Hank Azaria

Hank Azaria: Biography

Hank was born in Forest Hills, New York on April 25, 1964. Hank Azaria is in Godzilla. He plays Animal the camera guy.He was the voice of Bartok the bat in the animated movie Anastasia. He received raves for his performance as Agador Spartacus, the scene-stealing Guatemalan houseboy, opposite Robin Williams in the Mike Nichols-helmed remake of La Cage Aux Folles, The Birdcage. He was also in Great Expectations, a modern-day adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel, in which he starred with Robert De Niro, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Bancroft and Ethan Hawke. In Great Expectations, he plays Gwyneth Paltrow's fiance, Walter. Azaria also appeared in Warner Brothers' action thriller Heat, directed by Michael Mann, and starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. In Robert Redford's Academy Award-nominated Quiz Show, Azaria portrayed Al Freedman, a television producer who is both colleague and accomplice to David Paymer's character in the rigging of a game show. Azaria was also seen in Garry Marshall's blockbuster comedy Pretty Woman. But unfortunately, he had a very, very small part in Pretty Woman. If you watch it, there is one part where there are cops around a crime scene. A body was found in a dumpster. If you look carefully, you will see Hank as one of the cops. No stranger to television, Azaria is the voice of several key characters in the animated comedy series The Simpsons and has also appeared in the recurring role of Nat the dog walker on NBC's Mad About You. Azaria trained at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and played the title role in a production of Hamlet at Columbia University. He continued his theater studies at Tufts University, where he appeared in productions of such plays as Uncle Vanya, The Merchant of Venice, The Ballad of the Sad Cafe, and The Dumb Waiter. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles, where he further honed his skills under the direction of Roy London. He experimented in improvisation and sketch comedy, becoming a favorite at local comedy clubs. He co-wrote An Evening on Thin Ice, which was presented at The Comedy Store. Azaria also won a Dramalogue Award for his work in the play Conspicuous Consumption. This year in June, Hank wedded his long time girlfriend,Helen Hunt. You can write to Hank at:

Hank Azaria: Career

zaria starred with Jack Lemmon in the acclaimed ABC telefilm "Tuesdays with Morrie," based upon the New York Times best seller of the same name. Produced by Oprah Winfrey Presents, Azaria portrayed Mitch Albom, a journalist inspired by his ailing former teacher and mentor's lessons about life. His portrayal earned him an Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. That same year, he played Professor Groteschele in CBS' live television broadcast of "Fail-Safe.” The Golden Globe-nominated and Emmy award-winning telefilm was based on the early 1960's novel and motion picture of the same name. Azaria received critical acclaim and a Screen Actors Guild award nomination for his memorable turn as Agador Spartacus, the scene-stealing Guatemalan houseboy in Mike Nichols’ smash hit “The Birdcage.” His portrayal of television producer Al Freedman in Robert Redford’s Academy Award-nominated “Quiz Show” also garnered him critical praise. His other feature credits include “Bark,” "America's Sweethearts," "Cradle Will Rock," "Mystery Men," "Mystery, Alaska," "Godzilla," "Great Expectations," "Celebrity," “Heat,” “Grosse Point Blank,” “Now and Then” and “Pretty Woman.” He also lent his voice to Fox’s animated feature “Anastasia” as Bartok the comical bat. He reprised the role in the video sequel “Bartok the Magnificent.” Azaria was also nominated for an Emmy for his recurring role as Nat the dog walker on NBC’s “Mad About You.” Azaria trained at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and played Hamlet in a production of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” at Columbia University. He continued his theater studies at Tufts University, appearing in such plays as “Uncle Vanya,” “The Merchant of Venice,” “The Ballad of the Sad Café” and “The Dumb Waiter.”

Hank Azaria: Films

The Aristocrats (2005), Eulogy (2004), Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004), Along Came Polly (2004), Shattered Glass (2003), Death to Smoochy (2002), America's Sweethearts (2001), Titan A.E. (2000), Bartok the Magnificent (1999), Tuesdays With Morrie (1999), Cradle Will Rock (1999), Mystery, Alaska (1999), Mystery Men (1999), Celebrity (1998), Godzilla (1998), Great Expectations (1998), Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), The Birdcage (1996), Heat (1995), Now and Then (1995), Quiz Show (1994), Pretty Woman (1990), Cool Blue (1988)