List of The Simpsons guest stars (seasons 21–present)

In addition to the show's regular cast of voice actors, celebrity guest stars have been a staple of The Simpsons, an American animated television sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company, since its first season.

The family was initially conceived by Groening for a series of animated shorts, which originally aired as a part of The Tracey Ullman Show between 1987 and 1989.

Guest voices have come from a wide range of professions, including actors, athletes, authors, musicians, artists, politicians and scientists.

Several guest stars have featured as recurring characters on the show, including Phil Hartman, Joe Mantegna and Kelsey Grammer.

Three guest stars, Ricky Gervais, Seth Rogen and Pete Holmes, earned writing credits for the episodes in which they appeared.

Guest stars have appeared on The Simpsons since its first season, in addition to the show's main cast of Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer and supporting cast of Tress MacNeille, Maggie Roswell, Chris Edgerly, Dawnn Lewis, Grey DeLisle, Alex Désert, Jenny Yokobori, Kimberly D. Brooks, Tony Rodríguez and Jonathan Lipow and former supporting cast members Jo Ann Harris, Russi Taylor, Christopher Collins, Susan Blu, Lona Williams, Doris Grau, Marcia Mitzman Gaven, Karl Wiedergott, Melanie Minchino, Eric Lopez and Pamela Hayden.

[4] Other repeat guest stars include Albert Brooks, Glenn Close, Jan Hooks, Maurice LaMarche, Jon Lovitz, Jane Kaczmarek, Jackie Mason, Charles Napier and Frank Welker.

"[8] Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein, showrunners of the seventh and eight seasons, favored guest stars with what they felt were unique and interesting voices such as actors R. Lee Ermey, Donald Sutherland, Kirk Douglas and Lawrence Tierney.

[16][17] Other people to turn the show down include actors Michael Caine,[18] Tom Cruise,[19] Clint Eastwood and Anthony Hopkins[20] and director Quentin Tarantino.

Musician Frank Zappa and actor Anthony Perkins both became too ill to record their parts,[20][23] while Jim Carrey had to drop out due to time constraints,[24] and Faye Dunaway cancelled.

Robby Krieger of The Doors recorded a cameo for the episode "The Great Money Caper", but his part was cut because the writers felt his appearance seemed too forced.

[26] Similarly, actress Catherine O'Hara recorded the voice of Colette the waitress in "Flaming Moe's", but was redubbed with Jo Ann Harris who the producers felt was a better fit.

Mason, Grammer and Anne Hathaway have each won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for their guest voice roles on the show.

Additionally, executive producer Matt Selman stated that he has a part in mind for Larry David for an upcoming episode but has doubts whether he'll accept the offer.

Beyond the television series and the movie, there have been other media products of The Simpsons where guest stars have provided vocal talents in addition to the regular cast.

A colored, self-portrait photograph of a man wearing a hat and a suit.
Actor Phil Hartman , who died in 1998, was the most recurring male guest actor on the show, appearing 52 times.
Albert Brooks at 'Drive' premiere TIFF 9/10/11.
Actor Albert Brooks made the first two of his seven appearances in season one.
A colored photograph of a man wearing a suit, with his arms wide open.
Singer Tony Bennett was the first person to voice himself on the show.
A black-haired man with a blue based shirt and a necklace looks straight at the camera smiling.
Actor Jon Lovitz has made nine appearances on the show including three cross-over appearances as Jay Sherman from the series The Critic .
A coloured photograph of Michael Jackson wearing sunglasses.
Musician Michael Jackson was credited as "John Jay Smith" for his role in " Stark Raving Dad ".
Colored photograph of a man, waving with his left arm. He is wearing a blue shirt.
Actor Joe Mantegna voices mobster Fat Tony
A coloured photograph of a man wearing a black jumper and glasses. He is smiling and standing on a platform.
Actor Leonard Nimoy has twice appeared as himself.
A portrait of a man wearing a space suit, with his helmet on the table in front of him. Behind him there is a large photograph of the lunar surface.
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin appeared in season five's " Deep Space Homer ".
Patrick Stewart at a photo call at the Berlinale 2017.
Actor Patrick Stewart voiced Number One in " Homer the Great ".
A man, with long black hair is playing the guitar, with a microphone in front of his mouth. In the distance is a woman, looking directly at the camera.
Paul and Linda McCartney guest starred in the episode " Lisa the Vegetarian ".
Glenn Close at the premiere of Guardians of the Galaxy at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood on July 21, 2014.
Glenn Close was convinced by show developer James L. Brooks to voice Mona Simpson , the mother of Homer Simpson . [ 33 ]
Kelsey Grammer at May 5, 2010 Tony Awards press event, NYC, located at the Millennium Broadway Hotel.
Actor Kelsey Grammer has voiced Sideshow Bob since the show's first season.
A color photograph of four men, two of which are playing the guitar. The third man is singing through a microphone.
U2 played themselves in " Trash of the Titans ", minus Larry Mullen, Jr.
A colored photograph of a man, sitting in a wheelchair with his arms folded. He is wearing glasses and is looking from left to right.
Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking has made four appearances on the show as himself.
A bald-haired man wearing glasses, wearing a suit and a nametag. He is looking directly at the camera.
News Corporation founder Rupert Murdoch has featured in two episodes.
A colored photograph of Lucy Lawless smiling.
Actress Lucy Lawless appeared as herself in season 11.
Colored photograph of a man holding a tennis racket and ball in either hand. He is preparing to serve.
Pete Sampras was one of a number of tennis players to appear in " Tennis the Menace ".
Reese Witherspoon at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.
Actress Reese Witherspoon voiced Greta Wolfcastle.
Lenny Kravitz at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con International in San Diego, California.
" How I Spent My Strummer Vacation " featured Lenny Kravitz and five other musicians.
A colored photograph of former Prime Minister Tony Blair
Then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair recorded his part for " The Regina Monologues " at Downing Street and his appearance on the show was used as an opportunity to "promote Britain". [ 34 ]
Liam Neeson at the 2012 Deauville Film Festival.
Actor Liam Neeson voiced priest Father Sean.
Ricky Gervais at Comedy Central's "Night of Too Many Stars" in 2010.
Comedian Ricky Gervais has appeared twice; he wrote " Homer Simpson, This is Your Wife ", his first episode.
A photograph of former footballer Ronaldo.
Ronaldo is the only soccer player to appear on the show.
A photograph of "Weird Al" Yankovic, singing through a microphone and playing a harmonica.
Musician "Weird Al" Yankovic has appeared twice.
A colored photograph of a Matt Groening.
Matt Groening , the show's creator, has voiced himself twice.
Anne Hathaway at the Miami International Film Festival in 2014.
Actress Anne Hathaway won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in " Once Upon a Time in Springfield ". [ 30 ]
Katy Perry in June 2012.
Singer Katy Perry appeared in live-action in " The Fight Before Christmas ".
Kiefer Sutherland speaking at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con International, for "24: Live Another Day", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.
Actor Kiefer Sutherland has voiced three characters on the show, including Jack Bauer from 24 .
Sonny Rollins in a 2011 performance.
Jazz musician Sonny Rollins voiced himself in " Whiskey Business ".
Kristen Wiig at the Australian premiere of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues in 2013.
Actress Kristen Wiig has played two different characters on the show.
Tom Hanks posing for a photo after a dinner hosted by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on December 6, 2014.
Actor Tom Hanks played himself in The Simpsons Movie .