The Simpsons has become a world phenomenon, with merchandise, television shows (19 seasons), and a movie. The characters are loved by young and old and many turns of phrase coined by the show have entered common use in English – for example: Doh!
Rather than presenting a list of the main characters, this is the supporting characters – the “people” that provide the backdrop for the hilarious antics of the Simpson family.
Principal Skinner who’s real name is Armen Tanzarian is the man in charge at Springfield Elementary. He tries very hard to keep control of the school while kissing superintendent Chalmer’s butt. However one mysterious student named El Barto will not let Skinner’s job be so easy. If that were not hard enough he has to deal with his overbearing mother every night and if he makes her mad he won’t be allowed to go antiquing with her.
notable episode: Sweet Seymour Skinner’s Badasss song
Comic book guy is the overweight proprietor of the local comic book store, The Android’s Dungeon. He enjoys marshmallow peeps and watching Sci Fi marathons and then broadcasting negative opinions via the internet.
notable episode: Worst Episode Ever
Nelson is the school bully at springfield Elementary. His favorite things to do are to pick on nerds and say “ha ha” when something bad happens to someone else. Once in a while Nelson will be friendly to the local nerds but that is only to lure them into a false sense of security.
notable episode: Sleeping with the Enemy
Ralph is a lovable dumb kid who happens to be the son of the chief of police. Some of Ralph’s career high lights are playing George Washington in a school play, being mistaken as a pumpkin during the hurricane and winning the school panorama contest with his unopened Star Wars action figures and then promptly breaking his wookie.
notable episode: I love Lisa
Smithers is the male apprentice to Mr. Burns, and he loves his job very much. Although Smithers is morally opposed to the many evil things his boss does, he loves him too much to let him know. Smithers is also an avid collector of Malibu Stacy dolls.
notable episode: Homer the Smithers
Chief Wiggum is the local police chief and he takes his job very seriously… just kidding! Wiggum is a portly, pig snouted cop who believes the law is powerless to help people but not to arrest them.
notable episode: Pranksta Rap
Apu is the owner and operator of the Kwik E Mart. He is of Indian descent. His hobbies are working and selling overpriced goods. Apu and his wife have eight children. His favorite saying is “Thank you come again”.
notable episode: Homer and Apu
Krusty is the sleaziest, most foul mouthed clown on T.V. and he happens to be the idol of Bart Simpson. Krusty is a jewish clown who always loved to make people laugh unfortunately his Rabbi father disapproved and disowned him for his career, but thanks to Bart and Lisa they were able to come to terms. Krusty is famous for his signature greeting “hey hey”.
notable episode: Krusty gets Kancelled
Moe is the local booze jockey of his own bar, Moe’s. Moe is a very ugly guy who can never seem to find the right woman. This could be because he is rude, crude and most of all really ugly.
notable episode: Flaming Moe’s
Flanders is the religious nut, neighbor of the Simpsons. Homer considers Flanders to be his worst enemy but Flanders considers Homer to be his best friend. Flanders is the nicest guy in Springfield but is usually the doormat of his neighbor, Homer, but Flanders loves God too much to hate his neighbor. Flanders is most popular for his effervescent hello “hi-didly-ho neighborino”
Contributor: MPW
Voice on Hospital P.A. System:
“Doctor Nick, see the Coroner.”
Doctor Nick:
“The Coroner? I am SO sick of that guy!”
Dr. Nick should be on the list
Ned is totally the best…with Ralph at number 2, Troy McClure at number 3, and Mr Burns at number 4!
Good list though.
whoever said homersuexual that was brillinat! good list, but i might as well say it, where is mr burns? would Frank Grimes be classed as a supporting character? whats the gun shop owner with one arm called? He has always intrigued me
Mrs. Crabapple?
Sideshow Bob?
Aw, no Lenny and Carl? Dr. Nick was pretty good too.
But, otherwise, great list! We can’t possibly fit every good character in a top 10 anyways.
getting e a t e n a l i v e huh?
Comic book guys Real name is Jeff Albertson. You should probably put that up there in the list. One of the best drinking games I’ve ever played is Simpsons trivia. I usually won. On a side note, my last name is Simpson. It’s a long story but I might as well Be Bart.
Needs Mr. Burns and Willie
chillipacker: thanks!
i would say frank grimes would not be considered a supporting character but he is awesome
the one armed gun store owner is herman
3 missing
sideshow bob
lenny and carl (count as one)
and crazy cat lady
cmon, crazy cat lady
as great as the crazy cat lady is she is not as important as some of these characters
Two words: DISCO – STU
“Hey, Stu, this jacket has your name on it.”
“Disco Stu doesn’t advertise!”
Channel executives in Greece prefer Brazilian soap-operas instead of shows like Simpsons, Heroes, House etc.
I like a few of the rarer ones (don’t belong on this list), like Gil, the hapless middle age guy, and Moleman(?) short, thick glasses
Guess Patti and Selma could be on the list too, but only 10, so….
Too loveable losers, not on often:
Gil – hapless middle age guy
Moleman – short, thich glass, can’t see anything
the ones i miss the most in this list are Carl & Lenny. What a duo.
Nelson, on the other hand, is my favorite simpsons character. definately. nuke the whales, coz u gotta nuke somethin’. also, Barney is my favorite drunk in the world.
finally, i gotta say it, the simpsons gave gotten terribly boring in the last seasons, probably due to a new generation of ridicuosly easier to entertain kids and teenagers. they need to get their sh*t together seriously.
No (puff Puff) Patty (puff puff) Selma (puff Puff)?
Someone should do a list of all the notable celebrities that have “appeared” as characters or themselves on the show! That would be a long list. Probably the longest list of any show (not talk show) on TV.
You aren’t a star until you’ve been on the Simpsons.
Armin not Armen.
yeah…this list probably should’ve been extended to at least 15…possibly 20. There’s too many great characters to limit it to just 10
You forgot to mention Moe’s freakishly large ears.
I am sorry but this list is horrible. Should have narrowed down criteria more.
Yeah this oculd have easily been a top 20 and its so hard to even put them in order. Just to ass another 10 in no particular order
Grandpa
Dr hibert
Barney
Mr burns
Milhouse
Groundskeeper willie
Otto
Professor frink
Martin
Pattie & Selma
im sure theres plenty more.
*BURP*
barney?
Swear to God…i wanted to say just what comm #1 said
Great list! 
Not a bad list, but do you guys proofread this stuff? I count a half-dozen spelling and grammatical mistakes in the Skinner paragraph alone. And it’s only four sentences long! This list is very low-quality compared to the rest of the site.
Moe should be #1! Ralph #2! Good list though.
seriously, no milhouse?? sideshow bob, he plays a big roll in barts life. lenney and carl. patty and selma. just to name a few that i think should be on here! other than that great ist.. and im no fan of burns… hes old and evil and i cant stand him
Thank you, JBS. I was just coming here to complain about that.
Shouldn’t there be an editorial process on these?
I know a real life Ned Flanders. He’s an old family friend who is deeply religious(Catholic). Not only does Ned physically resemble our friend, but the tone of his voice sounds as if someone is imitating(mocking) our friend’s voice. It’s as if Matt Groening knows him, and patterned Flanders after him.
Barney and Milhouse should have been named. Ralph and Nelson are really funny though.
The fact that Mr. Burns isn’t on the list is blasphemy.
They don’t belong in the top 10, but they must be mentioned at least…
the Sea Captain
Ranier Wolfcastle
Kent Brockman
I agree, no Mr. Burns? That is my only complaint.
Only a top 100 list could do The Simpsons justice.
Great thought for a list though. I vote for Snake, Barney, and Otto!!!!!
Lionel Hutz!!!!
“Cases won in 30 minutes or your pizza is free.”
this list was my opinion of the best supporting characters not the most important but i did mean to put c. montgomery burns in this list
please forgive my grammar, i was drunk when i created it
“Go banana!”
“Hi, SuperNintendo Chalmers!”
“I bent my Wookie…”
“It tastes like burning…”
Gotta love Ralph Wiggum!
“but its cold and hurty”
“bushes are nice cause they don’t have prickers unless they do, this one did owe!”
“this is my sandbox i’m not allowed to go in the deep end”
“stranger danger”
i dig the wig
no Groundskeeper Willie?
he’s the best haha
o well, when it comes to the Simpsons the list could be endless.
i think you did a fine job.
no one got out, not even WILLIE!
I have a Simpsons poster on my wall with every character from the show on there (hundreds), and now I’m going to spend the rest of my morning staring at it and trying to find MORE honorable mentions that weren’t included in the last hundred comments.
Thanks a ton MPW. =P
p.s. I freakin’ love this website.
Where’s Troy? And Otto-Man? Although to be fair that must’ve been a hard list to do
Lenny Leonard and Carl Carlson not on there? The provide a lot of laughs with their best friend-faux hatred-platonic love thing going on.
Notable episode: Half-Decent Proposal. When Homer sees the cacti that remind him of Marge, Lenny sees an enormous rock carved like Carl.
L: “There’s nothing on that helicopter for me…”
C: “Don’t be so sure!”
L: (Smiling)”Carl Carlson!?”
These are some of my favorite characters. X3
But really, where are Mr. Burns and Groundskeeper Millie?
gromit:thank you!:)
nickchuck: you’re welcome
Can’t believe you left out Barney, I would have rather seen him than Ralph.
i’m pretty sure at one point or another ive decided each one was a favorite. I’m surprised no one in the comments has said jasper.
‘paddlin the school canoe, thats a paddlin’
LOL
I covered my ears and I still somehow knew what tony said.
jasper is hilarious but there has yet to be an episode devoted to him.
Barney is great… but better than ralph
i dont know!
good point, they should make a just jasper show though eh?? I bet it would be hilarious! Its still an awesome list, since no matter who you left out some one else would be like ‘hey, what about so and so!?!?’
Ralph totally tops barney!!!
“Then the doctor told me both my eyes were lazy. And that’s why it was the best summer ever.”
Honorable Mentions:
1. Sideshow Bob (Bart’s arch enemy)
2. Groundskeeper Willie (The Shining Episode)
3. Mr. Burns
4. Barney
Tough list though tons of characters and moments to chose from good work!!!
what? no one mentioned cletus??? he’s my favorite supporting character! just love that accent!
“never you mind brandine, you just go back to nursing that baby”
“hey ma! look at that funny haired little girl”
cletus rules! and so does his cousin diabetty
and so does girly sue
“now i’s like britney spears”
sideshow bob should be #1
Sideshow Bob is cool but Sideshow Luke Perry is my favorite Sideshow
How about Utter the overweight German kid. He would offer to share his odd types of foreign candy with the kids.
LENNY AND CARL LENNY AND CARL LENNY AND CARL LENNY AND CARL LENNY AND CARL LENNY AND CARL LENNY AND CARL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are just plain the best characters on the show sidekicks or otherwise LENNY AND CARL
David-
welcome to LV. keep in mind ..all caps online is considered shouting. excessive punctuation is also discouraged. thanx
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