Harry Shearer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Harry Shearer
Shearer in 2009
Born	Harry Julius Shearer (1943-12-23) December 23, 1943 (age 81) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater	University of California, Los Angeles (BA)
Occupation	Actor comedian musician radio host writer producer
Years active	1951–present
Spouse(s)	Penny Nichols ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1977)​ Judith Owen ​ (m. 1993)​

Harry Julius Shearer (born December 23, 1943) is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He is most famous for being the voice of many characters on the animated TV show The Simpsons. Some of his characters include Mr. Burns, Waylon Smithers, Ned Flanders, and Principal Skinner.

Born in Los Angeles, California, Shearer started his career as a child actor. He later co-created and starred in the hit comedy film This Is Spinal Tap (1984). He was also a cast member on the comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live. Besides acting, Shearer hosts a radio show, has written three books, and has directed two movies.

Shearer has won a Primetime Emmy Award for his voice work. He is married to singer-songwriter Judith Owen.

Early Life and First Roles

Harry Shearer was born in Los Angeles, California. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Poland and Austria. When he was a child, his piano teacher suggested he try acting. At just seven years old, he got a role on the popular radio show The Jack Benny Program.

On the show, he met the famous voice actor Mel Blanc. Blanc, who voiced characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, became a mentor to young Harry. Shearer's first movie was Abbott and Costello Go to Mars in 1953. He acted in TV, film, and radio throughout his childhood.

In 1957, he appeared in the first episode of the TV show Leave It to Beaver. However, his parents wanted him to have a normal childhood. They decided he shouldn't become a regular on a TV series.

After high school, Shearer went to UCLA to study political science. He worked for the school newspaper and a local radio station. After college, he worked as a high school teacher for a short time.

Comedy and Writing Career

From 1969 to 1976, Shearer was part of a radio comedy group called The Credibility Gap. The group also included Michael McKean, who would later work with Shearer on other projects. When the group broke up, Shearer began writing for movies and television.

Saturday Night Live

In 1979, Shearer joined the cast of the famous TV show Saturday Night Live. He was a writer and a performer. However, he found it a difficult place to work and didn't get along with everyone. He left the show after one season.

He returned to Saturday Night Live in 1984. He joined along with his friend and fellow actor Christopher Guest. But Shearer still felt he wasn't being used enough on the show. He left for good in 1985.

This Is Spinal Tap

Shearer as his character "Derek Smalls" in 2019

In 1984, Shearer co-wrote and co-starred in the movie This Is Spinal Tap. The film was a "mockumentary," which is a fake documentary that makes fun of a subject. The movie poked fun at hard rock and heavy metal bands.

Shearer, Michael McKean, and Christopher Guest played the members of the fictional band, Spinal Tap. They played their own instruments and used fake English accents. Much of the movie was improvised, meaning the actors made up their lines as they went.

The film wasn't a huge hit at first, but it became a cult classic after being released on video. The band Spinal Tap became so popular that Shearer, McKean, and Guest have released albums and performed in concerts as their characters.

The Simpsons

Shearer is famous for his voice work on the long-running animated show The Simpsons. The show's creator, Matt Groening, was a fan of Shearer's work and asked him to join the cast. At first, Shearer was unsure because he thought voice acting wasn't fun. But he was told the actors would record their lines together, which convinced him to join.

He voices many well-known characters, including:

• Mr. Burns, the evil owner of the power plant.
• Waylon Smithers, Mr. Burns's loyal assistant.
• Ned Flanders, Homer's super-friendly neighbor.
• Principal Skinner, the head of Springfield Elementary.
• Kent Brockman, the local news anchor.
• Reverend Lovejoy, the town's pastor.
• Otto Mann, the school bus driver.
• Lenny Leonard, one of Homer's friends.

Shearer says Mr. Burns is his favorite character because he is "pure evil." Voicing Mr. Burns can be hard on his throat, so he often drinks tea and honey to soothe his voice.

Over the years, there have been pay disagreements between the voice actors and the TV network. In 2015, Shearer briefly announced he was leaving the show. However, he soon reached an agreement and returned to voice his characters.

Radio Work and Other Projects

Shearer performing in April 2009

Since 1983, Shearer has hosted a public radio show called Le Show. On the show, he makes fun of the news and plays music and comedy sketches. He often criticizes politicians from both the Republican and Democratic parties.

In 2010, Shearer directed a documentary called The Big Uneasy. The film is about the flooding in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. It argues that mistakes in engineering, not just the storm, caused the disaster.

Shearer has also appeared in many other films. These include The Truman Show (1998) and A Mighty Wind (2003), another mockumentary with Christopher Guest and Michael McKean. He has also written three books.

Personal Life

Shearer was married to singer Penelope Nichols from 1974 to 1977. Since 1993, he has been married to Welsh singer-songwriter Judith Owen.

He lives mainly in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. He first visited the city in 1988 and has been a big supporter of it ever since. He often speaks out about the levee failures during Hurricane Katrina.

Awards

Shearer was the last of the main Simpsons voice actors to win a Primetime Emmy Award. He won in 2014 for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance.

See also

In Spanish: Harry Shearer para niños