actor, voice actor, writer, and director
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Hank Azaria
Name: Henry Albert Azaria
Birth: April 25, 1964 in New York City, NY
Best Known For:
MOVIES
Smurfs Films
(Gargamel)
Godzilla
Birdcage
Along Came Polly
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian |
TV SERIES
The Simpsons
Free Agents
Huff
Friends
Mad About You |
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Hank Azaria is a performer of many talents. Hank is famous for his voice work on the long running animated series, The Simpsons. On The Simpsons, Hank voices enumerate characters, including Moe the Bartender, Chief Wiggum, Apu and many more. Although Hank has a distinct vocal style, he brings each character he voices a unique sound and rhythm.
In addition to voice work, Hank Azaria is also a well-known actor, and has appeared in television shows and movies for decades. In 2004, Hank directed his first short film, Nobody's Perfect, a cute romantic comedy.
Playing Gargamel in the Smurfs films, Hank is a natural at capturing the comic-book stylings of Peyo's evil wizard. Using his knowledge of voice-overs, cartoons, and live-acting, Azaria crafts a pitch-perfect Gargamel. Hank physically transforms himself into the embodiment of a wizard, and with his transformation it is easy to believe that Gargamel is a living, breathing man. Hank Azaria's comic timing and musings allow Gargamel to wax endlessly on how he wants to destroy the Smurfs, in the most horrible way possible, yet he still ends up being lovable to the viewer. |
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SMURFY INTERVIEW WITH HANK AZARIA
Gargamel Catching The Smurfs |
Hank Azaria's experience with The Smurfs growing up...
"I was a little too old when The Smurfs were on. I was born in '64, so I was around twenty when they come out. But I still watched them anyway because I'm immature. I liked them. I thought they were really quaint and cute. They're hypnotizing. You get engaged by them."
Gargamel's relationship to The Smurfs is explained by Hank...
"I think he just hates the Smurfs – they're such a happy family and he's so alone with only his cat. He's driven by just plain-old hate. He's a pretty juicy character on so many levels."
Hank's take on what motivates Gargamel...
"Gargamel's very theatrical – not only does he want to be a great wizard, he wants to be worshipped and considered a genius. He wants all that good press."
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THE ROLE OF GARGAMEL
Transforming into Gargamel required hours in the make-up chair for Hank...
"It starts with the ears. Gargamel has big old ears and a big old nose and there‘s a lot of painting that goes on to make it all even."
Then comes the hair – though Azaria was able to make that process an easier experience by shaving his head...
"They apply Gargamel‘s strange monkish hair, and then the eyebrows come on and then I pop in some big, weird buck teeth."
Those big teeth sometimes went flying out of Azaria‘s mouth during a scene...
"They were hard at first. It literally took practice to talk with them. And they did occasionally fly out of my mouth in the middle of particularly screamy takes." |
Gargamel & His Cat Azrael |
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Smurfs Movie World Premiere
Hank Azaria attends the premiere of The Smurfs Movie at the Ziegfeld Theater on July 24, 2011 in New York City. He walked the "blue carpet" with the rest of the cast - including Katy Perry (Smurfette), Neil Patrick Harris (Patrick Winslow), Jayma Mays (Grace Winslow), Sofia Vergara (Odile), George Lopez (Grouchy Smurf), Jeff Foxworthy (Handy Smurf) - and most importantly, his two-year-old son Hal Azaria!
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Papa Smurf & Hank Azaria | 
The Smurfs Movie Premiere | 
Hank & son Hal |
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TRIVIA
Both sets of Hank's grandparents came from Salonika in Greece.
Hank trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York (along with Sharon Stone).
Watching Jack Lemmon made Hank want to get into show business.
Hank shares his April 25th Birthday with famous actors Al Pacino, Renee Zellweger and jazz musician Ella Fitzgerald. |
FUN FACTS
* Hank has done over 160 different character voices on The Simpsons. He often bases his characters on actors or people he knows.
* Hank was only 22 years old when he auditioned for Moe Szyslak on The Simpsons.
* Hank has said, "Although I play Moe, Apu, Wiggum, Professor Frink, oddly I feel like Lisa Simpson inside. I've been doing silly voices since I was a child - it's a nice outlet for that."
* From the borough of Queens, New York City. |
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Hank Azaria with Homer Simpson | 
Simpsons Characters by Hank Azaria |
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The Simpsons Voices of Hank Azaria
Moe the Bartender
Lou the Cop
Comic Book Guy
Chief Wiggum
Apu the Qwik-E-Mart Employee
Dr. Nick Riviera |
Based On / Influenced By:
- actor Al Pacino
- actor Sylvester Stallone
- his college roommate
- actor Edward G. Robinson
- Peter Sellers' character Hrundi V. Bakshi
- bad Ricky Ricardo impression |
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THE SMURFS 2 PHOTO CALL - A CANCUN PARTY!
Hank Azaria at Mexico Photo Call | 
The Smurfs Cast in Cancun, Mexico |
Hank, Katy & Neil Light Up Eiffel Tower | 
Hank Azaria is Gargamel The Great! |
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Fun Hank Azaria Pictures
Hank Azaria | 
Night at the Museum | 
Bald Hank... as Gargamel? |
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