Marge Simpson
Early Life
Marge Simpson, born as Marjorie Bouvier, is a fictional character in the American animated sitcom The Simpsons. She is the matriarch of the Simpson family, a stereotypical American family living in the fictional town of Springfield. Marge was created by cartoonist Matt Groening and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987.
Marge was raised by her parents, Jacqueline and Clancy Bouvier. She has a pair of sisters, the cynical and smoker twins Patty and Selma, both of whom vocally disapprove of Homer. In "The Way We Was" (1991), it is revealed via flashback that Marge attended Springfield High School, and in her final year met Homer Simpson. She was at first wary of Homer, but agreed to go to the prom with him, although she ended up going with Artie Ziff after Homer received tutoring lessons as a means to get to know her better.
Character Development
Marge's distinctive blue beehive hairstyle was inspired by a combination of the Bride's in Bride of Frankenstein and the style that Margaret Groening wore in the 1960s. Julie Kavner, who was a member of the original cast of The Tracey Ullman Show, was asked to voice Marge so that more voice actors would not be needed. Kavner has voiced Marge since her first appearance on television in 1987.
Marge is the moralistic force in her family and often provides a grounding voice in the midst of her family's antics by trying to maintain order in the Simpson household. Aside from her duties at home, Marge has flirted briefly with a number of careers ranging from police officer to anti-violence activist.
Reception and Cultural Impact
Marge Simpson is considered to be one of the greatest television mothers of all time. She was ranked first on Entertainment Weekly's list in 1994 and was also included in TIME's list of the "100 Best TV Characters of All Time". Marge also plays a role in many of The Simpsons' Emmy winning episodes.
Marge has been involved in advocacy for several causes, including education and environmental protection. In 2000, Marge and the rest of the Simpson family were awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.