Harry Shearer

"Not clear on what-all I did. Just some words on paper. They called me in, I did it, I left."
―Harry Shearer on his work in Star Wars[2]

Harry Shearer is an actor and comedian best known for his performances in the fictional band Spinal Tap and the animated sitcom The Simpsons. Early in his career, he provided his voice talent to overdub characters during the post-production of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.

Shearer began performing as a child in radio, television, and films. During the 1970s he performed in comedy clubs and local radio and did some comedy writing.[3] In 1977 he took a small job providing additional voices for what was then titled Star Wars.[2]

Shearer rose to prominence in 1979 when he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live. His signature roles in This is Spinal Tap (1984) and The Simpsons (1989–present), as well has his NPR program Le Show (1983–present), anchored a long and varied career in films, television, and music.[4]

In 2012, blogger Drew Stewart, trying to verify an internet rumor, contacted Shearer on Twitter asking if he had voiced an imperial officer or a rebel in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. Shearer responded that he had provided voices for the film but could recall no specifics on the lines or the roles.[2] Stewart wrote about the exchange in his blog Cinetropolis.[5] Fans have identified Shearer's voice in two roles: Death Star officer Khurgee and rebel pilot Dex Tiree. Stewart also suggested Devastator gunnery officer Hija as a possible role.[5] Some media outlets have since reported that these roles were voiced by him.[6][7][8]

Works

Filmography

Year Title Contribution(s) Notes
1977 Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope Additional voices Uncredited

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Premium-Era-real Interview: Harry Shearer by Simon Round on The Jewish Chronicle (October 10, 2008) (backup link archived on October 13, 2013)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 TwitterLogo Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) on Twitter (post on March 23, 2012) (backup link)
  3. ↑ Premium-Era-real Interview with Harry Shearer by Kenneth Plume on IGN (February 10, 2000) (backup link archived on July 15, 2018)
  4. ↑ Premium-Era-real About on HarryShearer.com (backup link archived on November 19, 2023)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Premium-Era-real Exclusive Interview with Harry Shearer on Cinetropolis (backup link archived on October 9, 2012)
  6. ↑ Premium-Era-real 80 Trivia Tidbits About Harry Shearer for His 80th Birthday by Brian VanHooker on Cracked.com (December 23, 2023) (backup link archived on December 29, 2023)
  7. ↑ Premium-Era-real The Secret Star Wars Role Harry Shearer Didn't Want You To Know: A long time ago, in a galaxy far-diddly-ar away… by Luke Deakin on WhatCulture (February 27, 2020) (backup link archived on February 4, 2024)
  8. ↑ Premium-Era-real Curious City: Shearer Madness comes to Santa Monica by Charles Andrews on Santa Monica Daily Press (February 17, 2016) (backup link archived on October 6, 2022)

External links