Hank Azaria Movies
Rubber-faced comic actor and vocal artist extraordinaire Hank Azaria initially plied his trade on the stand-up circuit, then subsequently landed stage appearances and tackled bit parts on television. Azaria scored his breakthrough in 1989 when he began providing a multitude of voices for the Fox network's groundbreaking animated series The Simpsons, an assignment that imparted the performer with an enviable degree of cult stardom. In 1991, Azaria nabbed a major role in the Fox live-action sitcom Herman's Head, which ran until 1994 and gave audiences a glimpse of the man responsible for the vocal intonations of some of the most famous characters to ever corrupt an animator's storyboard.
A native of Queens, NY, where he was born into a family of Sephardic Jews on April 25, 1964, Azaria commenced film roles in the late 1980s, coincident with his Simpsons stardom. Work on that program (which, after graduating from a series of crude sketches on The Tracey Ullmann Show to its own animated sitcom, quickly shot up to qualify as the Fox network's most popular enterprise) easily outstripped Azaria's screen work in popularity and visibility for many years. Recurring parts included Indian convenience store owner Apu, quack doctor Nick Riviera, dim-witted bartender Moe, and the idiotic, pig-nosed Springfield Chief of Police, Clancy Wiggum.
Though his Simpsons work continued unabated over the years, beginning in the mid-1990s Azaria branched out somewhat, placing a heavier emphasis on live-action portrayals. Even in that venue, however, his work tonally mirrored his animated contributions; he specialized in adroitly handling goofy, over-the-top character parts, often with an ethnic bent. The performer attained visibility and memorability, for example, as the klutzy and scantily-dressed gay houseboy Agador in The Birdcage (1995), Hector, a goofy Hispanic paramour with a permanent effeminate lisp, in Joe Roth's underrated showbiz comedy America's Sweethearts (2001), and Claude, a Gallic beach bum with no qualms about taking off with other men's wives, in John Hamburg's gross-out romantic comedy Along Came Polly (2004).
Azaria has also departed from the boundaries of screen comedy from time to time, doing
memorable work across genre lines in such films as Great Expectations (1998) (which cast him as Gwyneth Paltrow's lackluster fiancé), Mystery Men (1999) (as the superhero Blue Raja), and Tim Robbins' Cradle Will Rock (1999), a historical drama about art and politics in 1930s New York that cast Azaria as leftist playwright Marc Blitzstein. In 2005, Azaria presided as one of the many off-color monologuists in Penn Jillette's stand-up comedy showcase film The Aristocrats; the performer subsequently provided at least seventeen voices (including his usual series roles) for The Simpsons Movie (2007) and voiced both Abbie Hoffmann and Allen Ginsberg in the animated sequences of Brett Morgen's offbeat documentary Chicago 10 (2007).
In July 1999, Azaria married actress Helen Hunt, with whom he co-starred in several episodes of the sitcom Mad About You. The two divorced within eighteen months. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Al Capone's imprisonment opened the way for mobster Frank Nitti to become the underworld king of Chicago as related in this true story. (AKA Nitti) ~ All Movie Guide
- 1989
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Maggie (Joanna Kerns) receives a major promotion at Channel 19, at the same time that Jason (Alan Thicke) is offered a prestigious new downtown practice. Trouble is, the couple has agreed that at least one parent must stay home to raise the children while the other works. Jason is confident that the kids don't need his help anymore, but a series of catastrophes quickly dispell this notion. Meanwhile, Maggie's future at Channel 19 is jeopardized when the idiotic "improvements" by the station's new PR firm seriously challenge her integrity. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
The Banks family learns a sobering lesson about racial profiling when Will (Will Smith) and Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) are caught "driving while black" in the car owned by Philip's white law partner Mr. Furth (John Petlock). Though the guys were driving with the owner's permission, they are thrown in jail because they fit the descriptions of two car thieves. Worried that they'll never get out of the holding tank, Will "confesses" to being a thief in front of a TV camera crew in order to alert Uncle Philip (James Avery) to his plight. Upon arriving at the police station to spring Will and Carlton, Philip is subjected to a barrage of insults and insinuations by the racist desk sergeant (Dan Desmond)--but when Mr. Furth shows up to explain the situation, it's a different story! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Self-involved corporate raider Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) has recently split up with his girlfriend. Seeking directions to the Beverly Hills Hotel, he makes the acquaintance of free-spirited hooker Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) and decides to put her on a 3,000-dollar retainer as his "date." He Cinderellarizes her by bankrolling a full wardrobe and cosmetic makeover. Of course, the setup will be strictly platonic. A disarming modern-day fairy tale, Pretty Woman was the picture that made Julia Roberts a superstar. As charming as she is in her "giggling" sequences, Roberts' best scene is her triumphant return to a posh Rodeo Drive shop where she'd been previously snubbed. Keeping Pretty Woman afloat throughout is the buoyant direction of Garry Marshall and the always welcome presence of Marshall's stock company of actors, including Hector Elizondo as a stuffy but golden-hearted concierge. Pretty Woman began its life as a much darker story of prostitutes and homicidal drug dealers, but more box-office-savvy heads ultimately prevailed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, (more)
- 1991
Bart Simpson (voice of Nancy Cartwright) is riding his skateboard home after a hard day at school when he falls down a flight of stairs and finds himself in "The Legitimate Businessman's Social Club," a meeting place for Fat Tony (voice of Joe Mantegna) and other kingpins of the Springfield Mafia. Forced to mix a Manhattan, Bart proves to be a pretty good bartender, and Fat Tony offers him a job after school. But Bart's duties at the Social Club take up more and more of his time, and when Principal Skinner (voice of Harry Shearer) makes Bart stay after school, Fat Tony is not amused. The next day, Skinner disappears and is soon presumed dead, and when Police Chief Wiggum (voice of Hank Azaria) confronts Fat Tony, he pins the blame on Bart. Soon Bart is on trial for murder, and the various members of the "Social Club" testify that the boy is actually the godfather of a vast criminal empire. "Bart The Murderer," which first aired on October 10, 1991, also features a voice performance from Neil Patrick Harris, who plays "Bart Simpson" in a made-for-TV movie, Blood On The Blackboard: The Bart Simpson Story. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Shortly before she is to perform in the school's talent show, Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith) breaks the reed to her saxophone, and she calls Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) and asks him to bring her a new one. Homer discovers the music store is next door to Moe's Tavern; he decides to grab a quick beer before getting the reed, but by the time he's finished the store has closed, and while he's able to persuade the owner to help him, he doesn't make it in time for Lisa's performance. Dispirited by the realization she can't count on her father, Lisa sinks into a deep depression. Homer is desperate to cheer Lisa up, and knowing her enthusiasm for horses, he decides to buy her a pony. But Homer isn't aware of just how expensive it can be to take care of a horse, and is soon forced to take a second job at the Kwik-E-Mart, where Apu (voice of Hank Azaria) gives him a crash course in the high-risk world of manning the counter at a convenience store ("I won't lie to you -- on this job, you will be shot at!"). However, the strain wears Homer down to a frazzle, and Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) tries to persuade Lisa that her father's health and well-being may be more important than the pony. "Lisa's Pony" first aired on November 7, 1991. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1991
One day, while riding his skateboard, Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) is hit by a car, and after a near-death experience (during which he pays a brief visit to Heaven, only to descend into Hell after spitting over the railing) he regains consciousness in the hospital. Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) learns that the car was being driven by C. Montgomery Burns (voice of Harry Shearer), who offers to give the Simpsons $100 in compensation if they agree not to sue (which is at least an improvement over his thoughts immediately after the accident: "For crying out loud! Just give him a nickel and let's get going!"). Homer is outraged and hires sleazy lawyer Lionel Hutz (voice of Phil Hartman), who is certain he can get a one million dollar claim from Burns with the help of less-than-scrupulous physician Dr. Nick Riviera (voice of Hank Azaria). However, in order to clinch the case, several of the Simpsons will have to stretch the truth under oath, something that Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) is reluctant to do. Mr. Burns' legal team offers Homer $500,000 to settle out of court, which Marge urges him to accept; Homer decides to go for the full million, but Marge's testimony tips the case in Burns' favor. Crestfallen, Homer wonders out loud if he'll ever be able to love Marge again after she cost him a million bucks. "Bart Gets Hit By a Car" was first aired on January 10, 1991. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1993
The citizens of Springfield are being inundated with advertisements heralding the arrival of something called "Gabbo," raising curiosity to a fever pitch. One day, it is revealed that Gabbo is the irrepressible wooden sidekick of ventriloquist Arthur Crandall (voice of Hank Azaria), and that they are to star in a new television show. However, much to the dismay of Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) and Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith), Gabbo's show is scheduled to air opposite that of their favorite entertainer, Krusty the Clown (voice of Dan Castellaneta), and soon Krusty's ratings sink through the floorboards as Gabbo leaps to unprecedented success. Krusty's show is dropped from the schedule, and after his career as a professional gambler hits the skids, Krusty is left with nowhere to go. Eager to help their fallen hero, Bart and Lisa suggest that Krusty stage a comeback special, featuring some of the big-name stars he's become friendly with during his years in show business. Krusty hands his address book to Bart and Lisa and asks them to get to work rounding up talent, while he attempts to lose the weight he put on with a steady diet of milkshakes. Appearing on Krusty's TV special are Bette Midler, Johnny Carson, Hugh Hefner, Luke Perry, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, all of whom perform their own voices; Barry White and Elizabeth Taylor also provide voice cameos for the episode. "Krusty Gets Kancelled" first aired on May 13, 1993. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
It's 1958, and the producers of the quiz show 21 have a problem. Their current champ, Herbert Stempel (John Turturro), has a phenomenal memory and a broad range of knowledge. He's also a pudgy loudmouth with a grating personality, so Herbert is encouraged to "take a dive" and allow Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes), a handsome and charming college professor, to become the show's new champion. Audiences like Van Doren, and he's certainly not averse to the money he's winning, but the ethics of the situation begin to trouble him, especially when the show's producers begin to give him the questions in advance. Director Robert Redford and writer Paul Attanasio paint a telling portrait of how the network heads and advertising men who manipulated the quiz shows were also able to manipulate the responsibility for the scandal away from themselves. While on the surface a story about the scandal itself, Quiz Show is just as importantly about a turning point in the 1950s when TV and advertising began to change American character and culture. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Turturro, Rob Morrow, (more)
- 1994
Marcel the Monkey joins the cast in this episode. Left home alone on New Year's Eve, Ross (David Schwimmer) -- the only one of the friends who didn't break their "no date" pact -- "adopts" Marcel. Everyone loves the little simian except Monica (Courteney Cox), who has issues with Marcel's sanitary habits (or lack thereof). Elsewhere, Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) may prompt a reclusive physicist (Hank Azaria) to give up the professional chance of a lifetime. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A successful career criminal considers getting out of the business after one last score, while an obsessive cop desperately tries to put him behind bars in this intelligent thriller written and directed by Michael Mann. Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) is a thief who specializes in big, risky jobs, such as banks and armored cars. He's very good at what he does; he's bright, methodical, and has honed his skills as a thief at the expense of his personal life, vowing never to get involved in a relationship from which he couldn't walk away in 30 seconds. Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) is an L.A.P.D. detective determined to catch McCauley, but while McCauley's personal code has forced him to do without a wife and children, Hanna's dedication has made a wreck of the home he's tried to have; he's been divorced twice, he's all but a stranger to his third wife, and he has no idea how to reach out to his troubled step-daughter. While McCauley has enough money to retire and is planning to move to New Zealand, he loves the thrill of robbery as much as the profit, and is blocking out plans for one more job; meanwhile, he's met a woman, Eady (Amy Brenneman), whom he's not so sure he can walk away from. The supporting cast includes Val Kilmer as Chris, one of McCauley's partners; Ashley Judd as his wife Charlene; Jon Voight as Nate; Hank Azaria as Alan Marciano; and Henry Rollins as Hugh, who is beaten up by Hanna. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, (more)
Four women look back at the girls they used to be in this warm comedy-drama. Author Samantha Albertson (Demi Moore), actress Tina Tercell (Melanie Griffith), gynecologist Roberta Martin (Rosie O'Donnell), and housewife Christina DeWitt (Rita Wilson) are friends from childhood who get together for the first time in years when Christina is about to have a baby. Seeing the old gang sends Samantha down memory lane, as she recalls the summer of 1970, when the girls were 12-years-old and edging into womanhood. Samantha (Gaby Hoffmann) is struggling with the collapse of her parent's marriage, Roberta (Christina Ricci) must deal with the death of her mother, Tina (Thora Birch) is upset over her folks' apparent disinterest in her, and Christina (Ashleigh Aston Moore) is trying to overcome her mother's disinformation campaign about sex. Together, they discuss boys and first kisses, compare notes on the physical and emotional changes they're going through, and have seances where they try to communicate with a boy who died tragically 30 years earlier. Demi Moore, whose character narrates the film, also served as producer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christina Ricci, Thora Birch, (more)
- 1995
Springfield energy tycoon C. Montgomery Burns (voice of Harry Shearer) has never been one to endear himself to his fellow citizens, but his public image sinks even lower than usual after oil is discovered on the grounds of the local elementary school. While Principal Skinner (also voiced by Shearer) plans massive improvements for the school -- including buying a new crystal slop-bucket for Groundskeeper Willie (voice of Dan Castellaneta) and hiring Latin jazz great Tito Puente as a music teacher -- Burns instead finds a way to tap into the oil well, adding to his already bulging bankroll and forcing massive cutbacks for the school. The after-effects of Burns' actions prove to be widespread -- the local retirement home collapses, leaving Grampa Simpson (also voiced by Castellaneta) with nowhere to go, while Moe (voice of Hank Azaria) is forced to close his tavern due to toxic fumes, and Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) is angry after his dog is injured by a blast of crude oil. Meanwhile, Homer (also voiced by Castellaneta) begins to snap when Burns is unable to remember his name, and the few citizens not already furious with Burns are out for his blood when he constructs a giant shield that prevents the sun from shining on Springfield. When Mr. Burns is shot after a town meeting, the question isn't "Who would want to kill the richest man in town?" but "Who wouldn't?" "Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part One)," the cliffhanging finale of the sixth season of The Simpsons, first aired on May 21, 1995. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Not by choice, Paul and Jamie Buchman (Paul Reiser, Helen Hunt) spend their first New Year's Eve apart. This is not the only offbeat occurrence in the course of this episode, you may be sure. Things reach a summit of strangeness during the traditional countdown in Times Square. And yes, that uncredited TV personality is exactly who you think he is. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1995
Hank Azaria, longtime significant other of series star Helen Hunt, makes his first Mad About You appearance. When Jamie's sister Lisa (Anne Ramsay) passes on walking Murray, the Buchmans (Hunt and Paul Reiser) are obliged to hire a professional walker. That worthy is a fellow named Nat, played by Azaria. Problems arise when Murray (aka "Furry Murray," aka "F. Murray Abraham") indicates that he likes Nat a lot more than his owner Paul Buchman. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1995
After Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) is kept after Sunday school as punishment for tricking the congregation into singing "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," and Milhouse (voice of Pamela Hayden) is also kept behind for squealing on his friend, the boys have a debate about the nature of the soul. Ever the skeptic, Bart offers to sell his soul to Milhouse for five bucks, and Milhouse takes him up on the offer. Before long, however, Bart gets the sinking feeling that he has made a big mistake, and he asks Milhouse for his soul back, only to discover that Milhouse has shrewdly raised the price to $50. Elsewhere, local barkeep Moe (voice of Hank Azaria) decides that running a "dank pit" isn't bringing in the business it once did, and decides to turn his tavern into a family style restaurant, Uncle Moe's Family Feedbag, which may not be a good business decision for a cranky guy with a short temper who loathes the sound of children's laughter. "Bart Sells His Soul" first aired on October 8, 1995. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Director Mike Nichols teams up with his former partner/screenwriter Elaine May for the first time in many years and for the first time together in films to create this sophisticated, remake of the phenomenally popular French musical farce La Cage aux Folles that stars Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman and Diane Wiest as two dramatically disparate couples who manage to reconcile their vast differences for the sake of their children who are getting married. Williams plays Armand Goldman, the owner of a popular South Beach drag club known for putting on elaborate showcases starring his long-time lover/wife Albert (Lane) who appears as "Starina." Lately poor flamboyant, flighty Albert has been in crisis over the inexorable onset of middle age. He has been moody, paranoid and unbearably. When he gets too inconsolably distraught, handsome but clumsy houseboy Agador quietly slips Albert "Pirin" tablets (which he explains to Armand are simply Aspirin tablets with the "as" scraped off). Still though Albert can be a royal pain, Armand dearly loves him and the two live happily in their splendiferous apartment above the club. One day Armand's son Val (the result of Armand's single foray into straight sex) comes visiting with joyous news: he has found his dreamgirl and is getting married. The only trouble is, Barbara Keeley's father is the blustery ultra-religious right-wing Senator Keeley (Hackman), the founder of the Coalition for Moral Order. Senator Keeley and his colleagues are not as upright as they seem and when his closest associate is found dead beside a black, underage prostitute, Keeley finds his house surrounded by ravenous newshounds, hungry for dirt. Knowing that they are poised to ruin him, Keeley and his proper but slightly addled-wife (Wiest) decide that a big, elaborate, church wedding will be just the ticket to save his reputation. Barbara has neglected to tell them that Val's parents are gay, preferring to claim that they are members of the South Beach social elite. In a panic, she panics and calls Val who breaks the bad news to Armand and begs him to make the apartment less flamboyant and worst of all to hide Albert (who functioned as Val's mother while the youth grew up) during the visit. Armand is angry, but loving his son, finally, reluctantly agrees, knowing that he will deeply wound his companion. Unfortunately, Albert finds out and as a compromise tries to learn how to be macho so he can pretend to be Val's uncle, he is too much the Great Dame to ever pass as one of the guys and so is banned from the party. Armand then locates Catherine and asks her to masquerade as his wife. She agrees to show up later that evening. Meanwhile their friends busily redecorate the apartment until it looks as if it were done in "Early Inquisition." During the fateful dinner party, Catherine is late and Albert gets uproarious revenge. Achingly comic chaos ensues as Armand tries to hold the increasingly tenuous evening together while outside the newshounds bay and threaten to make even more trouble for Senator Keely. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, (more)
- 1996
An afternoon of unbridled sex on the floor of the Buchmans' apartment has disastrous consequences when Jamie (Helen Hunt) throws out her back. Virtually immobile, she is at the mercy of her sister Lisa (Anne Ramsay), who enjoys nothing better than "payback time." Meanwhile, husband Paul (Paul Reiser) takes over Jamie's duties at City Hall, all the while struggling to arrange an eye examination for his father, Burt (Louis Zorich). ~ All Movie Guide
- 1996
Celebrating his new job with the Explorer Channel, Paul (Paul Reiser) talks wife Jamie (Helen Hunt) into joining him in an exotic wild-game feast. As a consequence, both Paul and Jamie experience bizarre and colorful dreams, causing them both to re-assess their relationship. Highlights include a number of imaginary interpolations courtesy of the cast of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, capped by Henry Gibson's stirring poem-and-a-half "Ostriches Are Not Clumsy." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1996
Once again, Ira's (John Pankow) heart is broken by a beautiful girl. Even so, the girl in question has a profound effect on Jamie (Helen Hunt), who elects to adopt a bold "new look." Both Jamie's cosmetic recklessness and her husband Paul's (Paul Reiser) careless tongue figure largely in the climax of the episode. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1997
After several unworthy candidates, new parents Paul and Jamie Buchman (Paul Reiser, Helen Hunt) believe they've found the perfect babysitter in the form of a lass named Arley (Lili Taylor). Now the Buchmans are secure enough to take their first evening out in months. Unfortunately, fate intervenes in the form of a pair of pants and an errant scoop of ice cream. Friends regular Lisa Kudrow briefly reprises her Mad About You role as Ursula Buffay. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
After innumerable false alarms, it looks as though Jamie (Helen Hunt) is going to have her baby. This expected blessed event coincides with the unexpected film-festival triumph of Jamie's husband, Paul (Paul Reiser) -- who'da thunk that "Buchman" would win an award over a Michael Moore project? Originally telecast as the hour-long finale of Mad About You's fifth season, this episode has since been divided into two half-hour installments for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
After innumerable false alarms, it looks as though Jamie (Helen Hunt) is going to have her baby. But before this blessed event can take place, Jamie is unexpectedly reunited with old flame Alan (Eric Stoltz), while her husband, Paul (Paul Reiser), is given a guided hospital tour by a very big movie star. Originally telecast as the hour-long finale of Mad About You's fifth season, this episode has since been divided into two half-hour installments for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
With Jamie (Helen Hunt) incapacitated, Paul (Paul Reiser) must wait on her hand and foot. His already difficult job is complicated by the lack of heat in the Buchmans' apartment -- and by an unscheduled kidnapping. At one point, it appears as though this episode should have been titled "Her Houseboy, Wolfgang Puck." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
