Explore Nancy Cartwright’s Top Characters

Nancy Cartwright is a voice actor, actor, and visual artist best known for her iconic role as troublemaker Bart Simpson in The Simpsons (1989), the longest-running scripted show of all time. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Nancy has performed in several animated series, live-action films, video games, audiobooks, and commercials, and her additional credits range from The Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) to Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). Nancy has received many performance awards, including the inaugural Outstanding Voice-Over Performance Primetime Emmy Award in 1992 for her performance as the voice of Bart Simpson in the episode “Separate Vocations.”

In addition to her voice-acting work, Nancy founded Spotted Cow Entertainment and co-wrote and produced her first film, In Search of Fellini (2017), an adaptation of her one-woman play. The voice actor also co-created CRE84U—a multi-faceted development and television production company working to bring international content to audiences in the United States. When asked about her career, Nancy lauds voice-over pioneer Daws Butler, whose mentorship and friendship solidified her skills as a world-class performer.

During her four decades in Hollywood, Nancy has voiced dozens of characters—here are some of her most well-known over the years:

• Gloria Gad (Richie Rich, 1980–1983): Nancy voiced Richie Rich’s love interest, Gloria, in this animated series that followed the adventures of a wealthy boy with an on-the-nose name. The recurring role was Nancy’s first Hollywood acting job. The part marked one of many collaborations between Nancy and Hanna-Barbera, a major animation studio in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
• Daffney Gilphin (Snorks, 1984–1988): Nancy voiced Daffney Gilphin (sometimes spelled Daffney Gillfin), a vain character who loves to shop in The Snorks, an American-Belgian program about a race of snorkel-headed beings.
• Bright Eyes (Pound Puppies, 1986–1987): Inspired by a popular toy line, Pound Puppies follows the adventures of a group of puppies. Nancy voiced the role of Bright Eyes, a Labrador Retriever whose positive attitude and can-do spirit encourage the group.
• Gusty (My Little Pony ’n Friends, 1986; My Little Pony: The Movie, 1986): A spinoff of the My Little Pony toy line, the My Little Pony TV series and movie follow a group of magical ponies that live in a kingdom called Ponyland.
• Bart Simpson and various other characters (The Simpsons, 1989–present): The Simpsons, which began as a series of shorts that ran (from 1987 to 1989) as interstitials for The Tracey Ullman Show, is Nancy’s most well-known project and the longest-running scripted show of all time. The show follows a dysfunctional family in the fictional town of Springfield. In 1992, she won an Emmy for voicing Bart Simpson in the episode “Separate Vocations.” The prolific actor voices Bart, the eldest son, and a slew of other characters, including Maggie Simpson, Ralph Wiggum, Todd Flanders, Nelson Muntz, Kearney Zzyzwicz Sr., and Database.
• Pistol Pete (Goof Troop, 1992; A Goof Troop Christmas, 1992): Goof Troop, produced by Disney, centers on the relationship between Goofy and his son, Max. Nancy voiced Pistol, the younger sister of PJ Pete, Max’s best friend.
• Mindy (Animaniacs, 1993–1996, 2020): Nancy voiced the character of Mindy on the Warner Bros’ animated variety show and several TV specials.
• Rudy Mookich (Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain, 1998–1999): Nancy voiced Rudy, Elmyra’s crush, on this spinoff of Pinky & the Brain, an animated series about two rats pursuing global domination. This show followed Pinky and the Brain’s ongoing schemes and added Elmyra, a female antagonist from Tiny Toon Adventures (1990), to the mix.
• Chuckie Finster (Rugrats, 2001–2005, 2021): When the late Christine Cavanaugh retired in 2001, Nancy took over Cavanaugh’s role as Chuckie Finster, a neurotic toddler, in Nickelodeon’s Rugrats and All Grown Up!
• Rufus (Kim Possible, 2002–2007): Nancy’s performance as Rufus, the naked mole-rat in Disney’s animated series Kim Possible, received a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2004.
• Todd Daring (The Replacements, 2006–2009): Nancy voiced the main character Todd Daring on the Disney Channel series The Replacements, which was about two siblings with a magical phone that allowed them to replace anything in their lives.

All you need is a MasterClass Annual Membership and our exclusive video lessons from Nancy Cartwright, the Emmy-winning voice actor responsible for bringing beloved animated characters—like Bart Simpson and Chuckie Finster—to life. With Nancy’s help, you’ll be ready to use your voice as an instrument in all kinds of weird and wonderful ways.