50 Best Simpsons Characters Of All Time Ranked

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"The Simpsons" is one of the most enduring shows on television, a staple of broadcast television for well over 30 years. The animated series following a middle-class yellow family in Springfield, USA has over 700 episodes, and at this point the nuclear family has done just about everything and been everywhere you could possibly imagine. It has made a name for itself by packing in more references than you can imagine into every episode, balancing humor and heart better than the competition — all these decades later, still a strong suit.

But tales about the 5 Simpsons would have gotten old quick, so it's no secret that the show has endured for so long because of its head-spinning array of endearing, memorable Springfield residents. It's difficult to think of a show that has 50 characters, nevermind far more — and believe it or not, comprising a list of the 50 best "Simpsons" creations actually leaves out many more good ones. 

It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it. Below, a ranked list of the 50 Best "Simpsons" characters of all time.

Which one is Sherri? Which one is Terri? Nobody has any idea, but quite frankly, it doesn't matter. Among the rare "Simpsons" characters who have been there since the very beginning (first appearing in 1989's "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"), they may have started with brown hair that has become consistently more purple with each passing year but, like Bart, they've been stuck in the 4th grade for over thirty years. Just be thankful they aren't grey.

These little hellraisers (both voiced by Russi Taylor) probably wouldn't be very interesting as an individual student — but as a duo, they serve their purpose of always being up in Bart's business. It seems possible that one (or both) has a childhood crush on Bart, but if he likes one more than the other, he certainly isn't letting on.

"Some folk'll never eat a skunk, but then again some folk'll," the old song goes. "Like Cletus, the slack-jawed yokel!'

It's not every "Simpsons" character who gets their own theme (courtesy of "22 Short Films About Springfield," Season 7, Episode 21), but unapologetic hillbilly Cletus Spuckler (the first of many, many Hank Azaria characters on this list) is the anchor to some of the show's most amusing running gags, as Cletus and his wife Brandine (Tress MacNeille) engage in endless ways to remind us that they have no money, many kids, and questionable heritage.

"You are the most wonderful husband, and son, I ever had," Brandine once said to Cletus. We'll just leave that there.

Over the years, Cletus has evolved into more of a character and less of a redneck. Which is important, because he has to be a good role model for little Tiffany, Kendall, Kyra, Ian, Dubya, Melvis, Mary Not-Quite-Right, Embry Joe, Gitmo, Hunter, Rubella Scabies, Scout, Rumer, Dermott, Q-Bert, Gummy Sue and the rest.   

Most folk'll never lose a toe but then again some folk'll ... like Cletus, our beloved slack-jawed yokel.

Okay, they're a little easier to differentiate than Sherri and Terri, but not that much. Ned Flanders' boys have seemingly interchangeable personalities, are both really hung up on issues of religion, avoiding sin and denying themselves of things, and they both seem to think next-door neighbor Bart is the devil. Which sort of makes sense — after all, Bart's dad killed their mom. 

While Rod (Pamela Hayden) and Todd Flanders (Nancy Cartwright) are two distinct characters, it feels impossible to choose one over the other, so the brothers occupy this spot on the list together. The pair play amazing games like sitting still, where they ... well, you get the idea. The boys are two of the most well-behaved kids in the universe, but they occasionally transgress, largely because of Bart. One of their funniest moments involves them being exposed to sugar for the first time, causing them to immediately shed their good boy personas. They have to tread a fine line though, because if they misbehave, they might lose out on their bible stories.

Crime boss Fat Tony ("Criminal Minds" star Joe Mantegna) is the king of playing innocent. When questioned by Police Chief Wiggum, he glibly responds "What's murder?" 

Fat Tony is a great character because we all know what he really does, but he so rarely admits to it. This is perhaps most memorably demonstrated in  "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer" (Season 18, Episode 1), when the Simpsons befriend his son Michael, leading to Tony participating in their carpool — and employing Milhouse's Garfield binder to kill a bunch of guys from the Calabrese family, "My arch-enemies in waste-management."

Of course, Tony has orchestrated many memorable schemes operating outside the long-arm of the law, including his infamous "Legitimate Businessman's Social Club" plan to make money off the schools by replacing their beverages with rat's milk. Love him or hate him, you'd better listen to Fat Tony, or else you might end up like his wife who was "whacked by natural causes."

The focal point of one of the greatest "Simpsons" episodes of all time ("Homer's Enemy," Season 8, Episode 23), tenacious, hard-working Frank "Grimey" Grimes never had it easy. And when he met Homer Simpson, things only got more difficult.

Voiced by Hank Azaria, Grimes was born from "Simpsons" writer John Swartzwelder imaging how difficult it would be to work alongside Homer, whose every act of ineptitude seems to only reward him. When a reporter later called the grim ending of the episode (where Homer falls asleep during Grimey's eulogy) heartless, Swartzwelder defended the classic script.

"Grimey was asking for it the whole episode," he said. "He didn't approve of our Homer. He was asking for it, and he got it. Now what was this you were saying about heart?"

Hired after Mr. Burns sees a news story on Grimey's difficult life challenges, insisting he wants a "self-made man," Grimes begins work at the nuclear power plant hoping to put his hard-earned degree in nuclear physics to good use. Immediately stunned by Homer's incompetence — and his blessings of a good home, a loving family and food on the table — Grimey comes to symbolize the disillusionment of the American Dream, ultimately realizing that hard work offers no guarantees of satisfaction in life. 

This makes him one of the most tragic characters to ever appear on the show, punctuated when he electrocutes himself in an attempt to show what it would be like if everyone behaved like Homer — dying in a state of madness and disbelief. In 2021, we picked "Homer's Enemy" as the best Simpsons episode ever, and still find it difficult to argue the point.

The first time we saw Agnes (MacNeille), she seemed like a lovely lady, playfully calling her son Spanky and behaving like a sweet grandmotherly type. After a Bart Simpson prank had him putting a cherry bomb in her toilet, however, Agnes would never be the same.

Now a curmudgeon who tries to control her adult son's every breath, she's one tough cookie. Agnes is also no stranger to romance, having struck up passionate relationships with both Chalmers and Comic Book Guy (the two meet at a class called "How to Make Friends"). Always eager to knock her son down a peg, it's best to stay out of her way.

America has always valued news anchors to deliver the stories they need to keep informed. In Springfield, that duty is held by Kent Brockman (Shearer), a proud Stonecutter and the first to welcome our new insect overlords.

As the anchor of Channel 6, Brockman is the reliable voice the citizens of Springfield depend on, and he provides fodder for many memorable "Simpsons" moments. He once realized he won the lottery on-air — quitting instantly. He used his bully pulpit to urge a ban on all music. But as he has dutifully reported, dozens of people are gunned down in Springfield each day — and Kent is there to cover it all. 

"Hi everybody!," announces Dr. Nick Riviera (Castellaneta) whenever he enters a scene. And once, in "The Simpsons" movie, he famously gave a cheery "Bye everybody!" right before dropping dead. But don't worry, somehow he survived — undoubtedly, someone else must have performed the surgery.

Forever in the Springfield shadow of the superior Dr. Hibbert, Dr. Nick is a dubious doctor with a highly questionable medical degree, but he distinguishes himself from the competition by being cheaper. He advertises on TV in ridiculous infomercials, flaunting his medical degree from the Hollywood Upstairs Medical College — but if you choose to be a patient, don't be surprised to wake up and discover he has accidentally swapped your arm with a leg. 

Dr. Nick's unfailingly cheery disposition as he peddles miracle cures and watches videos on how to do open-heart surgery is funny to us, if not always to his patients. If you're feeling brave, step on up and call his clinic in the Springfield Mall at 1-600-DOCTORB. And don't forget: the B is for bargain.

Springfield's resident thespian, Sideshow Mel (Castellaneta) is a professional clown, working as Krusty the Clown's sidekick on his television show. He considers himself a great actor, but let's be real: he's just the guy who took over for Sideshow Bob. 

When the cameras are off, Mel is a completely different person, speaking in a dignified British accent, and would strongly prefer delivering resplendent Shakespearian monologues rather than taking a pie to the face. Mel is a great character because, despite the green hair and bone, he's very grounded. Who else could deliver a line like "Look! It's internet buffoon Angry Dad!" with such grace and credibility?

Like many Springfield residents, Sideshow Mel has greater ambitions than the role he finds himself in. And he's determined to make something of himself, even if he has to use every last bone in his body.

Are you thinking of the children? If the reverend's wife, Helen Lovejoy (Maggie Roswell) is around, you'd better be! The ultimate town gossip, Helen is always looking to stir up some drama amongst the citizens of Springfield, and is perennially available in town hall meetings to shout "Won't somebody think of the children!?!" 

Despite this insistence that she always cares for the kids, she doesn't seem to pay much attention to her own, as her own daughter Jessica (Meryl Streep) is quite the troublemaker. Sure, Helen is one of the more conniving and downright nasty characters in "The Simpsons," but it sure is fun when she pops up with her signature line.

To work somewhere like a nuclear power plant, it seems you'd have to be pretty calm, cool, and collected — which is exactly why Carl Carlson (Hank Azaria until 2020, now Alex Désert) is so good at his job. 

With so much chaotic, unpredictable energy among the residents of Springfield, Carl is a true breath of fresh air (even if many fans can't tell you which one is Carl and which one is Lenny, his ever-present BFF). Carl might be a quiet guy, but watch out when he gets rolling; in "Pygmoelian" (Season 11, Episode 16), he makes everyone at Moe's cry with his cutting observations. For the most part, though, Carl is an effortlessly charming guy, and even got his own episode with "The Saga of Carl" (Season 24, Episode 21), which explored his Icelandic heritage.

Want to feel old? In the character's early days, Dr. Hibbert was portrayed as a friendly jab at Bill Cosby — who was the ratings king on TV at the time via "The Cosby Show," and had a similar affection for overly-busy sweaters. At the time, FOX had moved "The Simpsons" to Thursdays, opposite arguably the most popular show of the '80s, and the media was making a big deal of the "Bill vs. Bart" rivalry. Decades later, the Cosby story has taken a decidedly different turn — but Dr. Hibbert is still here. 

Dr. Julius Hibbert (Harry Shearer until 2021, now Kevin Michael Richardson) is the most reliable doctor in Springfield. That's probably not a great sign for the people of Springfield, as Hibbert isn't exactly perfect; in "HOMR" (Season 12, Episode 9), Hibbert admitted he had never noticed that Homer had a crayon lodged in his brain, because he would always cover that part of the x-ray with his thumb. 

Still, he's a lot more reliable than Dr. Nick. Hibbert is best loved for his charming nature and relaxed candor, which occasionally jumps into super-serious mode — he is a doctor, after all. But if you're going to get bad news from a doctor, it makes things better if he chuckles afterwards, right?

The chain-smoking Patty Bouvier (Julie Kavner) is typically seen alongside her best friend and twin sister Selma (also Kavner), but the two are distinct characters in their own right. The ladies are known for their snideness and generally pessimistic worldview, delighting in their sadistic duties at the DMV, but Patty is definitely the more jaded of the two. 

In "There's Something About Marrying" (season 16, Episode 10) Patty reveals to Homer and Marge that she's a lesbian. Though she's best known for being negative and coming up with creative insults for Homer, Patty was finally given some genuine depth with the revelation, and became all the more fascinating for it.

Like the male version of Lisa Simpson, Martin Prince (the phenomenal Russi Taylor) is Bart's schoolmate and a bona fide teacher's pet, always prepared with the correct answer. As a result of this, he's often a target for Nelson's bullying. 

Despite his joyful, flamboyant attitude, Martin has always struggled to make friends, an issue that was explored in "Grade School Confidential" (Season 8, Episode 19). It opens with Martin holding an extravagant birthday party for his friends, including a giant ice sculpture shaped like himself and a mathemagician, but things go awry when food poisoning sends most of the kids to the hospital.

It's time to get greased up, because Groundskeeper Willie (Castellaneta) is next on the list. Springfield Elementary's janitor and groundskeeper, Willie is distinctly Scottish and stands out with his very thick accent and red hair. 

Willie is devoted to Scottish culture and mannerisms, made abundantly clear when he attempted stand-up comedy wearing a kilt and bagpipes while talking about the difference between golfers in north and south Edinburgh. Willie lives in a shed on the school grounds, battles his arch-enemy Sheamus, and selling haggis as a side hustle. Willie's hobbies include nips and naps, romancing Inga, and channeling Sharon Stone.

Although there have been countless brilliant Groundskeeper Willie moments, he's rarely been as brilliant as in "Lard of the Dance" (Season 10, Episode 1), where plenty of grease-related incidents (including the imperilment of his "retirement grease") made for some big laughs.

The Reverend at the First Church of Springfield, Timothy Lovejoy (Shearer) came to Springfield excited and eager to preach the word of God to his constituents. Then came Ned Flanders, whose constant (and we do mean constant) calls and questions wore Lovejoy down a great deal, even causing him to curse. 

While he remains a devoted servant of the lord, it's apparent that he'd rather be playing with his remote control trains. Lovejoy is always grappling with trying to get the people of Springfield interested in the church, as folks like Homer often sleep through his sermons and would rather be anywhere but church. Lovejoy's steadfast determination in the face of adversity has always impressed those around him, and the oft-exasperated reverend is one of "The Simpsons" great characters.

The youngest member of the Simpson family, Maggie has only spoken a few rare times over her time over 700-plus episodes, but she still manages to be an integral character on the show. Maggie has a surprising propensity for aggression, likely thanks to the influence of violent television, and has tried to kill Homer on multiple occasions, using a mallet and pencil to terrifyingly funny effect. Then, of course, there's her arch-enemy the unibrow baby. 

Though Homer occasionally forgets who Maggie is, or locks her in a newspaper box, her physical comedy is some of the finest the show has to offer. Never underestimate this sweet-faced, pacifier-sucking baby, as she just might be the most lethal character on the show. 

If charm was all it took, Ralph Wiggum would probably be at the very top of this list. The adorable student in Lisa's second-grade class has aspirations of being "a principal or caterpillar," and when he finds out he's failing English, he memorably responds: "Me fail English? That's unpossible!" 

Ralph has been a standout character ever since the early days of "The Simpsons." In "I Love Lisa" (Season 4, Episode 15) he declares his unyielding adoration for Lisa, who does not reciprocate and ends up devastating Ralph on live TV. Don't feel too bad for Ralph, though, as despite his learning difficulties he managed a pretty successful presidential campaign in "E Pluribus Wiggum" (Season 19, Episode 10). 

The undisputed leader of telling you how things were back in his day, Grandpa Abraham Simpson (Castellaneta) loves nothing more than to tell a long-winded story about his past — and perhaps, getting angry at clouds.

Through flashbacks, we've learned that Abe was very different when he was younger, and was also very difficult on his son Homer growing up. Abe has a lot of backstory, much of it courtesy of his experience in the war. Abe's attempts at love have sometimes been heartbreaking, never really panning out; the closest he got to true love was with Marge's mother Jacqueline Bouvier (Julie Kavner) in the great "Lady Bouvier's Lover" (Season 5, Episode 21). To paraphrase Grandpa: He used to be with it, but then they changed what it was.

Every great story needs a villain, and none are more delightfully evil than Charles Montgomery Burns, Springfield's literal and figurative cartoonish big bad. 

Burns (Shearer) is extraordinarily wealthy and old (one joke revealed his social security number to be 000 00 0002), and he runs the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. When not curling his fingers together and sinisterly muttering "excellent," he's releasing the hounds on anyone who dares ask for assistance of any kind. He's also callously cruel to his long-suffering assistant Smithers, and is always scheming to add more to his endless piles of wealth. One of the character's best "Simpsons" episodes, "Rosebud" (Season 5 Episode 4) used a "Citizen Kane"-narrative framework (and gimmick) to explore Burns' childhood, and is well worth a revisit.

The proprietor of Springfield's finest convenience store, the Kiwk-E-Mart, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon (formerly Hank Azaria, who has yet to be replaced) always welcomes customers with a cheerful smile. 

Apu found love with his arranged wife Manjula, who ended up giving birth to octuplets, keeping Apu tremendously busy. He's also a gifted musical talent, as showcased in the catchy song "Who Needs the Kwik-E-Mart?" Though the character has recently come under a great deal of criticism for his perceived portrayal as a stereotype, Apu still remains one of the most heartfelt, hilarious characters to ever be in "The Simpsons."

The ultimate prankster extraordinaire and the bane of Principal Skinner's existence, 10-year-old Bart Simpson (Nancy Cartwright) is the eldest child of the Simpson clan. He's a nightmare for authority figures, he's an underachiever (and proud of it), and his rebellions have put him, his best friend Milhouse, and his family into worlds of trouble — like the time he managed to infuriate the entire country of Australia. But at least he's an equal opportunity offender: He's mooned the American flag, albeit accidentally. Hey, the kid has been a prankster since he was ten minutes old. 

But the mischievous Bart has a soft side too, and world-class episodes like "Bart Sells His Soul" (Season 4, Episode 7) and "Marge Be Not Proud" (Season 7, Episode 11) showcase Bart's sensitive side, reminding us that over 700 episodes he has become a well-rounded, surprisingly sensitive character. Bart has countless moments with all of his family members, but the most memorable tend to come from his relationship with Homer. 

Some of the funniest moments of the show come from Bart pranking homer, and Homer strangling Bart as a result. Ultimately, Bart taught a generation of kids to stand up to authority with a passionate rallying cry of "Eat my shorts!" So thanks, Bart, for inspiring the rebel within us all.

On this list, everything really is coming up Milhouse! The only child of what's left of the Van Houtens (and he's got the scars to prove it), Bart's impressively-eyebrowed best friend is hopelessly in love with Lisa, allergic to almost everything, and really needs to be kept away from sugar. 

Milhouse (Hayden) may be desperate to please but is so rarely able to do so; nevertheless, he's Bart's ride-or-die for road trips, evading the feds, and pranks. The dynamic of their relationship shifted briefly when Milhouse got the upper-hand in "Bart Sells His Soul" (Season 7, Episode 4), possibly the greatest episode "The Simpsons" have ever produced on the topic of religion, and one that has inspired books as well as college professors. 

Through it all, Milhouse is an incredibly good sport when everything is crumbling around him. The ultimate tragicomic child, nobody does it quite like this little blue-haired rapscallion.

The saxophone-playing wunderkind of the Simpson family, eight-year-old Lisa (Yeardley Smith) is their smartest child. Though living in the shadow of the hyperactive Bart would be difficult for any child, this middle child shines bright.

While Bart rebels through pranks, Lisa rebels against her family genes by working so hard at school. She's never afraid to voice her beliefs and fight for what's right, particularly in two of the best episodes focused on the character: In "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington" (Season 3, Episode 2), she discovers the harsh truths of American politics; in "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy" (Season 5, Episode 14), she designs a new doll to challenge the vapid Barbie-inspired Malibu Stacy. 

While those are two of the series' heavier episodes, Lisa is no stranger to laughter either. Her psychedelic freakout in "Selma's Choice" (Season 4, Episode 13) is a classic scene (NEVER drink the water at Duff gardens!), as was the time she broke Ralph Wiggum's heart. Ultimately, Lisa will never stop her crusade to try and save the world, become president, bond with her favorite substitute teacher, and call out bad actors. While that might rub some people the wrong way, it'll never stop her from trying.

The woman with hair by Frank Lloyd Wright (according to Apu), there's nobody quite like Marge Simpson (Julie Kavner). Wife to Homer and mother to Lisa, Bart, and Maggie, Marge is often thought of as a simple housewife, but as "The Simpsons" has proven time and again, Marge is more multi-dimensional than just about anyone else on the show. One of her best episodes, the underrated gem "Scenes From the Class Struggle in Springfield" (Season 7, Episode 14), shows Marge's desperation to fit in to elevate herself above her humdrum middle class life, before realizing that the real magic of her life lies in the love of her beautiful family.

Though sometimes the citizens of Springfield get frustrated with Marge — whenever she gets up to speak at town hall meetings, the groans are audible — she's almost always right, such as when she knew the monorail was no good in the phenomenal "Marge vs. The Monorail" (Season 4, Episode 12). While a lot of the humor comes from other characters (though Marge still has plenty of jokes for herself, and "I just think they're neat!" is an all-time quotable line), the heart of the show undeniably runs through the amazing blue-haired matriarch of the Simpsons family, making her the single greatest character in "The Simpsons."