10 Simpsons Voice Performances That COMPLETELY Changed

Chief Wiggum has long been an essential part of Springfield. Along with Moe, Apu and Skinner, he’s one of four side characters to have at least ten episodes as the central character. However, it wasn’t always that way, and that led to an early change in his voice.

Chief Wiggum has been in the show since just the third episode, Homer’s Odyssey, and has been consistently voiced by Hank Azaria in that time. Initially though, Azaria based his voice around newscaster David Brinkley, as it was an impression Azaria knew he could do easily and hadn’t been able to use on his other characters like Moe.

However, Azaria quickly discovered that his Brinkley impression was a bit too slow and measured for Wiggum’s personality, so the switch to the now famous Edward G. Robinson voice was made.

Chief Wiggum has become such a recognisable figure in pop culture - thanks in no small part to episodes like Poppa’s Got A Brand New Badge and Chief Of Hearts - that it’s no longer an Edward G. Robinson impression; it’s simply Wiggum’s voice. The police chief is far more well known now, showing just how legendary The Simpsons is.