List of recurring characters from The Simpsons

This article contains a list of recurring characters from The Simpsons with descriptions.

Dr. Hibbert

Dr. Julius Hibbert is the Simpson family physician. Voiced by Harry Shearer, he is a kind-hearted family doctor, a genius, a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Mensa member, and is one of the few regular African-American characters on the series. Hibbert is noticeably less dysfunctional than just about everyone else on the show, though he does have a bizarre tendency to laugh at inappropriate moments. He also gives questionable solutions to certain medical problems. For example, when Maggie saved Homer from drowning, he replied to Marge's question "How can a baby save the life of a full-grown man?", "It's very simple. When an adult's life is in danger, a child can summon superhuman strength!" Or when Homer lost a thumb, Dr. Hibbert tells him that his Finger Insurance will not cover reattachment (as a thumb is not a finger), and suggests he can remove the other thumb for symmetry. Or when he says the only real cure-all is "Fire, and lots of it!"

Related Topics:
Harry Shearer - Genius - Johns Hopkins University - Mensa - African-American - Maggie - Marge's

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There are hints that Dr. Hibbert is not above dubious medical practices either. After Marge talks him out of buying an unsuitable house, he tells her "If you ever need a prescription, no questions asked..." On another occasion, he buys one of Bart's T Shirts with the legend "DO NOT RESUSCITATE" remarking that "This could get me out of some sticky situations."

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Despite his seemingly honest and good-hearted personality, there is evidence that he is, at heart, a committed mercenary. In Homer's Triple Bypass, Hibbert cooly announces to Homer that his heart operation will cost $30,000. When Homer has a heart attack in front of him in response to this news, he says, unmoved, "I'm afraid it's now $40,000." In "The Last Temptation of Homer," Hibbert is shown as running an H.M.O.--Hibbert's Money-Making Organization". He is a committed Republican and attends Springfield's Satanic Republican meetings along side Mr. Burns and Reinier Wolfcastle.

Related Topics:
Homer's Triple Bypass - Republican - Satanic

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He is often seen in flashbacks (for example, Lisa's birth, or Bart's accidents as a toddler), and each time has a different hairstyle (afro, dreadlocks, Mr. T-style mohawk, etc.), as appropriate for the time period. He is married; he and his wife Bernice have three children, two boys and a girl. When his entire family is seen together, they appear to be a spoof of The Cosby Show.

Related Topics:
Lisa's - Bart's - Mr. T - The Cosby Show

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Dr. Hibbert was intended as a female character based on comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member Julia Hibbert, better known as Julia Sweeney. When the Fox network moved The Simpsons to Thursdays opposite NBC's top-rated The Cosby Show, the show's producers completely redesigned Dr. Hibbert as a parody of Cosby's character Dr. Cliff Huxtable. Another possible influence in the creation of the character is basketball player Julius Erving, who was nicknamed Doctor J.

Related Topics:
Saturday Night Live - Julia Sweeney - The Cosby Show - Cosby's - Julius Erving

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It's implied that he and Bleeding Gums Murphy are long-lost brothers. Also, he bears a striking resemblance to the director of the Shelbyville orphanage, which may or may not be coincidence (especially considering that the latter mentions a personal quest to find his long-lost twin). It was also suggested that Hibbert did not have a legal license in medicine (Lisa: And guess who's been practicing medicine without a license? Hibbert: Lisa: That's right, Homer Simpson.). In addition, he once tricked Homer into signing a malpractice waiver.

Related Topics:
Bleeding Gums Murphy - Shelbyville

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Dr. Hibbert supposedly attended Johns Hopkins University, and evidence from the show indicates he was probably born in Alabama. To pay for medical college, he performed as a male stripper under the pseudonym "Malcolm Sex." He has since been seen running an adult education class in "How to Strip For Your Wife" which Homer briefly attended.

Related Topics:
Johns Hopkins University - Alabama - Stripper - Adult education

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At least one of Hibbert's cars is a green Mercedes-Benz G500, which he is seen driving in the Episode "I, D'oh-Bot."

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Lou is the African American cop with Chief Wiggum

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Along with Carl Carlson and Police sergeant Lou, Dr. Hibbert represents African American people in the show, although to date, Dr. Hibbert and Carl Carlson have only had one direct exchange, with Hibbert apparently being irritated by Carl's description of him as a "brother."

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