Top 10 Best The Simpsons Characters

Here is a list of the top ten most popular characters from The Simpsons television series, the longest-running American sitcom and the longest-running American animated program of all time.

The Top Ten

Homer Simpson

Homer Jay Simpson is the main protagonist of the American animated television series The Simpsons, serving as the patriarch of the eponymous family. It is implied that he is not very intelligent, with a crayon stuck in his brain often cited as the reason. He works at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant... read more

I don't care what people say, but he is a good man, a loving husband, and a great father.
He may be rude and an alcoholic, but he has done more for the people of Springfield than even Ned Flanders and truly deserves to be the most loved man in town. He even does things for people he considers enemies or really dislikes.

Despite Homer's character being little more than a dumb guy who likes to drink beer nowadays, I vote for Homer because he has managed to remain pretty likable.
Homer used to be a kind but simple man who cared a lot for his family. He was rather easy to anger but was not blinded by stupidity.
Also, I would've voted for 1989 Lisa Simpson but didn't see such an entry.
Bart Simpson

Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is the eldest child and only son in the animated TV series The Simpsons, which premiered in December 1989. He was created by Matt Groening.
Bart is known for prank-calling Moe's Tavern, skateboarding, and his catchphrases like "Eat my shorts!" His mischief often... read more

He's got the skateboard, he's got the attitude, 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-haired hell-raiser.
Ralph Wiggum

Ralph Wiggum is a supporting character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is the son of Chief Clancy Wiggum and is known for his nonsensical and often humorous remarks. Ralph is voiced by Nancy Cartwright and features prominently in several episodes, including I Love Lisa and This Little... read more

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.

"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."
Mr. Burns

Charles Montgomery Plantagenet Schicklgruber "Monty" Burns, more commonly known as Charles Montgomery Burns or simply Mr. Burns, is a recurring character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is the wealthy and power-hungry owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. The character was... read more

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.
Lisa Simpson

Lisa Marie Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She's the middle child and the most intelligent member of the Simpson family. Lisa is known for her academic excellence, strong moral convictions, and love for jazz music.

For those who say "Little Miss Perfect" or whatever, Lisa is underrated. Lisa once had a bad day when she stayed up all night trying to solve a brain teaser, making her forget her combination. She forgot to do her homework for the agriculture project and quickly made a "pig" eraser with pushpins and a spring for his curly tail.
Lisa forgot to read The Wind in the Willows book, so she decided to cheat after seeing Groundskeeper Willie cleaning the boys' toilets and saying he got a "0" once in school. He said he turned out fine. In a different school, Lisa got a "B".

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.
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.

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 in 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!
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.
Ned Flanders

Nedward "Ned" Flanders Jr., more commonly known as Flanders, is the Simpson family's deeply religious next-door neighbor. He's a genuinely well-meaning, good-natured person who, despite his strong faith, can be timid and somewhat of a pushover.... read more

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.

Even though he portrays a negative stereotype of Christianity, he still shows absolute faith no matter what is thrown his way, whether it be the death of two wives or others discouraging his faith.
Marge Simpson

Marjorie Jacqueline "Marge" Simpson is a fictional character in the American animated sitcom The Simpsons. She is the wife of Homer Simpson and the mother of Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Marge is known for her towering blue hair and serves as the moral center of the family.

Loving and loyal to everyone in the family, and she does her best to put up with the stupidity around her.
She is good for the most part, until she discourages Homer and Bart's desire to be Catholic.

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.
Groundskeeper Willie

Groundskeeper Willie is a character from The Simpsons. He is best known for his thick Scottish accent and fiery temper. He first appears in the Season 2 episode Principal Charming, which originally aired on February 14, 1991.

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 Newcomers

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Titania

Titania enjoys wet T-shirts, pouring beer, and sleeping with people.
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Kumiko Albertson

The Contenders

Krusty the Clown

Hershel Shmoikel Pinchas Yerucham Krustofsky, known by his stage name Krusty the Clown, is a character from The Simpsons. He first appeared in the short Krusty the Clown on The Tracey Ullman Show, and made his series debut in the episode The Telltale Head.... read more

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!

Willie, Itchy, and Scratchy are fun. Krusty is a great toon on the show as well and should be at least 4th.
Chief Wiggum

Definitely one for personality. His fan base is huge, just like his belly that grumbles every minute and his man boobs that move up and down more than Santa's bobble on his hat in the wind.
My favorite moment of his has to be when he was chasing Homer in his cruiser (Homer was in Snake's car). Both Homer and Chief Wiggum went off a little jump constructed with a few props, and when they crashed, they destroyed the house Marge was trying to sell. Afterward, Wiggum and Homer were playing with bubble wrap on the roof.
I also loved when Chief Wiggum became friends with Homer properly. Thankfully, that never changed.

My second favorite Simpsons character!
Sideshow Bob

Dr. Robert Underdunk Terwilliger, better known as Sideshow Bob, is a recurring character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Kelsey Grammer and is most often portrayed as the sophisticated and vengeful nemesis of Bart Simpson. Sideshow Bob was originally Krusty the Clown's... read more

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, and 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, and so forth. How would you feel after all that? I know I would want to kill Bart, so please vote for Bob!
Grampa 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...
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
Milhouse Van Houten

Milhouse Mussolini Van Houten is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Pamela Hayden and was created by Matt Groening. The character's name includes Mussolini as a joke and Milhouse, which was 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.
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. He is known for running The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop. Comic Book Guy is characterized by his sarcastic tone, vast pop culture knowledge... read more

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.
Principal Skinner

Principal W. Seymour Skinner is a fictional character from the American animated television series The Simpsons. He is the principal of Springfield Elementary School and is known for his strict, bureaucratic personality. The character 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.
They should post private except they connect with Skinner well, and the whole works quite well in Springfield.
Nelson Muntz

Nelson Mandela Muntz is a fictional character and the lead school bully from the animated TV series The Simpsons. He is known for his mocking laugh and aggressive behavior toward other students. Nelson first appeared in the episode Bart the General in 1990.

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.
Barney Gumble

Barnard "Barney" Gumble is a fictional character on the American animated sitcom The Simpsons. He is known as Homer Simpson's best friend and is characterized by his severe alcoholism and slurred speech. The character is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and made his first appearance in the show's premiere... read more

He's sweet, but Homer must have 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.

Dumber than Homer, and that's saying something.
Otto Mann

Otto Mann is a bus driver character from the animated television show The Simpsons who is obsessed with heavy metal music. He first appeared in the episode "Homer's Odyssey" and is known for his laid-back attitude and strong friendship with Bart Simpson. Otto frequently refers to Bart as "Bart Dude"... read more

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!
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.
Lenny Leonard

"And it was at that moment we realized that our fans truly cared about our characters. All of our characters. Except Lenny."
- Quote from Springfield Confidential
Lenny is one of my favorite characters, and this is an accurate depiction of how he is ignored.

It's hard not to feel bad for this guy. He tries so hard to get Carl to notice him (e.g., Mount Carlmore) but instead gets ignored entirely (e.g., The Saga of Carl). He's practically the only character that hasn't had a focus episode, which is unfortunate because there are so many plotlines the writers could use.
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. Moleman first appeared in the episode "Principal Charming" and is known for his frail appearance and frequent misfortunes.

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!
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.