Background
Harry Julius Shearer was born on December 23, 1943 in Los Angeles, California, United States; the son of Mack Shearer and Dora Warren (Kohn) Shearer, a bookkeeper. Both of his parents were Jewish emigrants from Austria and Poland.
1975
Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jim Belushi, Christopher Guest, Martin Short, Mary Gross, Rich Hall, Gary Kroeger, Harry Shearer, and Pamela Stephenson in Saturday Night Live.
1980
Harry Shearer as General and Garrett Morris as Anwar Sadat during the "The Micro-Dentists" skit.
1980
Harry Shearer as Vic Ricker during the "Weekend Update" skit.
1983
Jeff Goldblum and Harry Shearer in The Right Stuff.
1984
Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer in This Is Spinal Tap.
1984
Parody English heavy metal band, Spinal Tap.
1991
Los Angeles, California, United States
Spinal Tap at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, California.
1991
Los Angeles, California, United States
Spinal Tap and Martha Quinn at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, California.
1992
London, United Kingdom
Derek Smalls (played by Harry Shearer) of Spinal Tap poses with a portrait of DJ David Hamilton, London, United Kingdom.
1992
London, United Kingdom
Derek Smalls (played by Harry Shearer) of Spinal Tap. London, United Kingdom.
1992
21 Piccadilly, Mayfair, London W1J 0BH, United Kingdom
Spinal Tap pose with a bell boy holding drum sticks at Le Meridian Hotel, London, United Kingdom.
1994
David Schwimmer as Ross Geller and Harry Shearer as Dr. Baldharar in Friends.
1996
Los Angeles, California, United States
Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, and Christopher Guest perform as Spinal Tap in support of honoree Rob Reiner at the ACLU of Southern California Torch of Liberty dinner at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
2001
Harry Shearer, in a costume as British musician Derek Smalls of the group Spinal Tap, plays bass guitar as he performs on stage during the NAMM.
2003
Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer in A Mighty Wind.
2003
Harry Shearer in A Mighty Wind.
2003
Harry Shearer presenting the Crystal Award to Producer Debra Hill.
2003
Los Angeles, California, United States
Harry Shearer and Debra Hill during the 2003 Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards Show at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, California, United States.
2006
Catherine O'Hara, Jennifer Coolidge, Ricky Gervais, Larry Miller, and Harry Shearer in For Your Consideration.
2006
Eugene Levy and Harry Shearer in For Your Consideration.
2006
Parker Posey, Catherine O'Hara, Christopher Moynihan, and Harry Shearer in For Your Consideration.
2006
Park City, Utah, United States
Harry Shearer during the 2006 Park City - The Chrysler Studio - Day 4 at 333 Main Street in Park City, Utah, United States.
2006
4401 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005, United States
Harry Shearer during the 8th annual Music on Film Preservation Project - New Orleans Rising, at Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles, California, United States.
2007
Westwood, California, United States
Harry Shearer and Yeardley Smith arrive at "The Simpsons Movie" World Premiere at the Mann Bruin and the Mann Village Theaters in Westwood, California.
2007
145 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7PA, United Kingdom
Harry Shearer poses with the Lifetime Achievement in Comedy Award at the Arena Magazine Awards, at Mocoto, London, United Kingdom.
2009
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Harry Shearer, Michael McKean and Christopher Guest announce their "Unwigged & Unplugged" Tour at the House of Blues in Hollywood, California.
2010
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, Bishop's, London SE1 8XX, United Kingdom
Harry Shearer performs on stage in Cabaret of Souls as part of the Meltdown Festival at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England.
2013
Henry Goodman and Harry Shearer in Nixon's the One.
2013
Henry Goodman and Harry Shearer in Nixon's the One.
2014
Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0DX, United Kingdom
Judith Owen and Harry Shearer attend the closing night of 'Monty Python Live (Mostly)' at The O2 Arena in London, England.
2015
30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217, United States
Harry Shearer performs during the Christmas Without Tears New York Concert at BAM Peter Jay Sharp Building in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
2016
London, United Kingdom
Harry Shearer is photographed for the Observer in London, England.
2016
London, United Kingdom
Harry Shearer is photographed for the Observer in London, England.
2017
201 5th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203, United States
Harry Shearer speaks during the American Eagle Awards honoring Crystal Gayle, Patti Smith and Harry Shearer at Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
2018
New York City, New York, United States
Harry Shearer as a Spinal Tap musician Derek Smalls visits the SiriusXM Studios in New York City.
2019
800 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States
Harry Shearer appears at the Ampeg booth in character as bassist Derek Smalls of Spinal Tap during the 2019 NAMM Show at Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
2019
929 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
Harry Shearer performs on stage as his character Derek Smalls from the band Spinal Tap during the California Saga 2 Benefit Concert at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
300 Doheny Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90048, United States
Harry Shearer during BAFTA/LA Awards Season Tea Party at Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles.
Harry Shearer and his wife Judith with producer Karen Murphy.
Catherine O'Hara and Harry Shearer during "For Your Consideration" Los Angeles Premiere.
Harry Shearer during the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Special Screening of "For Your Consideration."
Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer and Parker Posey.
Joe Pantoliano, Ron Reagan Jr. and Harry Shearer at the Heineken Green Room.
Sharon Lawrence, Cady Huffman, Harry Shearer, Ron Reagan Jr., Hill Harper and Joe Pantoliano at the Heineken Green Room.
London, United Kingdom
Harry Shearer during The Times BFI London Film Festival "For Your Consideration" Premiere at the Odeon West End in London, United Kingdom.
Los Angles, California, United States
Harry Shearer during "The Aristocrats" Los Angeles Premiere in Los Angles, California, United States.
444 N Rexford Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Ted Koppel and Harry Shearer during the Evening with Ted Koppel at the Museum of Television & Radio (now the Paley Center for Media) in Beverly Hills, California, United States.
Harry Shearer as Lyle, Garrett Morris as Julian, Burt Reynolds as Lewis during the "Deliverance II" sketch.
Primetime Emmy Award
University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
Harry studied political science at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States
After graduation from the University of California, Los Angeles, Harry pursued graduate work in urban government at Harvard University.
CableACE Award
(The well-known humorist presents a collection of his colu...)
The well-known humorist presents a collection of his columns from the "Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine," discussing such people and issues as Madonna, L.A. police chief Daryl Gates, and breast implants.
https://www.amazon.com/Man-Bites-Town-Harry-Shearer/dp/0312088426/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Shearer%2C+Harry+Man+Bites+Town&qid=1593270380&s=books&sr=1-1
1993
(In this shrewd, on-target, wickedly funny book, Harry She...)
In this shrewd, on-target, wickedly funny book, Harry Shearer unbuckles the Beltway to examine why, of all people, Bill Clinton has inspired such profound and persistent loathing in a sufficient number of Americans to propel his presidency to the "kinda like Nixon" section of the history books.
https://www.amazon.com/Its-Stupidity-Stupid-Clinton-Contemporary/dp/0345434013/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=It%27s+the+Stupidity%2C+Stupid%3A+Why+%28Some%29+People+Hate+Clinton+and+Why+the+Rest+of+Us+Have+to+Watch.&qid=1593270094&s=books&sr=1-1
1999
(Not Enough Indians is the bitingly funny satire about a d...)
Not Enough Indians is the bitingly funny satire about a down and out town who tempt fate by having themselves declared a sovereign Indian nation and opening a casino. Funny, smart, antic and scathing, Not Enough Indians is a hilarious sendup of the American dream.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932112502/?tag=2022091-20
2006
(An aging folk singer who has passed the peak of his popul...)
An aging folk singer who has passed the peak of his popularity takes one last stab at regaining his superstardom.
https://www.amazon.com/One-Trick-Pony-Paul-Simon/dp/B00BAGSDMA/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=One+Trick+Pony&qid=1593271035&s=instant-video&sr=1-1
1980
(From Chuck Yaeger - the first man to break the sound barr...)
From Chuck Yaeger - the first man to break the sound barrier - to the seven Mercury astronauts, it's the story of the birth of the U.S. Space Program.
https://www.amazon.com/Right-Stuff-Scott-Glenn/dp/B002ZSS14W/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Right+Stuff&qid=1593273618&s=instant-video&sr=1-1
1983
(Mock rockumentary about a Heavy Metal band on the verge o...)
Mock rockumentary about a Heavy Metal band on the verge of spontaneous combustion.
https://www.amazon.com/This-Spinal-Tap-Rob-Reiner/dp/B002CMQS1O/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=This+Is+Spinal+Tap&qid=1593271080&s=instant-video&sr=1-1
1984
("Whodunnit'" might be grammatically incorrect, but it's a...)
"Whodunnit'" might be grammatically incorrect, but it's a question undercover cop Nick Dunbar must answer to unravel the mysteries surrounding the murder of a high school teacher.
https://www.amazon.com/Plain-Clothes-Suzy-Amis/dp/B073Q7MNB1/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Plain+Clothes&qid=1593271192&s=instant-video&sr=1-1
1988
(The daughter of a wealthy businessman has disappeared in ...)
The daughter of a wealthy businessman has disappeared in Mexico, and all the efforts to find her have been unsuccessful. A psychologist, knowing that the girl has an ultra bad luck, persuades her father to send to Mexico one of his employees, an accountant with super bad luck, to find her. Perhaps he will be lucky, and his bad luck could help to find the unlucky girl...
https://www.amazon.com/Pure-Luck-Nadia-Tass/dp/B00HUUYSKG/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Pure+Luck&qid=1593271419&s=instant-video&sr=1-1
1991
(Everyone's favorite headbangers from Aurora, Illinois, ar...)
Everyone's favorite headbangers from Aurora, Illinois, are back in this sequel to the 1992 hit comedy Wayne's World.
https://www.amazon.com/Waynes-World-2-Mike-Myers/dp/B001JYZXGM/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Wayne%27s+World+2&qid=1593272576&s=instant-video&sr=1-1
1993
(Two friends (Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney) go from a...)
Two friends (Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney) go from an impossible possibility to an unimaginable reality in this romantic comedy.
https://www.amazon.com/My-Best-Friends-Wedding-Hogan/dp/B000I9U77O/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=My+Best+Friend%E2%80%99s+Wedding&qid=1593271605&s=movies-tv&sr=1-1
1997
(Truman doesn't realize that his quaint hometown is a gian...)
Truman doesn't realize that his quaint hometown is a giant studio set run by a visionary producer/director/creator (Ed Harris), that folks living and working there are Hollywood actors, that even his incessantly bubbly wife is a contract player.
https://www.amazon.com/Truman-Show-Jim-Carrey/dp/B002SGYPS2/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Truman+Show&qid=1593271734&s=instant-video&sr=1-1
1998
(The enormous monster descends upon New York, and it's up ...)
The enormous monster descends upon New York, and it's up to the Army and an odd team of investigators to unravel the mystery behind the incredible creature before it's too late.
https://www.amazon.com/Godzilla-Matthew-Broderick/dp/B008Y79HE6/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=Godzilla&qid=1593272671&s=instant-video&sr=1-4
1998
(High school students Betsy Jobs (Kirsten Dunst) and Arlen...)
High school students Betsy Jobs (Kirsten Dunst) and Arlene Lorenzo (Michelle Williams) wander off during a class trip to the White House and meet President Nixon (Dan Hedaya). They end up becoming the official walkers of his dog, Checkers, and the secret advisors to Tricky Dick during the Watergate scandals.
https://www.amazon.com/Dick-Kirsten-Dunst/dp/B000I8G58K/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Dick&qid=1593272778&s=instant-video&sr=1-2
1999
(The newest "mockumentary" from the inimitable Christopher...)
The newest "mockumentary" from the inimitable Christopher Guest hilariously captures the reunion of 1960s folk musicians in New York, with a stellar ensemble cast.
https://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Wind-Christopher-Guest/dp/B0058YKDOQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=A+Mighty+Wind&qid=1593271935&s=instant-video&sr=1-1
2003
(The film focuses on the making of an independent movie an...)
The film focuses on the making of an independent movie and its cast who become victims of the dreaded awards buzz.
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Consideration-Bob-Balaban/dp/B000NMTYGQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=For+Your+Consideration&qid=1593271990&s=instant-video&sr=1-1
2006
(Upon learning that their mother has been lying to them fo...)
Upon learning that their mother has been lying to them for years about their allegedly deceased father, two fraternal twin brothers hit the road in order to find him.
https://www.amazon.com/Father-Figures-Owen-Wilson/dp/B0786X18J1/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Father+Figures&qid=1593272196&s=instant-video&sr=1-1
2017
Actor director musician producer scriptwriter writer
Harry Julius Shearer was born on December 23, 1943 in Los Angeles, California, United States; the son of Mack Shearer and Dora Warren (Kohn) Shearer, a bookkeeper. Both of his parents were Jewish emigrants from Austria and Poland.
Harry Shearer has been involved with show business since early childhood when he appeared on "The Jack Benny Show" at the age of seven and in the movie Abbott and Costello Go to Mars in 1953. In 1957, Shearer played the precursor to the Eddie Haskell character in the pilot episode of the television series Leave It to Beaver. After the filming, Shearer's parents made the decision not to accept the role in the series.
Harry studied political science at the University of California, Los Angeles. During this time, he was editor of the college humor magazine, Satyr, including the June 1964 parody Preyboy. He also worked as a newscaster at KRLA, a top 40 radio station in Pasadena. After graduation from university, Harry pursued graduate work at Harvard University in urban government.
In May 2006, Shearer received an honorary doctorate from Goucher College.
After his graduate work at Harvard University, Harry Shearer soon returned to California, contributing freelance articles to Newsweek and Los Angeles Times as well as New West, Los Angeles Magazine, and Film Comment. Shearer also taught English and social studies in high school and worked in the California State Legislature. But his true calling proved to be satire.
Shearer was a founding member of the comedy group the Credibility Gap, with whom he began to build his writing and performing career. He co-wrote, co-produced, and performed on their albums A Great Gift Idea and The Bronze Age of Radio. He went on to co-write and co-produce Albert Brooks's album A Star Is Bought and to host the Los Angeles radio program Le Show. In 1979 he joined the hit TV show Saturday Night Live as a writer and regular cast member. Though he left the show after his first season, he returned for another season in 1984.
Shearer has worked on several films as an actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in Cracking Up, Real Life (for which he co-wrote the screenplay), One-Trick Pony, The Right Stuff, The Fisher King, A League of Their Own, Wayne's World Two, I'll Do Anything, and Speechless. He has also played voice roles in Animalympics and My Stepmother Is an Alien. Shearer has also done voice roles for the popular animated television series The Simpsons and has appeared in such television programs as Harry Shearer's News Quiz and Likely Stories. This Is Spinal Tap, however, remains Shearer's best-known work.
The film, directed by Rob Reiner in 1984, is a spoof of such music classics as Woodstock, 1970 - which chronicled the famed rock concert that gave its name to a generation - and The Last Waltz, 1978, which was a farewell tribute to The Band. This Is Spinal Tap, structured as a mock-documentary, follows the career of the fictional English band Spinal Tap from their genesis as 1960s-era flower children to their transformation into heavy metal stars. Shearer, who plays the role of bass player Derek Smalls, wrote the script with partners Michael McKean (lead singer David St. Hubbins) and Christopher Guest (lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel). This Is Spinal Tap, which gained an immediate following among the baby boomer generation and other rock fans, also impressed serious critics.
In 1993 Shearer published a collection of his newspaper columns titled Man Bites Town. His first book, it received favorable reviews for its consistent humor.
Also in 1993 Shearer joined the Spinal Tap gang once more for TV's much-welcomed A Spinal Tap Reunion. This special featured the band's reunion concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. Like the film, the television special achieved a high level of satire.
In his 1999 book It's the Stupidity, Stupid: Why (Some) People Hate Clinton and Why the Rest of Us Have to Watch, Shearer examines the extremely negative feelings many people had at the time about then-President Bill Clinton.
Shearer's unbounded creativity has also led him to novel writing. His first novel, Not Enough Indians, is a satire about the locals of Gammage, NY, who, in an effort to keep their town alive, petition the government to recognize them as an Indian tribe named the Filaquonsett so they can go into the casino business. After building the casino, they find themselves in a feud with a neighboring tribe that has a casino. For impinging on their casino business, the neighboring tribe builds a toxic dump next to the casino built by the Filaquonsett tribe.
Shearer mixed music and comedy again in the 2003 film A Mighty Wind, in which he played Mark Shubb, bassist with the folk group the Folksmen. He also directed a feature film, 2002's Teddy Bears' Picnic, as well as several projects for television. In 2008 he released the presidential and politically minded Songs of the Bushmen with the Wall Street-themed album Greed and Fear following in 2010.
Shearer spent most of 2011 touring with his film The Big Uneasy, a serious documentary about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath but returned to the comedy album format in 2012 with Can't Take a Hint. The album featured guest appearances from Fountains of Wayne, Dr. John, and comedian Jane Lynch.
Shearer has over 150 works in film and television. He is best known for his participation in the Spinal Tap and related projects, as well as the voice acting of various characters in the animated series The Simpsons. He has received several Primetime Emmy Award and Grammy Award nominations and in 2008 it was announced that Shearer would receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the radio category. Harry is also the recipient of two CableACE Awards. In 2014 Harry received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance.
(In this shrewd, on-target, wickedly funny book, Harry She...)
1999(Not Enough Indians is the bitingly funny satire about a d...)
2006(The well-known humorist presents a collection of his colu...)
1993(Truman doesn't realize that his quaint hometown is a gian...)
1998("Whodunnit'" might be grammatically incorrect, but it's a...)
1988(The enormous monster descends upon New York, and it's up ...)
1998(High school students Betsy Jobs (Kirsten Dunst) and Arlen...)
1999(Upon learning that their mother has been lying to them fo...)
2017(The newest "mockumentary" from the inimitable Christopher...)
2003(Two friends (Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney) go from a...)
1997(From Chuck Yaeger - the first man to break the sound barr...)
1983(The daughter of a wealthy businessman has disappeared in ...)
1991(Everyone's favorite headbangers from Aurora, Illinois, ar...)
1993(The film focuses on the making of an independent movie an...)
2006(An aging folk singer who has passed the peak of his popul...)
1980(Mock rockumentary about a Heavy Metal band on the verge o...)
1984(Promising to quit a life of crime is a lot easier said th...)
1991Harry Shearer said: "I never deal with matters of religion. I don't think it's a good idea to make fun of the stuff that people appear to need in their lives."
Politics is appealing to the actor. Shearer has kept a close eye on the Republican presidential field and examined past American presidents for inspiration. He is also interested in Trump, not only as a satirist but because he seems genuine in his boorishness. He said: "He's a blowhard, he's an egomaniac, he's a fabulist about his own wealth, but you know he's unashamed about it, and he's untrammelled, and he's unplanned, and he's not premeditated."
Shearer writes about the failure of the Federal levee system which flooded New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. He covers it in the mainstream media. Harry also criticizes the role of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
Quotations:
"If absolute power corrupts absolutely, does absolute powerlessness make you pure?"
"I am one of those people who thrive on deadlines. Nothing brings on inspiration more readily than desperation."
"The hardest work most of us do is maintaining the appearance of normality."
"I wasn't playing Nixon's satirical stick figure. I was playing Nixon the man. As an actor, I felt I had to get to the deeply flawed humanity of the guy."
"You're not just looking for laughs, but you're trying to do the characters first, and then the laughs come afterward."
"You have to do real acting, not just do a voice."
"If you're going to do something that lasts 90 minutes, you can't really do it with stick figures."
"When it moved to Friday night it disappeared, when they find another show that can do what The Simpsons does, they will be delighted to do cancel The Simpsons."
"I didn't have a lot of independent film connections. It really took until the digital film revolution came along that I realized that I could do it myself."
"Privilege has its own way of seeing the world. It's not about the kind of people they are; it's about the situation they're in."
Harry Shearer is a wry provocateur who delights in exposing folly. He has always been naturally optimistic. Harry tries not to lie. He is also a fan of control.
Shearer is known for his wide voice range and deep resonant tones, which disappear when he voices 'Simpsons' characters like Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Lenny etc.
Physical Characteristics: Harry's height is 5 ft 5 in (1.67 m). He has green eyes and black hair.
Quotes from others about the person
Joe Collins: "Shearer is at his funniest when marveling at the world's absurdities."
Harry Shearer married Penelope Joyce Nichols on June 12, 1974. They divorced in 1977. On March 28, 1993 he married Welsh singer-songwriter Judith Owen.