "Jeff Albertson a.k.a. The Comic Book Guy," "Snake," and "Lou the Cop" on The Simpsons
03:25
Hank Azaria on playing "Kirk Van Houten" and "Professor Frink," who was based on Jerry Lewis, on The Simpsons
02:28
Hank Azaria on playing "Dr. Nick Riviera" and "Disco Stu" on The Simpsons  and improving lines on the show
04:17

Creative Influences and Inspiration

View Topic
Hank Azaria on his mentors
01:48

Emmy Awards

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Hank Azaria on winning Emmy awards for his work in The Simpsons
02:06

Pivotal Career Moments

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Hank Azaria on his mentors
01:48

Pop Culture

View Topic
Hank Azaria on being cast as "Moe Szyslak" and other characters on The Simpsons  and working with Sam Simon on developing the voices
05:39
Hank Azaria on playing "Moe Szyslak" on The Simpsons
02:24
Hank Azaria on playing "Apu Nahasapeemapetilon" on The Simpsons
04:45
Hank Azaria on playing "Jeff Albertson a.k.a. The Comic Book Guy," "Snake," and "Lou the Cop" on The Simpsons
03:25
Hank Azaria on playing "Kirk Van Houten" and "Professor Frink," who was based on Jerry Lewis, on The Simpsons
02:28
Hank Azaria on playing "Dr. Nick Riviera" and "Disco Stu" on The Simpsons  and improving lines on the show
04:17

Television Industry

View Topic
Hank Azaria on censorship issues on The Simpsons
01:56
Hank Azaria on advice to an aspiring actor
02:11
Professions

Actor

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Hank Azaria on advice to an aspiring actor
02:11

Performers

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Hank Azaria on advice to an aspiring actor
02:11
Genres

Animation

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Hank Azaria on playing various characters on The Simpsons
46:37
Hank Azaria on playing various characters on The Simpsons (Part 2)
07:20

Comedy Series

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Hank Azaria on playing various characters on The Simpsons
46:37
Hank Azaria on playing various characters on The Simpsons  (Part 2)
07:20

Commercials

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Hank Azaria on his first professional acting job in an Italian gum commercial
00:50

News and Documentary

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Hank Azaria on producing and directing the documentary series Fatherhood
04:39

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

View Genre
Hank Azaria on playing "Mitch Albom" in Tuesdays with Morrie  co-starring Jack Lemmon 
07:42
People

James L. Brooks

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Hank Azaria on working with James L. Brooks on The Simpsons
01:34

Jack Lemmon

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Hank Azaria on playing "Mitch Albom" in Tuesdays with Morrie  co-starring Jack Lemmon 
07:42

Sam Simon

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Hank Azaria on being cast as "Moe Szyslak" and other characters on The Simpsons  and working with Sam Simon on developing the voices
05:39

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