Over 36 years, The Simpsons turned Springfield into TV’s busiest town, pulling in everyone from Stephen Hawking to Elizabeth Taylor. Still, not every celeb wanted the yellow treatment. A few stars (let’s call them “D’oh! Denyers”) politely declined. Their loss. Who wouldn’t want eternal cartoon immortality and four-fingered fame? These 20 Celebrities refused to voice characters on The Simpsons.
Prince
Michael Jackson’s Simpsons alter ego, Leon Kompowsky, almost returned—this time thinking he was Prince. A full script was written, but Prince refused the role. Writer Al Jean later suggested he “didn’t want to play second fiddle” to Jackson or joke about his own movies.
Quentin Tarantino
In 1997’s Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious, The Simpsons spoofed Reservoir Dogs with “Reservoir Cats,” featuring a cartoon Quentin Tarantino who gets decapitated mid-lecture. Producer Al Jean said Tarantino “didn’t want to say what we have him saying,” so he declined. No grudge, though—he later wore a T-shirt of his animated demise.
Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise was almost a Simpsons guest twice—but both times he bailed. Writers crafted 1993’s “Brother from the Same Planet” just for him, but Phil Hartman took over when Cruise said no. He declined again in 1998, leaving Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger to replace him. Springfield stayed Cruise-free.
George Takei
Conan O’Brien wrote “Marge vs. the Monorail” in 1993 with George Takei in mind, but the Star Trek star declined. Why? He was on San Francisco’s transportation board and felt the episode “mocked the monorail, which is a valid form of transportation.” O’Brien was crushed… until Leonard Nimoy saved the day.
O.J. Simpson
Before his 1994 trial changed everything, O.J. Simpson was a football legend and a Hollywood favorite. In 1993, The Simpsons team asked him to guest star in “Last Exit to Springfield.” Al Jean later joked, “He passed and we got Dr. Joyce.” Honestly, O.J. probably would’ve killed it.
Clint Eastwood, Anthony Hopkins, Anthony Perkins
Imagine Anthony Hopkins, Clint Eastwood, and Anthony Perkins walking into The Simpsons studio in 1993. That almost happened. Producers wanted Hopkins for Dr. Wolfe in “Last Exit to Springfield,” but he declined—so did Eastwood. Perkins was in, but passed away before recording. Hank Azaria stepped in, lilt and all.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen might be “The Boss,” but in Springfield, he’s the one that got away. The Simpsons asked him (multiple times) to guest star, even bribing him with a “Simpsons” jacket. “That didn’t work,” writer Mike Reiss said. Not even Clarence Clemons could convince him. Guess some tours skip Springfield.
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey almost joined The Simpsons in 2001’s “Simpsons Tall Tales,” playing a singing, sponge-bath-demanding hobo. He agreed to do it, but couldn’t fit the recording into his packed schedule. Hank Azaria stepped in instead, proving once again that Springfield never waits on Hollywood’s busiest man.
Courtney Love
The Simpsons nearly booked Bob Dylan and Courtney Love for 1996’s “Hullabalooza.” Dylan passed, and Frampton filled in. Love’s band Hole bailed after Sonic Youth reportedly said, “If Courtney Love’s in, we’re out.” Her line became Billy Corgan’s iconic intro: “Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins.” Homer replied, “Homer Simpson, smiling politely.”
Every President
Presidents might run countries, but they couldn’t handle Springfield. “Every president from Ford to Obama rejected us,” said writer Mike Reiss. Ford refused a library cameo, Clinton said it might “disgrace the office,” and Carter? He watched one episode where a statue called him “history’s greatest monster.” That ended that conversation.
Shirley Temple
In 2000’s Last Tap Dance in Springfield, Lisa dreams of tango glory under the tutelage of Vicki Valentine, a retired child star clearly based on Shirley Temple. Producers wanted the real Temple to voice her, but, as writer Mike Scully said, “we just couldn’t put it together.” Tress MacNeille stepped in instead.
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