Harry Shearer

Photo of Harry Shearer

Biography

Having been the voice of 21 characters on the long-running animated sitcom "The Simpsons" (Fox, 1989- ), actor and comedian Harry Shearer was known by millions without most even recognizing his face. A child actor who segued into comedy, Shearer first emerged as an adult in Rob Reiner's beloved mockumentary, "This is Spinal Tap" (1984), while earning laughs on "Not Necessarily the News" (HBO, 1983-1990) and as a writer-performer on "Saturday …
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Job Title

Actor, Director, Producer, Writer, Music

Born

Harry Julius Shearer on December 23, 1943 in Los Angeles, California, USA

Career Milestones

2008

Earned a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album for Songs Of The Bushmen

2007

Released the album Songs: Pointed & Pointless, through his Courgette Records label

2007

Reprised roles for "The Simpsons Movie," an animated feature based on the long running FOX series

2006

Re-teamed with Guest to play an actor in "For Your Consideration"

2005

Voiced a Dog Announcer in the animated feature "Chicken Little"

2003

Re-teamed with Christopher Guest for "A Mighty Wind"

1999

Portrayed G. Gordon Liddy in the Watergate comedy "Dick"

1998

Played a journalist in the films "Godzilla" and "The Truman Show"

1994

Hosted, created and executive produced the Comedy Central series, "The News Hole With Harry Shearer"

1992

Co-wrote and co-starred in the TV special "A Spinal Tap Reunion"

1990

Provided voices to Principal Skinner and many other characters for FOX's "The Simpsons"; earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in 2009

Hosted, wrote and created the radio program, "Le Show" for NPR (National Public Radio)

1987

Wrote, directed, produced and appeared in the comedy special, "Paul Shaffer: Viva Shaf Vegas"

Provided voices for a series of Spitting Image comedy specials

1985

Wrote, directed and starred in his own TV special, "It's Just TV!"

1984

Returned to NBC's "Saturday Night Live" as a writer/performer

1984

Achieved cult celebrity status playing bassist Derek Smalls in "This Is Spinal Tap"; also co-wrote the screenplay and songs

1983

Joined the cast of HBO's "Not Necessarily the News"

1979

Joined NBC's "Saturday Night Live" as a writer/performer

1979

Co-produced, co-wrote (with Rob Reiner) and co-starred in the parody show "The TV Show"

1978

Feature screenwriting debut, "Real Life"; co-wrote with Albert Brooks

1977

First film as an adult, "Cracking Up"; appeared as a member of The Credibility Gap

1976

Returned to TV, playing a hippie in the telefilm, "Serpico: The Deadly Game"

1975

Co-wrote and produced Albert Brooks' comedy album, A Star is Bought

1969

Co-founded the comedy troupe The Credibility Gap

Worked as a freelance journalist and high school teacher after college

1957

Cast in the pilot of "Leave It to Beaver" (CBS); played Wally's friend Frankie; replaced by Ken Osmond (as Eddie Haskell) when series went into production

1953

Made film debut in "Abbott and Costello Go to Mars"

1951

TV debut, as a child, "The Jack Benny Show"

Awards

2009

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in The Simpsons

1980

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in Saturday Night Live