Krusty

Krusty the Clown is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons, created by Matt Groening. The character's real name is Herschel Shmoikel Pinchas Israel Krustofsky. He is a Jewish American clown who hosts a long-running children's television program in the fictional town of Springfield. Krusty is voiced by Dan Castellaneta. The character debuted in a 1989 Simpsons short on The Tracey Ullman Show and later became a central figure on The Simpsons, with his own eponymous show within the series.

In the show, Krusty is portrayed as a cynical, fame-obsessed, money-driven entertainer whose public persona contrasts with a more self-destructive private life. He is often seen smoking cigars and drinking, and his business ventures frequently reflect a mercenary approach to entertainment. The Krusty the Clown Show features a variety of sketches, and his career forms a recurring vehicle for satire of television culture. Sideshow Bob, his former sidekick, becomes one of his most famous adversaries.

The Krusty show has a complicated family history; Krusty is the son of a rabbi, and in the episode Like Father, Like Clown, his estrangement from his father is depicted and later reconciled. This backstory is used to explore themes of identity and ambition within show business.

In other media, the character appears in Simpsons-related comics, merchandise, and video games, as one of the series' longest-running and most recognizable supporting characters.