Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

The dedicated Kwik-E-Mart manager who famously said, "Thank you, come again."

Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is the Indian immigrant proprietor who ran the Kwik-E-Mart in Springfield from roughly 1990 to 2017. Voiced by Hank Azaria, he first appeared in "The Telltale Head" and was named after Satyajit Ray's title character from The Apu Trilogy. Known for his exaggeratedly accented catchphrase, "thank you, come again," Apu held a Ph.D. in computer science and once graduated first in a class of seven million at the Calcutta Technical Institute. While he initially struggled with undocumented status, he eventually became a naturalized citizen after passing his test with help from Homer and Lisa Simpson. His legacy includes running the store alongside his brother Sanjay until Hank Azaria resigned from the role in early 2020 following the release of the documentary The Problem with Apu.

Quick Facts

Series

The Simpsons

Creator

Matt Groening

First

"The Telltale Head" (1990)

Voice

Hank Azaria (1990–2017)

Gender

Male

Occupation

Owner/operator of the Kwik-E-Mart
Chief of Springfield Volunteer Fire Department
Computer scientist

Relatives

Pahusacheta (niece); Jamshed (nephew)

Spouse

Manjula

Lore & Background

Apu's biography reveals a complex journey from immigrant to naturalized citizen. He originated from Rahmatpur, West Bengal, and began working at the Kwik-E-Mart during graduate school to pay off student loans. At one point, he attempted to become fully legal by purchasing a forged birth certificate from the Springfield Mafia, listing his parents as Herb and Judy Nahasapeemapetilon from Green Bay, Wisconsin. However, realizing this meant forsaking his origins, he abandoned the plan.

In 1985, he joined the barbershop quartet The Be Sharps with Homer Simpson, Barney Gumble, and Principal Seymour Skinner, adopting the stage name "Apu de Beaumarchais." He is a dietary vegan, a fact revealed in the season 7 episode "Lisa the Vegetarian," and maintains devout Hindu faith, particularly venerating Ganesha. His brother Sanjay helps run the store, while his cousin Kavi works for American companies using various accents.

Reader's Guide

Fans can find Apu in various video games beyond his television appearances. He is a playable character in The Simpsons: Hit & Run (2003), where he must redeem himself for unknowingly selling tainted Buzz Cola that drove residents insane. He also appears as a passenger and unlockable character in The Simpsons: Road Rage (2001) and is acquired early in the online game The Simpsons: Tapped Out (2012). In 2015, he appeared as a non-speaking extra in Lego Dimensions during the Simpsons levels. His voice was inspired by Hank Azaria's interactions with Indian convenience store workers in Los Angeles and loosely based on Peter Sellers' character Hrundi V. Bakshi from The Party. Apu's surname is a scrambled version of "Pahasadee Napetilon," a schoolmate of writer Jeff Martin.