In my cranky old age, I actually prefer recording alone now, on 'The Simpsons,' for example, because I find that the director can just focus on what I'm doing and I can do a lot of variations. A lot of times, when I record with a group, I'll stay after class for another hour or two.

Azaria and the five other main The Simpsons voice actors were then involved in a pay dispute in which Fox threatened to replace them with new actors and went as far as preparing for casting of new voices. During his childhood Azaria often "memorize[d] and mimic[ked]" the scripts of the films shows and stand-up comedy routines that he enjoyed. For his role of Claude a French scuba instructor in Along Came Polly Azaria donned a wig and worked out extensively to get into the physical shape the part required.

He has continued to star in numerous films including Mystery Men (1999) America's Sweethearts (2001) Shattered Glass (2003) Along Came Polly (2004) Run Fatboy Run (2007) Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009) and The Smurfs (2011). : /əˈzɛəriə/ ə-ZAIR-ee-ə; born April 25 1964) is an American film television and stage actor director voice actor and comedian. Azaria was married to actress Helen Hunt from 1999 to 2000.