Barney Gumble Basic Information

Barney Gumble holding a Duff Beer

Barney Gumble, Springfield's most famous barfly

Also known as:
Springfield's Town Drunk

Creation Info

First Appearance

December 17, 1989 (Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire)

Creator

Matt Groening

Series

The Simpsons

Copyright

20th Century Fox Television (now 20th Television)

Identity

Species

Human

Gender

Male

Age

40 years old (as of 'A Star Is Burns')

Birthday

April 20

Occupation

Town Drunk, Ex-owner of Barney's Bowl-A-Rama, Helicopter Pilot, Snowplow Driver, Astronaut, Military Service

Barney Gumble's Appearance

Physical Features

Height

Average

Body Type

Overweight

Color Scheme

Yellow shirt, blue pants, brown hair

Signature Style

Outfit

Yellow shirt, blue pants

Catchphrase

(Loud belch)

Accessories

Duff Beer bottle

Barney Gumble Character Background

Origin Story

Barney was once a promising student with aspirations of attending Harvard, but was peer-pressured into drinking beer by Homer Simpson the day before his SATs, leading to his alcoholism.

Character Timeline

1989

First Appearance

Appeared in the series premiere episode 'Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire'.

1993

The Be Sharps

Formed a barbershop quartet with Homer, Apu, and Seymour Skinner, winning a Grammy Award.

1999

Brief Sobriety

Got sober in the Season 11 episode 'Days of Wine and D'oh'ses', attending Alcoholics Anonymous and learning to fly a helicopter.

2002

Relapse

Relapsed into alcoholism, as revealed in the fourteenth season episode I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can'.

Barney Gumble's Personality

Personality Traits

  • Alcoholic
  • Loyal (to Homer)
  • Sometimes sober
  • Talented (singer, helicopter pilot, astronaut)
  • Pathetic

Strengths

  • Strong singing voice
  • Piloting skills (when sober)
  • Resilience (despite his alcoholism)

Weaknesses

  • Alcoholism
  • Lack of self-control
  • Easily peer-pressured

Goals

  • To get sober (briefly)
  • To enjoy Duff Beer

Fears

  • Unknown

Barney Gumble's Gallery

Barney Gumble's Abilities

Special Powers

  • None

Skills

  • Singing (tenor voice)
  • Helicopter piloting (when sober)
  • Snowplow driving
  • Astronaut training (briefly)
  • Documentary filmmaking

Barney Gumble's Relationships

Friends

Homer Simpson
Best friend
Moe Szyslak
Bartender/Friend
Lenny Leonard
Friend
Carl Carlson
Friend

Barney Gumble Awards & Recognition

  • Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance (Dan Castellaneta, 2004)

Barney Gumble Cultural Influence

Pop Culture Impact

Barney Gumble is a recognizable character from The Simpsons, often associated with alcoholism and his signature belch. He has become a cultural reference for the 'town drunk' archetype.

Social Impact

His character, particularly his brief sobriety arc, has been used to explore themes of addiction and recovery in a comedic context.

Barney Gumble Videos

Simpsons Histories - Barney Gumble

Simpsons Histories - Barney Gumble
Play Simpsons Histories - Barney Gumble Video
YouTube Video

Barney Gumble's Theme Colors

Primary Coloryellow
Secondary Colorblue
Accent Colorbrown
Background ColorlightGray

More About Barney Gumble

Signature Belch

Barney Gumble is famous for his loud, distinctive belches, which are a recurring gag throughout The Simpsons series and often serve as a punchline.

Barney Gumble In Their Own Words

Character Introduction

Barney Gumble is the lovable, albeit perpetually inebriated, resident of Springfield from The Simpsons. Known for his iconic belches and his deep affection for Duff Beer, he's a central figure in Moe's Tavern and a loyal friend to Homer Simpson.

Personality Traits

Despite his struggles with alcoholism, Barney occasionally showcases hidden talents and a surprising depth of character. He's loyal, can be surprisingly articulate when sober, and has demonstrated skills ranging from singing to helicopter piloting.

Classic Stories

Barney's most notable storylines include his brief period of sobriety, during which he learned to fly a helicopter, and his time as a member of Homer's barbershop quartet, The Be Sharps, which even won a Grammy Award.

Cultural Impact

Barney Gumble has become a pop culture icon, embodying the archetype of the town drunk with a heart of gold. His character provides both comedic relief and, at times, poignant commentary on addiction, making him a memorable part of The Simpsons legacy.

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