Daniel Louis "Dan" Castellaneta, born in Chicago on October 29, 1957, is an American actor, voice actor, comedian, and screenwriter. He is known worldwide as the original voice of Homer Simpson, the protagonist of the animated series "The Simpsons," a role he has played continuously since 1989. His vocal versatility allows him to voice numerous other iconic characters on the same show, such as Krusty the Clown, Abraham "Grampa" Simpson, Barney Gumble, and Groundskeeper Willie. For his outstanding performance in "The Simpsons," Castellaneta has received prestigious accolades, including four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance. In addition to his voice work, his career includes appearances in live-action films, such as "The Pursuit of Happyness" and "Space Jam," and work as a screenwriter, having written several episodes of The Simpsons with his wife, Deb Lacusta.