14. Donald Sutherland
Character: Hollis Hurlbut, head of the Springfield Historical Society
Episode: 'Lisa The Iconoclast', Season 7 ('95-'96)
According to producer Bill Oakley, the part of fatherly but lie-peddling historian Hurlbut was written with Sutherland in mind.
Sutherland wanted to start voicing the script in the middle - as he would in a film - in order to get to know the character better, but this wasn’t possible and he had to ditch the thesping and just get on with it.
Weird fact: Sutherland had earlier played a character called Homer Simpson in The Day Of The Locust (1975).
13. Leonard Nimoy
Character: Himself, opening Sprinfield’s new monorail system
Episode: 'Marge Vs. The Monorail', Season 4 ('92-'93)
Nimoy was so good as a sci-fi nerd-baiting version of himself unveiling the town’s new monorail (“I’d say this vessel could do at least Warp 5!”) that he came back to do it all again for the show's X-Files tie-in.
George Takei was offered the part first, but turned it down on grounds that he thought it might conflict with his position on the Southern California Rapid Transit District board of directors. Diva!
12. Stan Lee
Character: Himself, visiting the comic-book store
Episode: 'I Am Furious, Yellow', Season 13 (2001-2002)
The creator of Spider-Man and the Hulk (whose green fury is a big influence on the episode) appears as a deranged, childish and brilliant version of himself in Springfield’s comic-book store...
Stan Lee: “Hold it son. Wouldn't you rather have an exciting action figure?”
Database: “Ahh, but only Batman fits in my Batmobile.”
Stan Lee: “Are you nuts? The Thing fits in there perfectly. Look, he's fitting right now.”
Database: “AHH! You broke my Batmobile!”
Stan Lee: “Broke? Or made it better?"
Comments
Lindz28
Apr 8th 2009, 11:29
Can you do a South Park list as an companion to this one? I'm thinking Mel Gibson bouncing around smearing poo everywhere!!
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avoidz
Apr 9th 2009, 6:25
Notice how all the great guest star appearances are all in the early- mid-1990's Simpsons episodes?
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Ominater
Apr 10th 2009, 18:13
I reckon Tony Blair should have been on this, in the episode where the Simpsons go to London
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TazzaWazza
Apr 28th 2009, 1:48
@Ominater Tony Blair is not a movie-star, though he was one hell of an actor...oh, a bit controversial there.
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idbjoshm
Jun 19th 2009, 7:34
I'm not sure if I missed it or not, I re read the article. But it is a travesty that Glenn Close wasn't even mentioned as Homer's mother! It's along the same mention as liz taylor as Maggie's voice. Just like Maggie's first word as a milestone, Homer finding out that his mother is alive should at least be mentioned as the top 5.
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stevolbauer
Jul 2nd 2010, 15:18
U2 were by far the best geust stars, they send themselves up terrifically Bono: Hes talking about waste management, that effects the whole damn system The Edge: Here he goes again
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