DAN CASTELLANETA

Early Life & Background

Daniel Louis Dan Castellaneta was born on October 29, 1957, at Roseland Community Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in the suburbs of Oak Park and River Forest . Of Italian-American heritage, his parents—Elsie and Louis Castellaneta (an amateur actor)—nurtured his love for performance. At age 16, he excelled in impressions and joined youth acting classes. In college at Northern Illinois University (1975–1979), he studied art education but honed his craft on the campus radio show, where he experimented with voices and quick character switches .

Rise to Fame & Improv Roots

After graduating in 1979, Dan took improvisational classes and, in 1983, joined Chicago’s famed Second City comedy troupe . There, he met his future wife, Deb Lacusta, and began performing sketches for radio. His breakout came via The Tracey Ullman Show, when Tracey saw his show‑business improv and was moved—so much so that she cast him on the spot .

Becoming Homer & More

The transition from sketch to The Simpsons began in 1989 with short cartoon segments on Ullman's show. Dan originally tried a Walter Matthau–style voice for Homer but quickly adopted the deep, relaxed tone we know today—delivering the character's iconic low, humorous voice .

Beyond Homer Simpson, Dan voices over 100 recurring characters, including:

• Grampa Simpson

• Krusty the Clown

• Groundskeeper Willie

• Mayor Quimby

• Barney Gumble

• Sideshow Mel

• Mr. Teeny

• The Squeaky-Voiced Teen.

Each developed through his creative improvisation—like Krusty's resemblance to Chicago’s Bozo-era emcee Bob Bell, and Willie’s guttural Scottish accent inspired by Second City characters .

Awards & Career Highlights

Dan’s portrayal of Homer and other characters earned him:

• 4 Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Voice‑Over Performance (1992, 1993, 2004, 2009) 

• An Annie Award in 1993 for animation acting 

He’s also recognized off-screen:

• Co-wrote six Simpsons episodes with Deb Lacusta; they were nominated for a Writers Guild Award (2007) .

• From an initial salary of ~$30,000 per episode, he negotiates up to $400,000 at Simpson pay peaks .

Other Work & Personal Pursuits

Beyond The Simpsons, Dan has voiced memorable characters such as:

• Megavolt (Darkwing Duck)

• Doc Brown (Back to the Future: The Animated Series)

• The Genie (when Robin Williams wasn't available) in Disney’s Aladdin franchise and various Kingdom Hearts games .

He’s also appeared in live-action roles on shows like Friends, Arrested Development, Castle, Stargate SG-1, and more .

On the creative side, Dan released two comedy albums—Two Lips (2000) and I Am Not Homer (2002)—he co-wrote a one-man stage show, Where Did Vincent van Gogh?, and regularly practices Tai Chi. He follows a vegetarian lifestyle and abstains from alcohol, preferring a balanced, healthy routine .

Family Life & Current Scene

Dan married Deb Lacusta in 1987 and remains close both personally and professionally. The couple splits their time between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, California . He’s a private person—despite Homer’s fame, Dan is seldom recognized in public .

Dan Castellaneta’s journey—from suburban Chicago kid to one of the world’s most influential voice actors—blends humor, creativity, and versatility. His multifaceted talents shine through each character, script, and performance he delivers.