--- name: "Julie Kavner" canonical: "https://film.one/person/julie-kavner" fi1m_id: "julie-kavner" imdb_id: "nm0001413" tmdb_id: 199 wikidata_id: "Q228893" roles: ["Actor"] born: "7 September 1950" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 71 average_as: "actor" average_over: 7 updated: "2026-10-05T04:43:02.959086+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Julie Kavner ## Identity Julie Kavner - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/julie-kavner - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** julie-kavner - **IMDb ID:** nm0001413 - **TMDB ID:** 199 - **Wikidata ID:** Q228893 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Kavner, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q228893, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001413/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/199 Actor. Born 7 September 1950 in Los Angeles, California, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 7 September 1950, Los Angeles, California, USA - **Active:** 1986–2007 - **Frequently works with:** [Al Jean](https://film.one/person/al-jean.md), [Dan Castellaneta](https://film.one/person/dan-castellaneta.md), [David Mirkin](https://film.one/person/david-mirkin.md), [David Silverman](https://film.one/person/david-silverman.md), [George Meyer](https://film.one/person/george-meyer.md), [Hank Azaria](https://film.one/person/hank-azaria.md), [Ian Maxtone-Graham](https://film.one/person/ian-maxtone-graham.md), [James L. Brooks](https://film.one/person/james-l-brooks.md) - **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 7 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 88 (2), 1990s 65 (3), 2000s 64 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 68 to 64 across 6 titles - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 2 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 2 of 5 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 6, Drama 4, Animation 2, Family 2, Fantasy 2 - **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,165m across 6 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Kavner, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q228893, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001413/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/199 ## Coming up - *The New Simpsons Movie* (2027-09-01), as Marge Simpson (voice) ## Streaming the US now - **Disney+:** [*The Simpsons*](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md) (88), [*The Simpsons Movie*](https://film.one/film/the-simpsons-movie.md) (70) - **Pluto TV:** [*Hannah and Her Sisters*](https://film.one/film/hannah-and-her-sisters.md) (88) - **Tubi:** [*Awakenings*](https://film.one/film/awakenings.md) (73) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Click*](https://film.one/film/click.md) (58) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Julie Kavner > Julie Kavner makes patience sound tiring, which is why her Marge Simpson matters so much to *The Simpsons*. We value the warmth of her comedy, though the sympathetic parts she has often been given can sell her short. Marge Simpson sounds tired even when she is being kind. In *The Simpsons* (1989), Julie Kavner makes that tiredness count: we hear the effort behind the patience, rather than simply accepting Marge as the sensible one. We were moved by her performance because she makes affection feel like a choice that has to be made again. That is a substantial contribution to a comedy whose sharpest jokes do not cancel its tenderness. That mixture of humour and hurt was already part of Brenda Morgenstern, her breakthrough role in *Rhoda* (1974–78). Kavner was repeatedly cast as supportive, sympathetic women, parts she came to dislike. We can see the restriction: being good at making a character agreeable is a poor reason to keep asking an actor to do it. Her film work expanded with Woody Allen, including *Hannah and Her Sisters* (1986) and *Radio Days* (1987). In the latter, she plays the mother of the narrator's childhood self. The animated shorts in *The Tracey Ullman Show* (1987) brought her to Marge before *The Simpsons* became a series of its own. She also voices Patty, Selma and Jacqueline Bouvier, so the familiar sound belongs to more than one member of the family. Alongside Dan Castellaneta's Homer, though, her weariness has a particular comic use. He gives a foolish thought the confidence of a worthwhile discovery, while she lets us hear the effort of staying patient. We can laugh at him without forgetting that someone has to put up with him. *This Is My Life* (1992) gave her a different opportunity: Dottie Ingels was her first leading film role, written for her by Nora Ephron. We would like more such departures from the sympathetic supporting parts. That is a reservation about the opportunities, not about the value of what she does as Marge. Our recommendation for *The Simpsons* remains warm, with no obligation to watch every episode. Start there for Kavner alongside Castellaneta, then try *This Is My Life* to see her given the lead. ## Biography Julie Kavner is an American actress. She studied drama at San Diego State University and first attracted attention for her role as Brenda Morgenstern in the sitcom *Rhoda* (1974–1978), winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Kavner is best known for voicing Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier, Selma Bouvier and Jacqueline Bouvier on the animated series *The Simpsons* (1989–present). She has also appeared in films including *Hannah and Her Sisters* (1986), *Radio Days* (1987), *Awakenings* (1990) and *Deconstructing Harry* (1997), and provided voices for *The Simpsons Movie* (2007) and *Click* (2006). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) - *The Simpsons Movie* (2007), Fi1m 70, as Marge Simpson / Selma Bouvier / Patty Bouvier (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-simpsons-movie.md) - *Click* (2006), Fi1m 58, as Trudy — [page](https://film.one/film/click.md) - *Doctor Dolittle* (1998), Fi1m 50, as Female Pigeon (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-dolittle-1998.md) - *Deconstructing Harry* (1997), Fi1m 72, as Grace — [page](https://film.one/film/deconstructing-harry.md) - *Awakenings* (1990), Fi1m 73, as Eleanor Costello — [page](https://film.one/film/awakenings.md) - *The Simpsons* (1989), Fi1m 88, as Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier / Jacqueline Bouvier (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md) - *Hannah and Her Sisters* (1986), Fi1m 88, as Gail — [page](https://film.one/film/hannah-and-her-sisters.md) ## Complete filmography (60) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The New Simpsons Movie* (2027), as Marge Simpson (voice) - *Yellow Mirror* (2026), as Marge Simpson / Jacqueline Bouvier (voice) - *Simpsley* (2026), as Marge Bouvier (voice) - *Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition* (2026), as Marge Simpson (voice) - *Ella McCay* (2025), as Estelle - *Fortnite x The Simpsons* (2025), series, as Marge Simpson (voice) - *The Simpson: Yellow Planet* (2025), as Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier / Jacqueline Bouvier - *The Simpsons: O C'mon All Ye Faithful* (2024), as Marge Simpson (voice) - *The Simpsons Funday Football* (2024), as Marge Simpson (voice) - *May the 12th Be with You* (2024), as Marge Simpson (voice) - *The Simpsons Meet the Bocellis in "Feliz Navidad"* (2022), as Marge Simpson (voice) - *The Simpsons | Balenciaga* (2021), as Marge - *Dear Class of 2020* (2020), as Marge Simpson - *FOX 25th Anniversary Special* (2012), as Marge Simpson (voice) (uncredited) - *The Simpsons Movie* (2007), as Marge Simpson / Selma Bouvier / Patty Bouvier (voice) — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/the-simpsons-movie.md) - *Click* (2006), as Trudy — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/click.md) - *The Simpsons: Christmas 2* (2004), Actor - *The Lion King 1½* (2004), as Mom (voice) - *Behind the Legend: Timon* (2004), as Ma (Voice) - *Timon & Pumbaa's Virtual Safari 1.5* (2004), as Ma (voice) - *Barn Red* (2004), as Susan - *The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror* (2003), as Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice) - *The Simpsons: Christmas* (2003), as (archive footage) - *Story of a Bad Boy* (2001), as Elaine - *Someone Like You...* (2001), as Furry Animal (voice) - *CyberWorld* (2000), as Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice) - *Judy Berlin* (1999), as Marie - *The Simpsons: Too Hot For TV* (1999), Actor - *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md) - *A Walk on the Moon* (1999), as P.A. Announcer (voice) - *Doctor Dolittle* (1998), as Female Pigeon (voice) — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-dolittle-1998.md) - *Deconstructing Harry* (1997), as Grace — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/deconstructing-harry.md) - *Tracey Takes On...* (1996), series, as Jodie Wolf / Midge Dexter - *Jake's Women* (1996), as Karen - *Forget Paris* (1995), as Lucy - *Don't Drink the Water* (1994), as Marion Hollander - *I'll Do Anything* (1994), as Nan Mulhanney - *Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration* (1993), as Marge Simpson (voice) (segment "Monster in the Mirror") (uncredited) - *This Is My Life* (1992), as Dottie Ingels - *Shadows and Fog* (1991), as Alma - *To The Moon, Alice* (1991), as Sitcom Producer - *Alice* (1990), as Decorator - *Awakenings* (1990), as Eleanor Costello — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/awakenings.md) - *The Best of the Tracey Ullman Show* (1990), as Various Characters - *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier / Jacqueline Bouvier (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md) - *The Simpsons: Family Therapy* (1989), as Marge Simpson (voice) - *New York Stories* (1989), as Treva - *Surrender* (1987), as Ronnie - *The Tracey Ullman Show* (1987), series, Actor - *Radio Days* (1987), as Mother - *Hannah and Her Sisters* (1986), as Gail — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/hannah-and-her-sisters.md) - *Bad Medicine* (1985), as Cookie Katz - *National Lampoon's Movie Madness* (1982), as Mrs. Falcone ("Municipalians") - *Revenge of the Stepford Wives* (1980), as Megan Brady - *No Other Love* (1979), as Janet Michaels - *Taxi* (1978), series, as Monica Banta Douglas — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/taxi.md) - *Lou Grant* (1977), series, as Alice Merrin - *Katherine* (1975), as Margot Weiss Goldman - *Petrocelli* (1974), series, as Julie - *Rhoda* (1974), series, as Brenda Morgenstern ## Gallery - ![Julie Kavner](https://film.one/media/person/61795/gallery-32a0e1c8062b.jpg) Julie Kavner — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Julie_Kavner_1974.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Publicity photo of Valerie Harper, Nancy Walker, and Julie Kavner from Rhoda.](https://film.one/media/person/61795/gallery-a57b6953f1d7.jpg) Publicity photo of Valerie Harper, Nancy Walker, and Julie Kavner from Rhoda. — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Rhoda_cast_1977.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Julie Kavner](https://film.one/media/person/61795/gallery-8520d38febf5.jpg) Julie Kavner — Image via TMDB - ![Julie Kavner](https://film.one/media/person/61795/gallery-9f47d2070424.jpg) Julie Kavner — Image via TMDB - ![Julie Kavner](https://film.one/media/person/61795/gallery-e3a40ae37e85.jpg) Julie Kavner — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won - 1978: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (won), for *Rhoda* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/julie-kavner