Yeardley Smith: Voice Behind Lisa Simpson, Life, Career & Wealth

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Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yeardley Smith is an American actress, comedian, and voice artist. She was born on July 3, 1964, in Paris, France, to an American father and a French mother. Her family moved to the United States when she was two years old, and she grew up in Washington D.C. and New York City.

Smith began her acting career in the early 1980s, appearing in a number of films and television shows. However, she is best known for her work as the voice of Lisa Simpson, the intelligent and compassionate daughter of the Simpson family, on the long-running animated series “The Simpsons.”

Smith has been voicing Lisa since the show’s inception in 1989 and has won several awards for her performance, including an Emmy in 1992 for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance. She has also lent her voice to other animated shows and movies, such as “The Legend of Billie Jean,” “Herman’s Head,” and “As Good as It Gets.”

In addition to her voice acting work, Smith has also appeared in live-action television shows and movies, including “The Tracey Ullman Show,” “Maximum Overdrive,” and “City Slickers.”

As of 2021, Yeardley Smith’s net worth is estimated to be around $85 million. The majority of her wealth comes from her work on “The Simpsons,” where she reportedly earns around $300,000 per episode. She is also a producer and has her own production company, Paperclip Ltd., which has produced several films and television shows.

Despite her success and wealth, Smith is known for being down-to-earth and humble. She has been an advocate for mental health and has spoken openly about her own struggles with depression and anxiety. She also supports several charitable organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Here is a timeline of Yeardley Smith’s life and career:

1964 – Yeardley Smith is born on July 3 in Paris, France.

1972 – Smith’s family moves to Washington D.C., where she attends the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

1982 – Smith makes her film debut in “The Legend of Billie Jean.”

1987 – Smith becomes a regular cast member on “The Tracey Ullman Show,” where she first voices the character of Lisa Simpson.

1989 – “The Simpsons” premieres on Fox, with Smith voicing Lisa Simpson as a main character.

1992 – Smith wins an Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for her work on “The Simpsons.”

1995 – Smith stars in the independent film “The Immortals.”

2004 – Smith launches her own production company, Paperclip Ltd.

2013 – Smith appears in the independent film “The Big Ask.”

2017 – Smith writes and stars in the one-woman show “More.”

2021 – As of this year, Smith’s net worth is estimated to be around $85 million, mostly from her work on “The Simpsons.”

Throughout her career, Yeardley Smith has also been a vocal advocate for mental health and has supported various charitable organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

5 Interesting Facts:

  1. Yeardley Smith was born on July 3, 1964, in Paris, France, to American parents.
  2. She got her start in show business as a teenager, performing in a local theater in Washington, D.C.
  3. She has appeared in several films, including “The Legend of Billie Jean” and “As Good as It Gets.”
  4. In addition to her work on “The Simpsons,” she has also lent her voice to several other animated shows, including “The Animaniacs” and “Herman’s Head.”
  5. She is a co-founder of the theater company “We Do It Together,” which is dedicated to creating more opportunities for women in the entertainment industry.

5 Quotes:

  1. “It’s a great gift to be able to play someone as smart as Lisa Simpson.”
  2. “I’m really proud to have been a part of a show that has had such a positive impact on so many people.”
  3. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being a little bit different, or a little bit weird.”
  4. “I’ve always been fascinated by psychology and what makes people tick.”
  5. “I’m a pretty open person, and I’m always willing to try new things.”

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