Julie Kavner

Julie Deborah Kavner was born on September 7, 1950 in Los Angeles, California, the second daughter of Rose, a family counselor, and David Kavner, a furniture manufacturer. *From a young age she knew she wanted to act*, a desire that survived her dislike of high school drama productions and led her to study drama at San Diego State University, where she honed her improvisational skills in productions such as *Marat/Sade*. After graduating in 1971 she worked as a typist at UCLA while auditioning for television roles. Her breakthrough came in 1974 when she was cast as Brenda Morgenstern, the younger sister in the sitcom *Rhoda*. The role showcased her ability to blend comedy with subtle pathos, earning her four Primetime Emmy nominations and a win in 1978 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, as well as multiple Golden Globe nods. Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s she appeared in films like *Bad Medicine* and guest‑starred on *Taxi*, but it was her collaboration with Woody Allen—beginning with *Hannah and Her Sisters*—that revived her career and demonstrated her versatility in both dramatic and comic material.

In 1987 Kavner joined *The Tracey Ullman Show*, where the animated shorts that would become *The Simpsons* first aired. **She was asked to provide the voice for Marge Simpson**, a role that would define her legacy. Her *"honeyed gravel"* voice, partly attributed to a vocal‑cord bump, also brings life to characters such as Patty, Selma, Jacqueline Bouvier and Great‑Aunt Gladys. Kavner’s commitment to the illusion of the characters is evident in her contract clause that exempts her from video promotion and her reluctance to appear in public as Marge. Over the decades she has amassed numerous awards, including a 1992 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Voice‑Over Performance and a Young Artist Award alongside Dan Castellaneta. Despite her fame, she leads a *nearly reclusive* personal life, living in Manhattan since the early 1990s and maintaining a long‑term partnership with producer David Davis until his death in 2022. She has no children and remains a private, respected figure in both live‑action and voice‑over realms.