10 Simpsons Voice Performances That COMPLETELY Changed

Homer has one or the most iconic voices not just on The Simpsons, but on television in general. However, it hasn’t been consistent since the show’s early days.

Rather like Harry Shearer with Mr Burns, Homer’s vocal change was a very deliberate choice made by voice actor Dan Castellanata. Initially, Homer’s voice was a Walter Matthau impression, which Castellanata knew he could perform consistently and which fit Homer’s design.

Castellanata managed to do this voice with ease for The Simpsons shorts on The Tracy Ullman Show, but struggled when it came to longer recording sessions needed for the full show. Homer kept his Walter Matthau voice for the first couple of seasons, but as he changed from voice of reason to bumbling idiot, Castellanata switched things up.

As well as struggling to maintain the voice, Castellanata couldn’t really project with it either. As Homer needed a more powerful voice, the voice became more comedic, and with it more inherently funny and versatile.

Occasionally, Castellanata will deliberately switch back to the original voice, either as part of a reference or in-joke, usually with his ‘let’s all go out for some frosty chocolate milkshake’ catchphrase. It’s good, but it’s no ‘D’oh!’.