Who Can Name All These The Simpsons Characters?
- by Edward Cambro
- – on
- in Movies and TV
The Simpsons. The first family of the United States of America. Who would have thought that after the dust settled the best TV dads turned out to be Homer Simpson, Al Bundy and Hank Hill? Well, the latter one isn’t a surprise at least. Anyway, as far as iconic television goes, it doesn’t get much bigger than The Simpsons. Creator Matt Groening wanted the town of Springfield to feel real and lived-in. To that end, we’ve seen major landmarks pop up in the show and have learned about its history. There are even maps of Springfield out there for purchase. However, the biggest difference-maker was Groening’s instance on a large cast. And this show has a gigantic one.
From main characters to recurring characters, to tertiary and recurring extras, there are enough people in Springfield to actually populate a town. While the exact number is debated, the Simpsons wiki page has nearly 4000 individual character pages. That is a massive undertaking that is ever so slightly diminished by the fact that the series has over 550 episodes and has been on for 30 years. That said, true fans would know these characters by sight alone. Let’s see how many there are out there.
Who is this character?
Let’s start out with a touchstone. If this question is answered incorrectly, it doesn’t bode well for the rest of the quiz. But take it anyway. Call it a learning experience. In the early years of the show he was written as a dense but hardworking and devoted family man. One of his throwaway lines (“The only thing a loser like me is good for is taking beatings”) underlines his own struggles with depression and his worries about providing for his family.
Who is this character?
Jebediah Springfield founded, well, Springfield. His best friend, however—the man in the picture here—founded Shelbyville next door to the town after the two had a falling out. Apparently, he had a fixation on making cousin-marrying legal and this was something Jebediah Springfield would not abide. While Springfield’s status as a decent man has been called into question (along with his possible connection to outlaw pirate Hans Sprungfeld), the founder of Shelbyville seemed to be portrayed accurately; a man who loves his cousin. A lot.
Who is this character?
This one’s quite easy. He’s a movie star after all. His filmography includes such classics as The Erotic Adventures of Hercules, The President's Neck is Missing, and Suddenly Last Supper. His career took a downturn for a while after rumors spread a fish paraphilia. How accurate this is, we can only speculate. For a time, he was connected to Selma Bouvier who is technically a woman, so there’s that. The legacy of this character (and the others Phil Hartman voiced) have left an indelible mark on the series.
Who is this character?
Outside of Dave Coulier, I don’t think there’s a single children’s entertainer who turned out to be a nice guy (precluding Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know” is actually about him). Springfield’s resident TV clown is a chain-smoking, gambling and rage addict. He is a good guy under all that garbage, but it’s clear that show business has damaged him deeply. Geez, this got dark. Go to an Itchy and Scratchy cartoon. What? We can’t afford it. Fine. Work and Parasite it is.
Who is this character?
“Whatever. I tried.” Ah, the age-old motto of the long-time teacher. To be fair to her, Springfield Elementary is deeply underfunded. The only books they have are ones banned by other schools (including The Satanic Verses, Theory of Evolution, and Tek War); their lunch meat is made from recycled gym mats. She has tried to work around the lack of funding and her own personal difficulties (divorce, consequential loneliness and heavy drinking) and eventually did find love…with Ned Flanders.
Who is this character?
Some characters get busy; he gets biz-aay. This anthropomorphized dog is the coolest. It’s easy to tell; he rides a skateboard, wears his hat backwards and is in your face TO THE EXTREME (but still in a safe, family friendly, corporate way). He was introduced to shake up the homogenous Itchy and Scratchy show. He was clearly a great addition to the cast, but due to unforeseen circumstances (his home planet was in danger), he was forced to leave prematurely. Unfortunately, on his way home, his rocket exploded, killing him. Pour one out.
Who is this character?
I’ve always liked this character; we both enjoy a good belt of scotch to start the day off. As Bart’s lawyer (and over time the entire Simpson clan), we saw a great deal of him in the early years of the series. His ongoing bouts of alcohol-fueled depression, ambulance-chasing sleaziness and steep moral decline (again, we have a great deal in common) were a common subplot in the episodes he appeared in. He’s also an accomplished shyster and criminal, having a multitude of pseudonyms and false identities.
Who is this character?
Some erroneously believe this unnamed character is based on Vincent Price (at least in appearance). In reality, both this character’s appearance and his bizarrely modulating inflection are based on classic character actor Frank Nelson. Nelson, who passed in 1986, is likely not well known to the Simpsons substantially younger fanbase, so the confusion is understandable. The character doesn’t have much to him; he’s there for the quick gag and eccentric speech patterns, which led to this uncomfortable moment: Homer: “Why do you talk like that?” Character: “I had a stro-o-o-ke!”
Who is this character?
There’s not much dignity in being Krusty the Clown’s sidekick. To be fair, there’s not much dignity in being anything related to him. He’s something of a vortex of moral and emotional decay. So, it’s rather understandable that this former sidekick attempted to frame him for armed robbery, has tried innumerable times to murder Bart Simpson, and once set off a nuclear weapon in Springfield. Despite all of this, however, he still has a girlfriend and I don’t.
Who is this character?
Like many of the characters in the Simpsons’ ever-growing cast, she was meant to only make a single appearance. However, that one appearance turned into another, with her roles expanding slightly over several seasons. She’s also incredible…colorful. A self-described sexual predator, alcoholic and hater of the young, she also has had so much botox she can no longer cry. She’s also a doomsday prepper, which makes its own sense, and can’t hold down a job for very long due to the aforementioned sexual deviancy.
Who is this character?
“If you’re going to beat up my friend in my bar there’s a two-drink minimum.” If only all bartenders were as loyal as this one. This character is the local chemist, serving very little for a lot of money. He’s also into a great deal of illegal activities (hosting Russian Roulette games, whale trafficking, illegal gambling and running a speakeasy). He makes attempts to be a better person and reach out in the hope of making a connection but fails every time.
What is this character’s middle name?
Let’s do something a little different for this entry. This is Montgomery Burns. Everybody knows that. Of course, over the years, the centenarian power plant owner has been sometimes introduced as C. Montgomery Burns. We’re asking: What does the C. stand for? Try not to be vulgar now; we know what everyone’s thinking. It’s not like ol’ Monty hasn’t gone out of his way to make himself unpopular—he’s blocked out the sun, contaminated Springfield’s waters and once used a power drill on Hans Moleman’s head. He’s not exactly a sweetheart.
What is his first name?
As a matter of fact, nobody likes Mr. Burns. Except one person. This guy. Smithers. Monty’s personal assistant. Like with the last entry, we’ll be asking for Smithers’ rarely used first name. Over the years, we’ve gotten to knows Smithers and his (ahem) lifestyle, along with why he chooses to remain employed by the unpleasant and half-crazy geezer. When Smithers finally revealed he was gay, Burns said he already knew and did not care; their friendship came first. It was a rare moment of warmth from the old bag, which is surprisingly considering how rarely the rotten apricot that is his heart beats.
Who is this character?
Now a hard one. Remember her? Probably not. This is Krusty’s assistant. She made a number of appearances in the early years of the show and was an integral part of several Krusty-centric plots. Usually she was there to pull Krusty back from whatever brink he was currently on. The writers named her after a James Bond character, considering the role she played in Krusty’s life and the fact she was not-so-secretly in love with him. She hasn’t been seen in quite some time, so clearly things worked out perfectly for her.
Who is this character?
Before Moe became Springfield’s creepy uncle, this character was the seedy, shifty, semi-criminal running around town. As the owner of a military antiques store, he houses a great deal of weapons and has been involved with a series of crimes. This culminated in two rather dark moments: kidnapping Snake and Chief Wiggum (the Pulp Fiction parody) and taking the Simpson kids hostage. He isn’t used much anymore except for as a background character, likely because his villainy became so overt and is too dark for what is still ostensibly a kid’s show.
Who is this character?
Of all the braindead slobs who patronize Moe’s Tavern, this one is possibly the slovenliest. According to him, something did crawl down his throat but has not yet died. A raging alcoholic possibly from childhood (continuity keeps changing), his life was set for great things until, well, he met Homer Simpson. And like most people who encounter him, his life was forever changed for the negative. But at least he didn’t get pregnant three times from it. Also, we don’t want to know the story behind this character and Moe’s pool table.
Who is this character?
Prior to Colorado sociopath Eric Cartman breaking out onto the scene, this character was animation’s underage bad boy. This 90s Dennis the Menace kept the patented slingshot but also added a backwards baseball cap and a skateboard because, again, it was the 90s. However, unlike Cartman, this bad boy does have a heart of gold. For years the debate has raged as to whether this character or Homer is the true protagonist of the Simpsons. In the dulcet tone of Larry King: What say you?
Who is this character?
Everybody knows (Leonard Cohen reference) that this character is one of the Springfield Elementary bullies. His name, however, just isn’t used very often and he rarely has the amount of dialogue the others do. But it has been mentioned from time to time. It’s difficult to say if this name is best used for a rockstar, pornstar, or action hero, but it is an awesome one nonetheless. His father cameoed in an episode where he beat up Homer for suggesting he was a bad father.
Who is this character?
Okay, so this is Grandpa Simpson. He’s very well known in Simpsons fandom and to the normies out there, so giving this away isn’t exactly a big deal. Like we did Burns and Smithers, we’re asking for Grandpa’s rarely mentioned first name. Again, it’s probably not the hardest question on the quiz, but sometimes we deserve a break. Anyway, Grandpa and Homer have a complicated relationship that is well-explored in the season 23 episode (surprising, right?) “Holidays of Future Passed.”
Who is this character?
Poor, sweet, dumb sidekick. Bart’s perennially uncool and put-upon best friend/lackey/fall-guy is constantly dealing with the fallout of Bart’s latest scheme or prank. He’s literally been covered in cement and was once a hunted fugitive thanks to his best friend’s capricious nature. The boy has had some good luck from time to time—a girlfriend, his parents got back together, his flood pants worked—so it’s not all bad. Just usually bad. He’s probably the closest parallel to Charlie Brown in modern animation, only without the childhood baldness which I never quite understood.
Who is this character?
Springfield’s resident newsman has been a treasure of one-liners and in-universe social commentary. He also once sold-out the human race to what he believed to be giant alien ants (“I for one welcome our new insect overlords and I’d like to remind them as a trusted TV personality I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in the underground sugar caves.”) Not the best day for journalism or dignity, but there have been worse instances.
Who is this character?
This member of the Simpson clan breaks the stereotype of the middle child. She also breaks the stereotype that the Simpson family is yellow trash. Incredibly intelligent and never averse to lording it over anyone in listening range, she’s promoted as the “common sense” character of the series. Of course, the reaction to her isn’t always positive. To quote the ever-patient Ned Flanders, this character is “Springfield’s answer to a question nobody asked.” Sure, it was rather mean, but it was accurate.
Who is this mommy?
The Simpson family matriarch has an interesting backstory. She’s been both a police officer and an inmate in Springfield Women’s Penitentiary. Her hair disobeys the laws of physics and is the most accidentally funny member of the family. She’s also the most self-aware, but that’s not saying much. Over the years she’s gone somewhat native, often acting as crazily as Bart or Homer. She is, of course, still a censorious killjoy, but this is the central point of the character (add disapproving murmur here).
Who is this character?
Of the Springfield Elementary bullies, this character has had by far the most development. While Bart clearly has a heart of gold under the bad-boy mystique, the revelation of this character’s decency was, well, a revelation—as was his romance with Lisa Simpson. Of course, this left Milhouse sad and dejected, but that’s his standard operating procedure, so it’s not like it’s a major change in his routine. This character has remained rough around the edges, which is for the best.
Who is this character?
The 90s were a weird time in pop-culture. Shows like the Simpsons are time capsules for the era in which the episodes were made. Not all of these references and jokes age well, but to write for timelessness is the literary equivalent of chasing the dragon. Where Batman: The Animated Series created a Johnnie Cochran parody, the Simpsons made a Mike Tyson one. This character had Tyson’s legal difficulties and his inimitable voice and speech pattern. He also almost caved Homer’s skull in once, had it not been for Moe and a jetpack.
Who is this character?
While Springfield’s Italian chef is the very definition of a tertiary character (and the Simpsons series has no problem with not giving characters real names—Comic Book Guy, Rich Texan, etc.) but as it turns out, the guy does actually have a name. I pride myself on my knowledge of the show and was very surprised to recently find this out. Of course, the chef himself doesn’t have much development still, but that’s hardly a problem. Oddly enough, he claims to only speak broken English and not Italian.
Who is this character?
Controversy has surrounded this humble Kwik-E-Mart store owner in recent history. In all that mess, some things about this character have been seemingly forgotten. I cannot about this. We must never forget that he is a proud American citizen, devoted family man, volunteer firefighter, a small business owner and pillar of the community, who loves classic rock and drives a classic Firebird Trans-Am. He was also a founding member of the Be Sharps, a famous barbershop quartet—an oxymoron if there ever was one—back in the 80s.
Who is this character?
The best neighbor in history. Homer has borrowed all of his tools and treated him like human garbage. In return, this owner of the Springfield Leftorium has done nothing but turn the other cheek (aside from that very public nervous breakdown a few years back and that suspected DUI, but we all have bad days, don’t we?). The admittedly pious man has had a rough go of it. A multi-time widower, he was forced to raise two kids on his own until finding a steady girlfriend in Edna Krabappel.
Who is this character?
We mentioned earlier that Comic Book Guy didn’t have a real name. This was true for the vast majority of this character’s existence. However, in a throwaway moment made only for the curious fan, CBG revealed his incredibly ordinary and boring name. It was a brilliant move as far as playing with audience expectation a la Homer finding out the J. in his middle name stood for Jay. Comic Book Guy was never a hit with the ladies (imagine that) but did have a romance with the geriatric Agnes Skinner. Enjoy the visual.
Who is this character?
In Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, missing FBI agent Phillip Jeffries briefly returns to our world. Disoriented, traumatized and afraid he tells Gordon Cole, “We’re not gonna talk about Judy. In fact, we’re not gonna talk about Judy at all.” To that end, in this situation, we’re not gonna talk about Armin Tamzarian at all. Anyway. This character was raised by a strict and hovering mother who still lords over him to this day. A Vietnam war veteran and current principal of Springfield Elementary, all the man wants is a little bit of happiness and respect. He gets none of either.
Who is this character?
Well it wouldn’t be a Simpsons quiz without him. He eats glue, barely has two brain cells, has trouble opening milk, has a bent Wookie and is worried about President Lincoln. He’s also a sweet kid who manages to find happiness despite any and all setbacks, which include berries that taste like burning, attempting to race a banana, having visual and auditory hallucinations involving a leprechaun arsonist and perhaps being functionally illiterate, having failed Mrs. Hoover's English class the way I fail in my relationships.
Who is this character?
Dr. Hibbert was created as a Cosby parody, as the two shows were technically competitors and complete opposites in comedic, sitcom and familial philosophies. As we have with other characters in this quiz, rather than ask a straightforward question we’re going with something more fun. Again, Dr. Hibbert is well-know; his first name, however, is rarely said. Fun fact: the image of Hibbert about to punch Bart’s evil twin has become a popular meme online.
Who is this character?
Yeah, it’s Chief Wiggum. It’s easy. But what’s the Chief’s actual first name? Like Dr. Hibbert, it’s rarely mentioned, since everyone simply refers to them by their respective titles. This corrupt and incompetent police chief has had some great lines over the years (he even has a signature noise), though my two favorite moments would have to be his Twin Peaks-inspired dream sequence and the time he caught Sideshow Bob because his boat floated by a nearby brothel.
Who is this character?
This doctor is to medicine what Lionel Hutz is to the law. Fitting that the two were often allies. The corrupt and incompetent (yet also unbelievably friendly and upbeat) quack is apparently the only other physician with a private practice in Springfield. While his greeting catchphrase is incredibly popular and oft-quoted, I’ve always enjoyed this character’s question to Mr. Burns regarding his strange behavior. “When you were in that coma, did you feel your brain getting damaged?” I don’t know why but it kills me every time.
Who is this character?
In my personal favorite episode, “Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment,” written by the incomparable and elusive John Swartzwelder, Springfield places a prohibition on alcohol. To uphold the unconstitutional law, this character is brought in to replace Chief Wiggum. Clearly based on Eliot Ness as well as taking on different facets of Ness’ fictional portrayals, this hardnosed investigator attempts and utterly fails to bring down the Beer Baron despite his competent air. He also had that awesome hat, which is quite sharp.