“The Simpsons” is renowned for featuring a plethora of surprise celebrity guest stars who appear for various reasons, from a simple gig to being friends with the producers. One notable guest is Daniel Radcliffe, who is best known for his role as Harry Potter in eight films.
In a 2022 appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” Radcliffe shared, “For many people who grew up in the UK, I feel that I know something about America and American culture, especially through ‘The Simpsons.’ He went on to say:
“There are numerous references to movies that I didn’t comprehend when I first watched the show, but after watching those films a decade later, I realized, ‘Oh, that was a reference to ‘A Clockwork Orange’ or ‘Indiana Jones.'”
Radcliffe poignantly remarked, “If I had to come to Earth tomorrow and quickly educate someone about the last 30 years of American culture, I could do worse than using ‘The Simpsons’ as a reference.”
His admiration for the series is evident through his multiple guest appearances. He first showed up in a 2010 episode of “The Simpsons,” almost a year prior to the release of the final Harry Potter film, and subsequently returned twice, each time voicing different characters. This is a unique accomplishment among his “Harry Potter” co-stars. But among his three appearances in “The Simpsons” before 2025, which one stands out as the most memorable?
Radcliffe’s inaugural role was a spoof of Twilight
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In the “Tree House of Horror XXI” segment from Season 22, which aired in October 2010, a parody titled “Tweenlight” features Lisa (voiced by Yard Lee Smith) falling for a mysterious vampire resembling Edward Cullen, named Edmund Dracula, voiced by Daniel Radcliffe. The casting carries a fun meta layer since Robert Pattinson, the actor who played Edward, worked alongside Radcliffe in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”
The segment itself is fairly average within the “Tree House of Horror” series, filled with enjoyable “Twilight” references, particularly with Milhouse (voiced by Pamela Haden) as a more comedic version of Jacob Black. A notable twist in this parody is the characters’ ages; Edward and Bella are portrayed as eight-year-olds, meaning Radcliffe’s Edmund must still obey his father, Count Dracula (Dan Castellaneta).
This age aspect complicates Lisa’s wish to become a vampire. While Bella becomes one by the end of the “Twilight” saga and appears to embrace it, Lisa changes her mind after realizing she’ll be trapped as an eight-year-old forever, quipping, “You can’t spend your time with your child’s scissors forever; they hardly cut anything.”
Radcliffe has also voiced Digby and appeared as himself
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In Radcliffe’s initial appearance on “The Simpsons,” he shares screen time with Lisa, but in his second appearance, he is paired with Bart (Nancy Cartwright). In Season 25’s episode titled “Diggs,” which aired in 2014, Radcliffe lends his voice to Digby Diggs, a pale boy involved in falconry. This role is distinct as he adopts an American accent, which he executes well, making it hard to recognize him without prior knowledge.
Regarding the episode, it proves to be rather forgettable and has been criticized by fans and critics alike for its dullness. The foundational structure of the episode is fine, yet the jokes fail to land effectively, resulting in mere mild chuckles. Radcliffe’s final appearance (up to February 2025) came in Season 29’s episode “No Good Read Goes Proust,” in which Homer (voiced by Castellaneta) prompts a curious revelation as he removes his mask.
Radcliffe’s part in this episode lasts merely 15 seconds. This may be for the best, as “No Good Read Goes Proust” received a tepid response from audiences and critics. As an avid fan of the classic “The Simpsons” era, I argue that recent seasons haven’t completely lacked quality episodes, though, unfortunately, Radcliffe hasn’t been featured in any of the standout ones. On a positive note, there’s always the potential for his return; a fourth appearance remains possible.
