Mr Burns: the Simpsons' great villain

CharacterMr. BurnsVillains

Fingertips together, a satisfied murmur: "Excellent…" is all it takes to sum up the boss of the nuclear power plant. This profile of Charles Montgomery Burns gathers his fortune in the billions, his elusive age (81 here, 104 there), his models — the Rockefellers and Henry Potter from It's a Wonderful Life — his faithful Smithers, the ritual of "Homer Simpson, sector 7-G" and the character's successive voices, from Harry Shearer to Xavier Fagnon. Above all, you will learn who shot Mr. Burns at the end of season 6.

"Excellent…" With that murmur and those steepled fingers alone, Mr. Burns became the perfect embodiment of the unscrupulous tycoon.

Owner of the Springfield nuclear power plant and Homer's employer, this billionaire from another age is The Simpsons' chief antagonist. A profile of a villain as greedy as he is unforgettable.

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Who is Mr. Burns?

Charles Montgomery Burns, nicknamed "Monty", is the owner of the Springfield nuclear power plant and the boss of Homer Simpson, whom he employs as a safety inspector. Miserly, cruel and fabulously rich, he rules the town through intimidation and contempt for his employees' safety — even taking them on head-first during a strike that stayed famous. To get out of his legal troubles, he has the best ally there is: a formidably effective lawyer. Harry Shearer, who lends him his voice, sums him up in a word: "pure evil". It is that same plant whose radioactive discharges gave birth to Blinky, the show's famous three-eyed fish.

He is never alone: at his side stands permanently Waylon Smithers, his assistant, as devoted as he is obsequious — adviser, confidant, and secret admirer of his boss.

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An extraordinary age and fortune

How old is Mr. Burns? The show itself refuses to settle it: he says he is 81 in one episode, is presented as 104 in another, and some clues hint at an even more preposterous age. These inconsistencies are a deliberate gag: Burns is quite simply indestructible. The man does have one weak spot, though, and it lies entirely in an old teddy bear.

🛏️ Whether he's 81 or 104, Burns only melts for an old teddy bear; on your own bed, our Simpsons cushions give you the same kind of softness to hug close.

On the fortune side, we are talking several billion dollars. To shape the character, Matt Groening drew on the magnates John D. Rockefeller and his grandson David, as well as the miserly banker Henry Potter, played by Lionel Barrymore in It's a Wonderful Life (1946). The most powerful figure in town, he also counts among the Stonecutters, Springfield's secret society. A fortune that allows every whim: he once wins the Rich Texan's basketball team at poker.

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"Excellent…" and "Release the hounds"

Two lines sum up the character all by themselves. The first, "Excellent…", is murmured slowly, fingertips together, whenever one of his machiavellian schemes falls into place. The second, "Release the hounds" ("Lâchez les chiens" in the French version), is the order he gives Smithers to have unwanted visitors chased off by his pack of Dobermans.

🐕 At Burns's place, unwanted visitors leave with the Dobermans on their heels; at yours, one of our Simpsons rugs greets your guests right at the door, without baring its teeth.

To which is added his tastiest gag: Burns never recognises Homer, despite their countless run-ins. The ritual never changes — "Who is that man?" he asks; "Homer Simpson, sir. One of your organ banks from sector 7-G," answers Smithers; "Simpson, eh?" concludes the boss, already lost in his thoughts again.

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Mr. Burns' voice actors

In the original version, Mr. Burns has been voiced since 1990 by Harry Shearer (Christopher Collins preceded him on the very first episodes). Shearer, who also plays Smithers, received an Emmy Award in 2014 for the role.

In the French version, the character has had three successive voices, as his performers died one after another: Michel Modo (from 1990 until his death in 2008), then Gérard Rinaldi (until his death in 2012), and finally Xavier Fagnon from season 23.

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Who shot Mr. Burns?

It is arguably the greatest mystery in Simpsons history. At the end of season 6 (May 1995), Mr. Burns is found gunned down in the street, and the whole town becomes a suspect. For a whole summer, fans turned over every last clue before the reveal, at the opening of season 7.

The culprit? Maggie Simpson, the family baby. As Burns tries to snatch her lollipop, the gun slips from its holster and goes off accidentally. An ending as unexpected as it is harmless for the most ruthless of Springfield's residents.

🩳 A whole summer suspecting the entire town, all for a baby and her lollipop: if you reopen the case in the middle of August, do it dressed for the season, in our Simpsons shorts.

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Summary table

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FAQ

• How old is Mr. Burns?
  The show does not settle it: he is given 81 years in some places, 104 in others, or even more. These inconsistencies are a deliberate gag about his extreme longevity.
• What is Mr. Burns' cult line?
  "Excellent…", murmured with fingertips together, along with "Release the hounds", thrown at Smithers.
• Why does Mr. Burns never recognise Homer?
  It is a running gag: despite their many face-to-face encounters, Burns systematically forgets Homer's name and asks Smithers to identify him.
• Who shot Mr. Burns?
  Maggie Simpson, the family baby. The gun goes off accidentally as Burns tries to steal her lollipop; the reveal opens season 7.
• Who voices Mr. Burns in French?
  Michel Modo originally, then Gérard Rinaldi, and finally Xavier Fagnon from season 23.

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Conclusion

Miserly to the point of caricature, indestructible and forever flanked by his faithful Smithers, Mr. Burns is the villain The Simpsons deserved. A character who proves that in Springfield, the worst threat sometimes hides behind a simple "Excellent…".

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