The Simpsons: 12 Shockingly Depressing Character Backstories
6. Barney Gumble
20th Century FoxBarney Gumble is Homers best friend and is part of the furniture at Moes. While to us, Barney seems like a harmless alcoholic there for some cheap laughs and a near-infinite amount of burps, he actually has an incredibly dark backstory. Barneys father died in a parade accident when he was young which would be a traumatic experience for anyone. When he was in education, Barney was a straight A student who was bound for the likes of Harvard or Yale but unfortunately he was introduced to beer and became instantaneously addicted. Now a mainstay at Moes tavern, Barneys addiction is so extreme that it drives him to drink anything he can get his hands on including varnish and brake fluid. Barney has practically been disowned by his own family due to his alcoholism. Rather than attempt to support him into sobriety, they deem him an embarrassment and have cut all ties with him. None of Barneys family shares his love for an innocent beer. As we see on several occasions throughout the show, Gumble has the soul of an artist which is trapped inside his drunken physical body. Barneys woefully titled short-film Pukahontas in A Star is Burns is undeniably beautiful and is an apt representation of the characters plight.
Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.