The audition that defined a career began with a request for the role of Lisa Simpson, but ended with an offer to voice her brother, Bart. Nancy Cartwright moved to Hollywood in 1978, quickly establishing herself in the animation industry after training under the veteran voice actor Daws Butler to refine her vocal range and technique.
Early Development and Mentorship
Born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1957, Cartwright demonstrated an aptitude for vocal performance during her primary school years. Her early success in speech competitions led to advice from judges to pursue voice work. While attending Ohio University, she began professional work at WING radio. A connection from Warner Bros. Records introduced her to Daws Butler, who mentored her through correspondence and later, weekly lessons in Beverly Hills while she attended the University of California, Los Angeles.
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Cartwright graduated from UCLA in 1981 and secured her initial professional voice credit as Gloria in Richie Rich. Her early on-camera appearances included a role in the television film Marian Rose White and a part in the 1983 feature Twilight Zone: The Movie. She spent the mid-1980s contributing to diverse animated projects such as Snorks and Pound Puppies, alongside minor vocal contributions to films including Sixteen Candles and The Color Purple.
The Simpsons and Subsequent Projects
In 1987, Cartwright auditioned for the animated shorts featured on The Tracey Ullman Show. Her performance as Bart Simpson became the foundation of her career, and she transitioned with the character when the project became The Simpsons in 1989. Her work earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance. Beyond Springfield, she has voiced characters in Rugrats, Kim Possible, and Animaniacs. She also authored the autobiography My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy and produced the film In Search of Fellini.
Fast facts
- Born: 1957, Dayton, Ohio
- Education: Fairmont High School, Ohio University, UCLA
- Notable role: Bart Simpson, The Simpsons
- Mentor: Daws Butler
- Awards: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance
- Film production credit: In Search of Fellini (2017)
- Autobiography: My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy (2000)
- Languages: English
Questions readers ask
Which characters does Nancy Cartwright voice on The Simpsons?
She provides the voices for Bart Simpson, Maggie Simpson, Ralph Wiggum, Todd Flanders, and Nelson Muntz.
Who was her primary mentor in the animation industry?
She trained under the voice actor Daws Butler, beginning in 1976.
Achievements
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance
- Notable work: The Simpsons
- Educated at University of California, Los Angeles and Ohio University
- Worked as actor, voice actor and comedian
