Top 10 Best The Simpsons Characters

A list of the top ten most popular characters from The Simpsons television series, the longest-running American sitcom and longest-running American animated program of all time.
The Top Ten
1 Homer Simpson Homer Jay Simpson is the main protagonist of the American animated television series The Simpsons as the patriarch of the eponymous family.

Homer Simpson is a cleverly written character all around. Even though his brain is the size of a thumbtack, he's still a compassionate soul who loves his community and family. Plus, his quotes are arguably the funniest on the show.

Homer is so funny. I bet 99.8 percent of the people who voted Homer as their favorite character. He is memorable, from his stupid behavior to his funny quotes. I absolutely love him. If you do not know who Homer Jay Simpson is, you have been living under a rock for the past 30 years. Homer rocks! Woohoo!

Honestly, Homer is my favorite character. He's such an idiot, but he's HILARIOUS. He's the most stupid character on the show, yet he's so dang lovable for being so funny. I love him. He's so relatable! Remember the episode where he gets into college and burns his high school diploma while singing "I am so smart! S-M-R-T!" as a fire forms around him? That was so relatable. By far my favorite character.

2 Bart Simpson Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is the oldest child, and the only son, in the 1987 show The Simpsons. He was created by Matt Groening. His hobbies are pranking people including Lisa Simpson and Homer Simpson.

Bart is amazing! He was the star of the series and got a ton of merchandise from "Bartmania" in the early '90s. From his prank calls to Moe to his terrible behavior at school, Bart is third place in my favorite characters. Chief Wiggum is 2nd, Homer is 1st. "I'm Bart Simpson, who the hell are you?"

He's got the skateboard, he's got the 'tude, he's got some of the best catchphrases a '90s kid could ask for. But Bart's not just the troublemaker writing chalkboard sentences during detention every day. He's a misunderstood pre-teen with more energy and ingenuity than his distracted parents and teachers know what to do with. That, plus some questionable punishment tactics from his father, lands him in a lot of trouble that lives at the show's core. Some people might think Bart is overrated, but honestly, they can eat my shorts.

When The Simpsons first started, Bart was effectively the main character. Sure, Homer was the draw for the everyday adult viewer, but it was Bart's adventures that we followed more often than not.

During this time, we were treated to a number of hilarious evergreen quotes. Whether it's "eat my shorts," "ay caramba," or "don't have a cow, man," there are very few people who would hear those phrases and not associate them with the spiky-headed hell-raiser.

3 Ralph Wiggum Ralph Wiggum is a side character in The Simpsons. He is the son of Chief Wiggum. Ralph is not very smart at all. He is voiced by Nancy Cartwright. Some episodes such as I Love Lisa and This Little Wiggy have him as a major character.

Ralph Wiggum has got to be one of the most lovable of all the Simpsons characters. I mean, he is just so funny that whenever I see him walking, I just think that he's going to perplex us with his over-the-top hilarity. And even if he doesn't, he is still my favorite character of all time in The Simpsons' history.

Oh, Ralph, I could come up with a ton of quotes for you. You're like a miniature version of Homer. No wonder you're Chief Wiggum's son. You're so kind and so cute. You're amazing! "My cat's breath smells like cat food."

"My cat's breath smells like cat food."
"Me fail English? That's unpossible."
"The doctor said I wouldn't have so many nosebleeds if I kept my finger outta there."
"I saw a leprechaun. He told me to burn things."
"I glued my head to my shoulder."
"...And when the doctor told me I didn't have worms anymore, that was the happiest day of my life."

4 Maggie Simpson Margaret "Maggie" Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She first appeared on television in the Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Maggie was created and designed by cartoonist Matt Groening while he was waiting in the lobby of James L.

Amazing character! She's my favorite. Did you know Maggie has talked before, and she was upset because everyone was arguing and didn't hear her, so she decided to never talk again?

Maggie in the golden era was wonderfully written and capable of being the center of a scene without needing dialogue. Some of the best moments in the series involved her, especially the end to "And Maggie Makes Three" as well as her first words. Maggie in the school for tiny tots was fantastic.

Our little angel probably won't be growing up anytime soon, unless it's the future Simpsons episodes where Bart and Lisa have their own families. Besides that, I love Maggie. She's cute, caring, and surprisingly very smart. Kudos to the little baby girl!

5 Mr. Burns Charles Montgomery Plantagenet Schicklgruber "Monty" Burns, usually referred to as Charles Montgomery Burns or simply Mr. Burns, is a recurring character in the animated television series The Simpsons, voiced initially by Christopher Collins, and currently by Harry Shearer.

Burns episodes tend to be my favorite, especially if they also heavily feature Homer. Burns' out-of-touch, antiquated perspective on everything is consistently amusing. How does a guy who is so weak, clueless, impotent, and forgetful manage to remain the most wealthy, powerful, and feared man in Springfield? Burns is essentially a walking contradiction, a humorously confused and anachronistic figure who's nonetheless always given sharp dialogue and performed wonderfully by Harry Shearer. If there's one character I can say I've never disliked, it's Mr. Burns.

I'm delighted whenever Burns appears onscreen. He's a walking contradiction of terms - threatening and powerful, yet impotent and weak. Intelligent with a razor-sharp memory for all turn-of-the-century culture, yet completely helpless in a modern world whose structure seems to completely elude him. Voiced with unmistakable vigor by Harry Shearer, Mr. Burns is The Simpsons' funniest asset.

6 Lisa Simpson Lisa Marie Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She is the middle child and most intelligent of the Simpson family.

She is an intellectual, a true role model to all those young females out there, and is no less interesting than her somewhat less "nerdy" brother, Bart Simpson. Despite being the voice of reason (albeit not always heard), she is not always correct, with her flaws making her all the more human and relatable. She also has an understanding of animals, a gift in music, and a love for literature - a few admirable and rare qualities, not common among the people of Springfield, making her unique.

She is understanding, caring, and despite being short-tempered at times, she is one of those characters you could most likely rely on to help you with a problem. No matter how much she lacks in popularity within her school, I believe she is very popular among the fans of The Simpsons for who she is.

As much as I think Bart is one of the best comedic TV characters of all time, my favorite Simpsons character has to be Lisa. Voiced to winsome perfection by Yeardley Smith, Lisa is the ultimate smart cookie. She's 8 years old, but she already knows more about monorail engineering, the history of cowboys, and vegetarianism than most of the adults around her.

However, that's not to say she isn't flawed. Lisa does make mistakes, and that's what I love about her. No matter how hard she tries to be the smart one in a family that's largely ignorant about the ways of the world, she ultimately realizes she needs to appreciate the family she has and be true to herself. Lisa is just a wonderful character to watch, and I hope more Simpsons episodes will be made that focus on her.

7 Moe Szyslak

Moe is an amazing character.
He is the greatest character of all.
Heck, he knows that Bart was the one prank calling him the whole time and just plays along for the laughs.
His heart is always in the right place, and he proves it every time he appears.
Also, he knows that it wasn't Jimbo. He knows all too well that it was Bart.
Just shows how much he cares about Homer and his family.

You just can't help sympathizing with Moe's problems. He seems mean and gritty on the outside, but he is actually rather sensitive. Moe's character always makes me laugh in two ways: either he seems overly sadistic, mean, and cruel, or he is struggling with the latent emotions he possesses.

Moe is hilarious - an ugly, raspy, embittered cynic who repeatedly tries (and fails) to overcome the fact that he knows how much he sucks. Easily my favorite of Hank Azaria's characters.

8 Ned Flanders Nedward Flanders Jr. is a recurring fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons.

Ned is my hero. Seriously, he always remains happy no matter what the weather. He is always being nice to everyone, even when they do bad things to him. He is the best neighbor anyone could ever ask for. Even Homer said himself once, "If the world were full of people like Ned Flanders, there would be no need for Heaven because Heaven would be right here on Earth." He is a perfect example of how a Christian should behave and live their life. He's a great guy, and the world would be a better place if there were more people like Ned around.

Flanders is an awesome addition to the cast of The Simpsons. You have Homer, who is just a joker. Smart Lisa. Troublemaker Bart. Baby Maggie. Great mother Marge. And all the other characters, each with their own special personality. Ned stands out a lot with his perfect and positive attitude.

Ned lost a lot of his character when he was watered down to little more than a God-fearing religious dweeb, but he remains one of the more entertaining characters on the show.

9 Marge Simpson Marjorie Jacqueline "Marge" Simpson is a fictional character in the American animated sitcom The Simpsons and part of the eponymous family. She is the wife of Homer and the mother of three children in the family.

Marge puts up with crap after crap from Homer. Though her questionable complacency prevents her from aging well, it is safe to say she is loving, caring, and altruistic when it comes to Homer and her family. She steps back and admits when she is wrong, and she supports Homer's growth for "as long as it takes" (which is very). No, she's not hilarious, or dumb, or someone to laugh at, but she is a wonderful character that serves as a reminder of sanity.

I relate to Marge because, in the Season 3 episode "Homer Alone," she was cranky and was out of control, causing her to stop the car so she could concentrate on what's going on. Then, she really needed to take a break and relax once in a while. Also, she had qualities similar to mine as well. To be honest, I think she does look attractive.

Marge is so funny because she is not meant to be. She says things that are so subtle that they are funny. Like when she says "Get back, hunky cat," or sings the hilarious song to Bart about how to save money, "Put it in your cap," she should be number 1!

10 Groundskeeper Willie Groundskeeper Willie is a character in The Simpsons. He is most famous for his Scottish accent. He first appears in the episode Principal Charming.

A quote machine:
"Give me that, you noodle-armed choir boy."
"Bonjour, you cheese-eating surrender monkeys."
"Willie hears ya, Willie doesn't care."
"Miracles are your department, Reverend."
"Looks like you're too good for me, too, college girl."
"Grease me up, woman."
"What flows from the nose does not go on the clothes."
Enough said.

They honestly need more episodes with Groundskeeper Willie. There's so little! There's only Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace. I don't know if there are any more...

Haha, he makes me laugh every time. My favorite moment was when he was skateboarding down the stairs and says to the children, "What are ya looking at ya bastards!"

The Contenders
11 Sideshow Bob Dr. Robert Underdunk Terwilliger, better known as Sideshow Bob, is a recurring character in the animated television series The Simpsons.

Sideshow Bob is my favorite Simpsons character. He even has nicer red palm tree-shaped hair. And it smells like strawberries. I love Sideshow Bob.

Sideshow Bob is so awesome! His outrageously smart but unsuccessful plans to kill Bart, his ingenious fights with Lisa, and his bad luck, especially with garden rakes, are humorous to everyone who likes a psychopathic ingenious killer as a side character. I wish the creators of The Simpsons had added more episodes with him, maybe even in season 24 or 25. I love those episodes and have watched each one at least four times!

I think people see him as a murderous lunatic, but actually, he is probably the most sophisticated, civilized, nicest person in Springfield! The only reason he went completely insane was because of Bart. All he wanted was to not be tormented by Bart. He even went all the way to Italy to get away from Bart, but yet again, the Simpsons still followed him there and ruined everything for him. Then he got locked up in a mental institute, shot with a tranquilizer dart, tasered, etc. How would you feel after all that? I know I would want to kill Bart, so please vote for Bob!

12 Krusty the Clown Hershel Shmoikel Pinchas Yerucham Krustofsky better known by his stage name Krusty the Clown is a clown from The Simpsons. He first appears in the short Krusty the Clown, but in the show he first appears in The Telltale Head. He is Jewish. Despite the fact that he is children's entertainer, he's seen drinking and smoking a lot.

I love Krusty. He's so funny, but not how he's supposed to be on a children's show. People post a lot of clips that they say are the best of Krusty, but I think almost every clip deserves to be on there.

Krusty has said many funny things, but yet he has a sometimes quite miserable life. He is selfish, hilarious, and loud, which is why he's so great!

Best clown ever. Should be in the top ten, or even, in my opinion, in the top five!

13 Chief Wiggum

My second favorite Simpsons character!

The policeman we all wish we had.

Sky Police. Chief Clancy Wiggum is the Sky Police. I love this guy.

14 Milhouse Van Houten Milhouse Mussolini Van Houten is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons, voiced by Pamela Hayden, and created by Matt Groening who named the character after President Richard Nixon's middle name.

Milhouse is an underrated character. He should be ranked at least in the top ten. It would be the highest he's ever been.

Milhouse is a very funny character and is very unlucky.

Milhouse is a hilarious nerd who follows Bart around everywhere! Classic nerd best friend.

15 Grandpa Simpson

Abe Simpson is the most interesting Simpson. I love the story where his former wrestling career is revealed. There is true depth to this character.

Definitely one of the most underrated characters. Many episodes telling his great story have stayed in my memory more than other episodes.

Really? 13? This guy is so senile, stupid, and useless. But that's what makes him hilarious. His stories that don't go anywhere, which reminds me of the time I went to India. I saw a man ride an elephant, which reminds me of the time when...

16 Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

He should be in the top ten. He's not only a well-done stereotype, but he's possibly the closest character to a real person. He feels the most genuine emotions at the right times, is a good role model, and is just downright awesome all the time. Also, he's incredibly hilarious, as are most of the characters in the show (seasons 1-8, that is. I prefer not to talk about what's past that point, since most of it is horrible).

Shouldn't be down here. He is my favorite and is a very good person, cool, smart, and pretty funny.

1. Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
2. Groundskeeper Willie
3. Abe Simpson
4. Moe Szyslak
5. Ralph Wiggum
6. Ned Flanders
7. Bart Simpson
8. Lisa Simpson
9. Homer Simpson

Think of all the wonderful Apu quotes over the years. Vote for Pedro. I mean Apu. You know, I remember back in nineteen-dickety-two when I first thought of Apu. We had to say dickety...

17 Comic Book Guy Comic Book Guy is the common, popular name for Jeffrey "Jeff" Albertson, a recurring fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons.

I love Comic Book Guy! Best. Character. Ever. He is a classic character! From dating Skinner's mom to attempting to marry Edna Krabappel, this guy is over-the-top funny!

I seriously just laugh whenever he comes on screen! He's so iconic and hilarious. How can he not be number one on here?!

He's so funny, and also a lot like me because basically, all I ever do is sit on my computer.

18 Nelson Muntz Nelson Mandela Muntz is a fictional character and the lead school bully from the animated TV series The Simpsons.

Haw-Haw! Laugh out loud, he's hilarious! He is not smart, he isn't pretty, but he should be a comedian!

He really goes through changes throughout the series.

They should make another episode about him and Lisa...

19 Santa's Little Helper

I love him. I've loved him since the first season.

Santa's Little Helper is so cute.

The loyalty of the Simpson family.

20 Hans Moleman Hans Moleman is a recurring character on the animated television series The Simpsons. He was created by series creator Matt Groening and is voiced by Dan Castellaneta, and first appeared in the episode "Principal Charming".

Marge Simpson: Maybe I am insane. I mean, I am talking to myself.
Hans Moleman: You are? Oh, I thought I had made a friend.

He should be known as "the guy who you feel sorry for all the time." He is still great.

He's in barely any episodes! He needs to be in more!

21 Waylon Smithers

He is a simple yet beautiful character. On one side, he loves his boss unconditionally but can't tell him for ambiguous reasons. He has strong morals despite serving the most evil man in Springfield. He is kind and pleasant, yet can feel jealous of other people and can be rude at times. In short, he has flaws, and while he relies on Mr. Burns to exist in the show, he is a fantastic, relatable, funny, and just a charming little guy. He should be way higher on this list and is horribly underrated.

Waylon Joseph Smithers is easily my favorite character in The Simpsons, and my second favorite character in all of media, right behind Bill Cipher. He's relatable, sweet, has generally good morals, and knows when to interfere with Burns' schemes. He's just so genuinely amazing, and I can't find one thing about him that I don't like. His character is oddly realistic, which makes him such a likable character as a whole.

22 Principal Skinner Principal W. Seymour Skinner is a fictional character in the American animated sitcom The Simpsons, who is voiced by Harry Shearer.

Skinner seems to always be that one character people are meant to laugh at. However, I think his pain of wanting to make his mother proud and upholding his values in his workplace make him a relatable character. While I love Bart's character as well, there were times I felt bad for this imaginary principal, which goes to show just how believable these characters' lives are.

Skinner is awesome with the motorcycle and amazing at leading the school for a very long time. Perhaps the best character of the show as well. Otto is awesome with the bus. Wiggum is good at being the funny police guy. Another to mention is the neighbor, Flanders. Should post private except they connect with Skinner well, and the whole works quite well in Springfield.

Probably my favorite Simpsons character because he's pretty damn amusing. Not only that, but I can relate to him a lot. Especially when he tries to please his mother. Also, Steamed Hams is the funniest scene in the show.

23 Otto Mann Otto Mann is a heavy metal obsessed bus driver from The Simpsons. He first appears in the episode Homer's Odyssey. He is shown to be friends with Bart Simpson, often calling him "Bart Dude". He is voiced by Harry Shearer.

I can relate to this guy, even though I don't drive a bus. He's cool, and he can play the guitar well too!

Got to be the coolest Simpsons character. He's always high, plays the guitar well, enjoys heavy metal, and he's a school bus driver. What an awesome role model.

Bring on the stoned bus driver!

24 Barney Gumble Barnard "Barney" Gumble is a fictional character on the American animated sitcom The Simpsons. The character is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared in the series premiere episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire".

He's sweet, but Homer must've ruined his life by introducing him to Duff beer. Then, after so long, he goes sober in one episode. I feel bad for him. Otherwise, he is hilariously awesome!

I really think that Barney Gumble is sweet...

25 Plopper aka Spider Pig

Laugh out loud, so funny. "You can take Spider Pig with you!" "He's not Spider Pig anymore. He's Harry Plopper." Oink!

Spider Pig, Spider Pig, who is the favorite spider thing? He's also Harry Potter. I don't know why. I love that movie!

Go, Spider Pig! He was awesome in the movie, and his cameos are the best!

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