EVERY Harry Shearer Voice on The Simpsons RANKED

#14: Scratchy

Many fans might not even be aware that Harry Shearer voices this character, mainly because of how little he speaks. The hapless kitty largely functions as Itchy’s perpetual punching bag, with every skit inevitably leading to a violent climax. The few times we do hear him speak usually involve Scratchy falling for one of Itchy’s painfully obvious traps. For the most part, though, Shearer’s role is to bring voice to Scratchy’s many exaggerated screams, yelps, or howls of agony, as we watch the poor cat bite in a wide assortment of brutal ways.

#13: Eddie

We can’t blame you for thinking Eddie was a silent character. After all, this cop barely even opens his mouth, let alone speaks, often lingering in the background instead. His role mainly involves accompanying Chief Wiggum and Lou now, but there was a time when Harry Shearer did flex his vocal cords for the character. As the straight man to Wiggum and Lou’s incompetence, his sensible remarks balanced out the pair’s eccentricities. While Eddie doesn’t go far when it comes to delivering memorable soundbites, he is familiar enough to be a regular fixture for “The Simpsons” experience.

#12: Jasper Beardsley

The show wouldn’t have its distinct identity without its equally distinct side characters. Among those to add a particular touch of color to “The Simpsons” canvas is Jasper Beardsley. As one of Springfield’s oldest residents, Jasper usually finds himself in bizarre predicaments. More than landing himself in any of these unfortunate situations, though, Jasper’s comedy comes from his blasé attitude. Shearer adopts a thicker, lower register for the character, which goes perfectly with his continually unbothered behavior. Whether locking himself in a freezer or promising to deliver “a paddlin’” to students, Jasper’s oddball mannerisms have made him a hit with audiences, even if he isn’t seen quite as much.

#11: Kang Johnson

Always seen alongside Kodos, Kang is a staple of “The Simpsons”’ “Treehouse of Horror” Halloween specials. The duo’s ever-changing, confusing backstory and motives are always played for laughs, whether portrayed as siblings or an alien couple. Where Kodos is the more slapstick of the pair, Kang takes on the role of the dry, deadpan source of comedy. From trivializing preparing the family for dinner to calmly announcing plans of subjugating humanity, Kang makes everything sound like part of a casual conversation. Much of the humor comes from Harry Shearer’s pairing with Dan Castellaneta’s Kodos. Their chemistry turns even these two bizarre extraterrestrials into a consistently entertaining Halloween highlight.

#10: Dr. Julius Hibbert

Springfield’s resident physician is always on call to deliver one of his unhelpful anecdotes. Dr. Hibbert’s trademark incompetence and professional detachment usually turn serious medical situations into dark comedy. Although rarely part of any major storylines, Dr. Hibbert’s charm comes from popping when least expected. His signature chuckle bookends every scene, right after delivering bad news with casual nonchalance. Shearer brought a memorable edge to a character who could otherwise have been forgettable. Much like Judge Snyder – another recurring character by Shearer – Dr. Hibbert’s voice acting duties have since been handed over to Kevin Michael Richardson.

#9: Kent Brockman

“This Just In!” A satire on certain media’s tendency to sensationalize and inflate every current event, Kent Brockman is Springfield’s resident TV personality. With little regard for facts or nuance, it’s all about the ratings where this news anchor is concerned. From his irresponsibly splurging lifestyle to his Botox-enhanced features, the show also parodies celebrity excess through Brockman’s outlandish behind-the-scenes reveals. His frequent on-air meltdowns and over-the-top rants are equally entertaining, as Brockman’s true personality bursts out in the ugliest and funniest ways. Shearer adopts the stereotypical booming newscaster voice for the character, as Brockman thrives on both stretching out the truth and his time onscreen.

#8: Lenny Leonard

As one of Homer’s coworkers and regular drinking buddies, Lenny is known for his laidback demeanor and easygoing personality. More specifically, he’s defined by his odd couple friendship with Carl Carlson, with the pair rarely ever seen without the other’s company. Lenny’s humor comes from his knack for putting his foot in his own mouth, usually blurting out the wrong thing at the worst time. Of course, there’s also the running gag of him getting things in his eye, no matter how mild or random they are. Unlike most of his other characters, Harry Shearer uses a slightly higher, cracked vocal delivery for Lenny, giving him his trademark whiny voice that fans know and love.

#7: Reverend Lovejoy

Working as a perfect contrast to the ever-enthusiastic Ned Flanders – and the bane of his existence – Reverend Lovejoy might be the ultimate cynic. He may be the local minister, but don’t expect any wisdom or words of advice. As the reverend himself claims, he simply stopped caring in the eighties, and people just stopped noticing. With Flanders always calling with one mundane “emergency” after another, Reverend Lovejoy’s dry “Hello, Ned” ended up becoming his catchphrase. Shearer plays him with as much pent-up frustration as possible, his voice layered with quiet irritation under every line. That might sound pretty bleak on paper, but from “The Simpsons” lens, it just becomes another ingredient for comedy.

#6: Otto Mann

The Springfield Elementary bus driver is the perfect definition of an ultimate underachiever. Less inclined to apply himself and more just to rock out, asking Otto take life seriously is an exercise in futility. Still, his incredibly chill vibes and mannerisms have their own charm, and it’s hard not to get dragged into the same kind of mentality. Although he’s a throwback to simpler times, Otto’s love for things like cassette tapes and Game Boys proves his tendency to live in the past. While Harry Shearer can usually be singled out among his other characters, many fans might be surprised to learn that Otto’s slacker drawl belongs to the same voice box.

#5: Rainier Wolfcastle aka McBain

As the show premiered smack dab during the height of Arnold Schwarzenegger's prime, it only made sense that Springfield got an Arnie of their own. Turning up the actor’s signature mannerisms up to eleven, McBain is pure meme material. While pop culture may have moved away from the machismo that the character originated from, McBain remains hilariously frozen in time. And yet, his outdated bravado provides just about the same gags as he did when he was first introduced. Shearer clearly has his fun mimicking the “Terminator” star, delivering everything from absurd one-liners to hilarious non-sequiturs.

#4: Seymour Skinner

It just wouldn’t be “The Simpsons” if we didn’t have the principal of Springfield Elementary. From his never-ending rivalry with Bart to his awkward love life, his constant fear of Superintendent Chalmers, and his undying devotion toward his toxic mother, Seymour Skinner has a lot on his plate. And with a bumbling and incompetent personality to boot, Skinner remains treated like a doormat with no way around. Still, his harmlessness is why we love him, as his habitual attempts to keep all parts of his life intact make up the character’s humor. Harry Shearer’s brilliance lies in playing Skinner like someone who believes he’s the voice of reason, never realizing how his own quirks reveal just how eccentric he really is.

#3: Waylon Smithers

As weird as it might be to hear, but the actor that Harry Shearer has shared the greatest chemistry with is himself. As both Smithers and Mr. Burns, Shearer creates a dynamic where one character remains hopelessly in love with another, who couldn’t care less. For Smithers, Shearer adopts a soft, polite tone of voice to convey the character’s affable and unassertive personality. For the most part, the comedy comes from watching Smithers crash and burn as he tries to win Mr. Burns’ favor. Despite constant pratfalls and embarrassing mishaps, Smithers’ enduring devotion toward his boss might be one of the most strangely wholesome hallmarks of the show.

#2: Ned Flanders

Let’s face it, we all have a Ned Flanders in our own lives – that one person who’s always friendly and well-meaning, yet can’t help but get on your nerves. When it comes to portraying true-to-life mannerisms, Harry Shearer never does it any better than Flanders. He may be the nicest guy in Springfield, yet his lack of social filter, unwavering positivity, and rigid lifestyle make him the perfect foil to characters like Homer. Whether lecturing people with his beliefs or greeting everyone with his signature “Howdily-doodilies,” there’s no escaping Flanders. However, Shearer has also brought incredible depth to the character, playing Ned’s vulnerable moments with a palpable sense of warmth and emotion, giving the Simpsons’ neighbors remarkable layers beyond his happy-go-lucky facade.

#1: Mr. Burns

Who else but Charles Montgomery Burns himself? The tyrannical owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant basically functions as the show’s main villain. But far from making him any kind of detestable, Harry Shearer’s breakout character is among “The Simpsons’” most iconic. His sinister voice and cadence are so hard to pull off that, according to Shearer, playing Burns requires him to drink tea and honey to smooth out his vocal cords. Not that Shearer’s complaining, though, as the actor considers Mr. Burns his favorite character, “because he is pure evil.” Along with unanimous praise from fans for decades, Burns also won Shearer the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance. And to this, what else can we say but, “Eeeexcellent.”

Which Harry Shearer character do you love the most? Let us know in the comments.