Hank Azaria studied drama at Tufts University, before moving to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Together with his friend Oliver Platt, Azaria first appeared in college theater productions, later setting up their own theater company, before moving to Los Angeles and working as a stand-up comedian.
Azaria's big break came in 1989, when he became part of the Fox animated series The Simpsons. Originally called in to substitute for Christopher Collins -- who originally voiced bartender Moe Szyslak -- he became a permanent cast member from the second season, voicing characters such as Apu, Chief Wiggum, and Comic Book Guy. He won three Emmys for his voiceover work on the show.
The Simpsons served as a take-off point for Azaria's career: he appeared in films such as Pretty Woman, Quiz Show and The Birdcage. He also had recurring roles in Mad About You and Friends (where he got an Emmy nomination), as well as a regular role in Herman's Head.
Azaria won another Emmy for the 2000 TV movie Tuesdays with Morrie. In 2004, he played the title role in the Showtime series Huff (also alongside Platt). When the series wrapped after two years, he appeared in films such as Run Fatboy Run, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and, more recently, The Smurfs. He also returned to stage, in the Monty Python musical Spamalot. He currently stars in the NBC remake of the British comedy Free Agents.
- Screen Actors Guild Award, Outstanding Performance by a Cast, 1997 (for The Birdcage)
- Emmy Award, Outstanding Voiceover Performance, 1998 (for The Simpsons)
- Annie Award, Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Feature Production, 1998 (for Fantasia)
- Emmy Award, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie, 2000 (for Tuesdays with Morrie)
- Emmy Award, Outstanding Voiceover Performance, 2001 (for The Simpsons)
- Emmy Award, Outstanding Voiceover Performance, 2003 (for The Simpsons)
- US Comedy Arts Festival, Best Short, 2004 (for Nobody's Perfect)
- Theatre World Award, 2005 (for Spamalot)
- Ojai Film Festival, Best Narrative Short, 2005 (for Nobody's Perfect)
FILM:
- Pretty Woman (1990)
- Quiz Show (1994)
- Now and Then (1995)
- Heat (1995)
- The Birdcage (1996)
- Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
- Anastasia (voice, 1997)
- Chicken Little (voice, 1998)
- Great Expectations (1998)
- Homegrown (1998)
- Godzilla (1998)
- Celebrity (1998)
- Cradle Will Rock (1999)
- Mystery Men (1999)
- Mystery, Alaska (1999)
- C-Scam (2000)
- America's Sweethearts (2001)
- Bark! (2002)
- Shattered Glass (2003)
- Nobody's Perfect (2004)
- Along Came Polly (2004)
- Eulogy (2004)
- Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
- The Grand (2007)
- Run, Fatboy, Run (2007)
- Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)
- Year One (2009)
- Love and Other Drugs (2010)
- Hop (voice, 2011)
- The Smurfs (2011)
TELEVISION:
- The Simpsons (voice, 1989-present)
- Herman's Head (regular, 1991-1994)
- Friends (recurring, 1994-2003)
- If Not For You (regular, 1995)
- Mad About You (recurring, 1995-1999)
- Imagine That (regular, 2002)
- Huff (regular, 2004-2006)
- Free Agents (regular, 2011-present)