Black actor to voice Dr. Hibbert on ‘The Simpsons’ for the first time

Actor Kevin Michael Richardson is set to voice the character of Dr. Julius Hibbert on “The Simpsons” after the series announced last year that it will no longer use white actors to voice nonwhite characters.

Actor Harry Shearer has voiced Hibbert, a Black doctor, for over 30 years. He will continue to voice beloved characters on the series, including Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns and others. 

Richardson will begin voicing Hibbert beginning on Sunday, the Fox network confirmed to The Hill. 

He has previously been a voice actor on a slate of animated series, including “Family Guy,” and “American Dad!” He has also made appearances on dozens of episodes of “The Simpsons” as various characters since 2009. 

Showrunners of “The Simpsons” announced last June that the series would recast nonwhite characters voiced by white actors.

In January 2020, actor Hank Azaria said he would no longer voice Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, an Indian character who operates a convenience store. Azaria’s voicing of the character drew controversy for years before the move last year.  

The show has also recast the character Carl Carlson, one of Homer Simpson’s co-workers, who is Black. The show additionally recast Kumiko Albertson, an Asian character. 

— Updated 10:34 p.m.