Net Worth Ranker
What Is Hank Azaria’s Net Worth?
Hank Azaria, a versatile actor, comedian, writer, and producer born in Queens, New York City, boasts a substantial net worth of $90 million. His financial success stems from diverse avenues within the entertainment industry, encompassing stage, film, and television performances. Azaria’s career is marked by iconic roles and critical acclaim, cementing his position as a prominent figure in Hollywood.
Hank Azaria’s Simpsons Salary and Career Highlights
Azaria’s enduring association with “The Simpsons” is a significant contributor to his wealth. His salary reached $400,000 per episode. With an average of 22 episodes per season, this translates to approximately $9 million annually. This substantial income reflects the immense popularity and longevity of the animated series, as well as Azaria’s integral role in voicing numerous beloved characters.
Beyond “The Simpsons,” Azaria has carved a successful path in live-action films. His early film appearances include a minor role in “Pretty Woman” (1990), where he played a police detective. He also had a role in the critically acclaimed “Quiz Show” (1994), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. In 1996, he garnered a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his supporting role in “The Birdcage.” Other notable film credits include roles in “Heat,” “Grosse Pointe Blank,” and “Great Expectations,” all released in the late 1990s.
In 1998, Azaria took on a starring role in the adaptation of “Godzilla,” although the film proved to be a commercial disappointment. However, his portrayal of Mitch Albom in the television film “Tuesdays with Morrie” (1999) earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie. Azaria’s filmography further includes appearances in “Run Fatboy Run,” “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian,” and “Love & Other Drugs.”
Azaria’s talent extends to voice acting beyond “The Simpsons.” He lent his voice to Venom in “Spider-Man: The Animated Series” and to Bartok in the 1997 animated feature film “Anastasia.” He has also contributed voice work to films like “Happy Feet Two,” “Hop,” and “Bordertown.”
His extensive body of work on “The Simpsons” has garnered him significant recognition, including six Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance. He secured the award in 1998, 2001, 2003, and 2015. However, his role as Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, an Indian character, has also been a subject of controversy. In 2020, Azaria announced that he would no longer be voicing the character.
Hank Azaria’s Real Estate Portfolio
Hank Azaria has strategically invested in real estate throughout his career. In 2004, he purchased a 5,000-square-foot home on 4 acres in Bedford Corners, Westchester, NY, for $2.112 million. He listed this property in March 2021 for $3.25 million. Prior to listing the Bedford Corners home, he acquired a residence in nearby Mamaroneck for $3.1 million.
In 2005, Azaria expanded his real estate holdings with a 4,000-square-foot apartment in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City, costing him $4.625 million. He later sold this property to Meg Ryan in 2014 for $8 million. Ryan subsequently sold the unit, located at 84 Mercer Street, in 2017 for $9.9 million.
Further diversifying his portfolio, Azaria acquired a 3-bedroom apartment overlooking Central Park at 75 Central Park West in May 2014 for $9.225 million. This unit, formed by combining two separate apartments, boasts 63 feet of Central Park frontage and a private elevator.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Henry Albert Azaria was born on April 25, 1964, in Queens, New York City, to Albert Azaria, who owned dress manufacturing businesses, and Ruth Altcheck, a stay-at-home mother. Both parents were Sephardic Jews with roots in Thessaloniki, from which their families had been expelled from Spain. Azaria has two older sisters, Stephanie and Elise. His upbringing involved mimicking and memorizing scripts and stand-up routines, fostering his early interest in performance.
Azaria attended The Kew-Forest School, where he participated in a school play at age 16, solidifying his decision to pursue acting. His parents, both enthusiasts of show business, encouraged his ambitions. In 1981, he enrolled at Tufts University and starred in productions such as “The Merchant of Venice.” To refine his acting skills, Azaria attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, enhancing his prospects for a professional career.
After signing with talent agent Harry Gold, Azaria relocated to Los Angeles. In 1986, he secured a minor role in the television pilot “Joe Bash,” which was ultimately cut. Despite the lack of recognition, this role allowed him to join the Screen Actors Guild. Over the following years, he landed small roles in television series such as “Family Ties” and “Growing Pains.” To supplement his income, Azaria worked as a bartender and performed stand-up comedy.
His initial connection with “The Simpsons” occurred through a voice role in the animated pilot “Hollywood Dog,” which was not picked up. However, this project led him to Bonita Pietila, the casting director for “The Simpsons,” who invited him to audition for the role of Moe. Impressed with Azaria’s Al Pacino-inspired voice, the casting team offered him the role, leading to numerous other voice character roles on “The Simpsons.”
Personal Life and Other Ventures
Azaria’s personal life includes relationships with actresses Julie Warner, whom he dated in the early 1990s, and Helen Hunt, whom he married in July 1999 in a traditional Jewish ceremony in California. They separated after a year of marriage and divorced in December 2000. In 2007, Azaria married actress Katie Wright, and they welcomed a son, Hal, in 2009. The couple has maintained homes in both New York and California.
Azaria is an avid poker player, having participated in “Celebrity Poker Showdown” and other poker competitions. In 2016, Tufts University awarded him an Honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.
