Featured Image Credit: Disney
Topics: The Simpsons, Film and TV, Celebrity, Entertainment
Tom Wood
If you’re a big fan of The Simpsons, there’s a good chance that you’re as obsessed as we are with learning every small bit of trivia about the show.
Well, here’s a clip of the character that we’re going to be discussing in this article – can you see where we’re going with this?
It – of course – Moe Szyslak, the unfortunate-looking and surly barman and proprietor of Moe’s Tavern in Springfield.
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Moe is known for his lackadaisical attitude to health and safety, perennial depression and lack of self-esteem, and his hatred for prank callers, but did you know that behind the idea for Moe’s voice is an A-list celebrity?
A few years back, this strange fact was revealed by Hank Azaria, who performs the voice for loads of the characters in Springfield, from Police Chief Clancy Wiggum, Snake Jailbird, Comic Book Guy and Moe.
Azaria used to do the voice of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Bumblebee Man, Carl, and Lou as well, but obviously that has changed now, which is probably for the best.
Anyway, Azaria was discussing his roles in The Simpsons with GQ when he revealed that the basis for his Moe voice is ‘a young Al Pacino’.
He also revealed that Moe is his favourite character when asked, responding: “Probably Moe.
“I just [think] he’s been the most developed and close to my heart.
“Always sort of a weird version of young Al Pacino made gravelly.”
There you have it – who would have believed that the character best known for frequently sobbing and being angry at a world that has rejected him would be based on one of the more confident actors of our time.
In truth, Simpsons creator Matt Groening actually might have based the character’s appearance on the US comedian Rich Hall - at least according to Hall himself, anyway.
Hall shot to fame in his native land during the 1980s because of his foul-tempered rants and slightly underwhelmed attitude to life, which fits in pretty well with the character that he believes is styled on him.
Hall has claimed on multiple occasions that Groening told him about the inspiration, and he’s even dressed up as Moe for a photoshoot in recent years.
He said: "I suspected that Moe was based on me because I used to write with George Meyer back when he was one of the original writers on the show.
"Matt Groening was a fan of my stuff.
"Other people said: 'You look and sound just like Moe.'
"Then Matt confirmed it.
“It's an honour, once you get over the shock of seeing yourself as a horrible, yellow caricature."
Rich Hall and a young Al Pacino.
That would be a film worth watching.
So, the next time some gangster is 'dissing your fly girl' you can just give them one of these (obscure Simpsons facts).