An Audition That Almost Failed
Before becoming a Springfield institution, Hank Azaria was a young actor with just one failed voice-over pilot to his name. When casting director Bonita Pietila called him to audition for a new animated show, he had little to go on. The role was for a bartender
named Moe Szyslak. Azaria, performing in a play at the time, decided to use a voice he was developing based on Al Pacino in 'Dog Day Afternoon'. He recorded a few lines, but the producers, Matt Groening and Sam Simon, weren't immediately sold. They asked him to make it more "gravelly." Even after he recorded, Azaria was convinced he'd never hear from them again. He felt the exacting producers were unimpressed, and for weeks, he assumed every session would be his last.
The Birth of Moe and Wiggum
Azaria’s Pacino-inspired voice, now tweaked and gruffer, became the Moe we know today. He was brought in to dub over another actor's initial recordings for the character. Still, he was not a permanent cast member and didn't expect the gig to last. But the calls kept coming. Next, they asked him to try a voice for the town's police chief, Chief Wiggum. Then came another request, for a convenience store owner named Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. Azaria has said that in those early days, he didn't really think he was doing that well and was surprised they kept asking him back. It wasn't until the show's second season, after he had established a roster of recurring characters, that he was finally offered a contract and made a permanent part of the main cast.
A Different Path in Live-Action
While his voice work was taking off, Azaria was still pursuing a career in live-action film and television. His career could have pivoted dramatically had he landed one particular role he desperately wanted: Joey Tribbiani on 'Friends'. He auditioned not once, but twice for the part, even bullying his way back in for a second chance after being rejected. He knew the show was special, but the role ultimately went to Matt LeBlanc. While Azaria didn't get the main cast gig, he did land the recurring role of David, Phoebe Buffay's scientist boyfriend, which became a memorable part of the iconic sitcom. Landing the role of Joey could have significantly altered his availability and focus, potentially limiting the expansion of his voice empire on 'The Simpsons'.
The Career-Defining Apu Controversy
For nearly 30 years, Azaria’s portrayal of Apu was one of his most famous roles. But what began as a quick improvisation during his early, uncertain days on the show eventually led to a major career turning point. In 2017, the character became the subject of intense scrutiny following the release of the documentary 'The Problem with Apu', which detailed how the character was a painful stereotype for many people of South Asian descent. Initially, Azaria and the show's creators were unsure how to respond. After a period of reflection and education on the issue, Azaria made the personal decision to step away from voicing the character, a move that predated a broader shift in the animation industry toward more representative casting. This decision fundamentally changed a major component of his 'Simpsons' work and marked a significant evolution in his career.
