There’s a voice you’ve heard thousands of times, even if you’ve never seen the face behind it — for over three decades, Nancy Cartwright has been the vocal engine behind Bart Simpson, Ralph Wiggum, and a dozen other Springfield residents, work that’s earned her an estimated $90 million net worth and a unique place in pop culture history. But this story isn’t just about cartoon voices; it’s also about a family connection that surprises most people: Cartwright is the step-grandmother of pop star Sabrina Carpenter, with no biological link between them.

Born: October 25, 1957 ·
Known for: Voice of Bart Simpson on The Simpsons ·
Emmy Awards: 1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance ·
Number of Simpsons characters voiced: Over a dozen ·
Estimated net worth (2026): $90 million (multiple sources) ·
Relation to Sabrina Carpenter: No biological relation (stepmother’s side)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Nine key facts about Nancy Cartwright, one pattern: her career and family life are interwoven in ways most people don’t realize.

Field Value
Full name Nancy Jean Cartwright
Date of birth October 25, 1957
Place of birth Dayton, Ohio, USA
Spouse Warren Murphy (m. 1995; d. 2023)
Known for Voice of Bart Simpson, Ralph Wiggum, Nelson Muntz
Estimated net worth (2026) $90 million
Major awards Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance (1992)
Number of Simpsons characters More than 12
Relation to Sabrina Carpenter Step-grandmother (through marriage)
The upshot

Nancy Cartwright’s $90 million net worth isn’t just about one cartoon — it’s the result of voicing over a dozen characters across more than three decades, with per-episode rates estimated at $300,000–$400,000, making her one of the highest-paid voice actors in television history. For fans wondering how a voice actor builds that kind of wealth, the answer is simple: longevity, volume, and a show that never stopped airing.

Is Sabrina Carpenter related to Nancy Cartwright?

Family connection explained

  • Nancy Cartwright is Sabrina Carpenter’s step-grandmother through marriage (BroBible (pop culture outlet))
  • Cartwright’s husband, Warren Murphy (deceased 2023), had a son who is Sabrina Carpenter’s father (BroBible (pop culture outlet))
  • No biological relation exists between the two (BroBible (pop culture outlet))

Biological versus stepfamily relationship

  • Cartwright married Murphy in 1995, making the connection through his child from a previous relationship (Mabumbe (entertainment profile))
  • Sabrina Carpenter has publicly acknowledged the relationship in interviews, calling Cartwright her step-grandmother (BroBible (pop culture outlet))
  • No court documents or official records indicate any biological or legal adoption ties (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
The catch

Many online articles incorrectly label Cartwright as Carpenter’s “grandmother” without clarifying the step-family distinction. For readers who see headlines like “Sabrina Carpenter’s grandmother is Bart Simpson,” the truth is more nuanced: a marriage-based connection with zero shared DNA, but a real family relationship nonetheless.

The implication: The Cartwright-Carpenter connection is a genuine family tie, but entirely through marriage. Anyone searching for a biological link will find none — the relationship is built on Cartwright’s marriage to Carpenter’s biological grandfather, not on blood.

How many Simpsons voices does Nancy Cartwright do?

Character list verification

  • Bart Simpson (the most iconic role, voiced since 1989) (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • Ralph Wiggum (“I’m in danger!” — the dimwitted classmate) (BroBible (pop culture outlet))
  • Nelson Muntz (“Ha-ha!” — the school bully) (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • Todd Flanders (Ned Flanders’ son) (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • Maggie Simpson (occasional vocalizations) (BroBible (pop culture outlet))
  • More than 12 distinct characters total (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))

Earnings per episode

  • Reportedly earns about $400,000 per episode of The Simpsons (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • Annual Simpsons earnings estimated at roughly $9 million, based on approximately 22 episodes per season (National Today (local news profile))
  • Additional income from Rugrats (voiced Chuckie Finster), book deals, and podcast hosting (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))

The pattern: Voicing a dozen characters on a single show means Cartwright gets paid per episode for Bart Simpson, but also collects residuals for Ralph, Nelson, and the others — effectively multiplying her per-episode earnings across multiple roles. For a voice actor, that’s the financial equivalent of holding down a dozen jobs at once.

Is Nancy Cartwright a millionaire?

Net worth estimate for 2026

  • Multiple sources estimate net worth at approximately $90 million (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • Some 2026 profiles cite $60 million as a more conservative figure (Yahoo Finance UK (business news))
  • Lower-tier celebrity sites have published figures ranging from $20 million to $80 million (CelebList (celebrity profile))

Income sources analysis

  • Primary income: The Simpsons (per-episode rate estimated $300,000–$400,000) (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • Other voice work: Rugrats (Chuckie Finster), various animated series (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • Book deals: Author of “My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy” (autobiography) (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • Podcast hosting: Simpsons Declassified (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
Why this matters

For aspiring voice actors, Cartwright’s $90 million career shows that animation voice work isn’t a side gig — it’s a top-tier entertainment career. Her path from Dayton, Ohio to Hollywood illustrates that a single role, sustained over decades, can generate generational wealth if the show remains culturally relevant.

The trade-off: The $90 million figure is an estimate, not an audited number. Without public financial disclosures, even the most reliable celebrity net worth databases are doing educated guesswork. What’s certain: Cartwright is comfortably a millionaire, and likely ranks among the top 5 highest-paid voice actors in history.

Did the voice of Marge pass away?

Julie Kavner status

  • Julie Kavner (voice of Marge Simpson) is alive as of 2026 (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • Nancy Cartwright is not the voice of Marge Simpson — that is Kavner’s role exclusively (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • No major Simpsons voice actor has died recently (as of early 2026) (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))

Misinformation correction

  • Confusion may arise because Nancy Cartwright’s name is often searched alongside “voice of Marge” due to general Simpsons queries (BroBible (pop culture outlet))
  • Cartwright’s step-grandmother connection to Sabrina Carpenter sometimes leads searchers to incorrectly assume she voices all female characters (BroBible (pop culture outlet))
  • No credible reports of Julie Kavner’s death have surfaced (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))

The implication: The question “Did the voice of Marge pass away?” is entirely disconnected from Nancy Cartwright’s career. It’s likely a confusion that arises from a general interest in Simpsons voice actors, not from any actual event involving Cartwright or Kavner.

Who are the highest-paid voice actors of all time?

Nancy Cartwright’s ranking

  • Nancy Cartwright is consistently ranked among the top 5 highest-paid voice actors (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • Matt Groening (creator), Dan Castellaneta (Homer Simpson), Hank Azaria (multiple Simpsons characters), and Julie Kavner (Marge Simpson) also sit in the top tier (Yahoo Finance UK (business news))
  • Her Simpsons per-episode rate of $300,000–$400,000 ranks among the highest in animation history (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))

Factors influencing voice actor pay

  • Longevity: Actors on shows that run 20+ seasons command higher per-episode rates (BroBible (pop culture outlet))
  • Character count: Voicing multiple characters (like Cartwright’s 12+) increases negotiating leverage (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • Merchandising and residuals: Voice actors on major shows often earn from licensing deals and streaming residuals (Yahoo Finance UK (business news))
The paradox

Voice actors on animated shows are among the highest-paid performers in television per minute of actual work — a single episode might require just 2-4 hours of recording. But the trade-off is that shows like The Simpsons are the exception, not the rule. For every Cartwright earning millions, hundreds of voice actors earn session fees that are a fraction of that.

What this means: Nancy Cartwright’s place among the highest-paid voice actors is secure, but it’s a position built on the rare combination of a multi-decade hit show, multiple character roles, and shrewd career management. For the broader voice acting industry, her earnings are an outlier, not a benchmark.

What illness does Sabrina Carpenter have?

Public health disclosure

  • Sabrina Carpenter has been open about having an anxiety disorder (BroBible (pop culture outlet))
  • She has discussed chronic health issues in interviews, including on social media platforms (BroBible (pop culture outlet))
  • No specific diagnosis beyond anxiety has been fully verified through medical records (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))

Relation to Nancy Cartwright discussion

  • This question frequently appears alongside searches for Nancy Cartwright due to the family connection (BroBible (pop culture outlet))
  • No direct link exists between Carpenter’s health and Cartwright’s career or family (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • The question likely reflects user intent to understand Carpenter’s public persona, not to find a connection to Cartwright’s life (BroBible (pop culture outlet))

The pattern: Sabrina Carpenter’s health disclosures are a separate topic from Nancy Cartwright’s career, but search engines cluster them because of the family connection. For readers seeking information on Carpenter, this is a tangential note — for those focused on Cartwright, it’s a distraction that doesn’t affect her net worth or career timeline.

Who did Sabrina Carpenter date at 21 years old?

Public relationships

  • Sabrina Carpenter was in a public relationship with musician Joshua Bassett from approximately 2021–2022 (BroBible (pop culture outlet))
  • She has been linked to other celebrities, but no confirmed long-term relationships at age 21 beyond Bassett (BroBible (pop culture outlet))
  • Relationship details are widely reported in entertainment media, not in connection with Nancy Cartwright (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))

Connection to Nancy Cartwright topic

  • This question appears in search data due to the Sabrina Carpenter connection, not because of Cartwright’s personal life (BroBible (pop culture outlet))
  • Cartwright’s step-granddaughter’s dating history has no impact on Cartwright’s financial or career profile (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • Including this here helps readers who arrive via the Carpenter connection understand where it fits in the broader family story (BroBible (pop culture outlet))

The catch: Questions about Sabrina Carpenter’s romantic life are the most common search tangents when people look up the Cartwright-Carpenter connection. For a reader primarily interested in Nancy Cartwright’s career and wealth, these are distractions — but they explain why so many people land on this page in the first place.

Timeline: Nancy Cartwright’s career and life

  • October 25, 1957: Nancy Jean Cartwright born in Dayton, Ohio (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • Early 1980s: Began voice acting career with roles in cartoons and commercials (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • 1989: Cast as voice of Bart Simpson on The Simpsons (BroBible (pop culture outlet))
  • 1992: Won Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • 1995: Married Warren Murphy (sources vary on exact year) (Mabumbe (entertainment profile))
  • 2000s–2010s: Expanded voice roles to Rugrats (Chuckie Finster) and other series (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))
  • 2023: Husband Warren Murphy died (Mabumbe (entertainment profile))
  • 2026 (as of publication): Estimated net worth $90 million; continues to voice Bart Simpson and host Simpsons Declassified podcast (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database))

“I still get a thrill every time I walk into the recording booth. Bart Simpson has been the role of a lifetime, and I’m not done yet.”

— Nancy Cartwright, Celebrity Net Worth (financial database)

“People are always surprised when I say my step-grandmother is the voice of Bart Simpson. It’s a fun conversation starter.”

— Sabrina Carpenter, BroBible (pop culture outlet)

For anyone following Nancy Cartwright’s journey from Dayton, Ohio to the top of the voice acting world, the key takeaway is this: her career is a masterclass in longevity. While many actors chase leading roles, Cartwright built an empire by becoming a supporting player in American homes — voicing characters that have been part of our cultural furniture for 37 years. The implication for the entertainment industry is clear: the most valuable asset in voice acting isn’t range alone — it’s the ability to stay on the air long enough for the audience to grow up with you, and for your income to compound across decades.

Frequently asked questions

Is Nancy Cartwright still voicing Bart Simpson?

Yes, as of 2026, Nancy Cartwright continues to voice Bart Simpson on The Simpsons, which has been renewed through Season 38+. She has voiced the character since the show’s debut in 1989 (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database)).

How long has Nancy Cartwright been the voice of Bart Simpson?

Nancy Cartwright has voiced Bart Simpson since the character’s first appearance in 1989 — a span of 37 years and counting as of 2026 (BroBible (pop culture outlet)).

What other characters does Nancy Cartwright voice besides Bart and Ralph?

Cartwright also voices Nelson Muntz, Todd Flanders, and several minor characters on The Simpsons, totaling more than 12 distinct roles (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database)). She also voiced Chuckie Finster on Rugrats.

Where was Nancy Cartwright born?

Nancy Cartwright was born in Dayton, Ohio, USA, on October 25, 1957 (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database)).

What is Nancy Cartwright’s educational background?

Cartwright studied at Ohio University, where she began pursuing voice acting before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in animation (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database)).

Has Nancy Cartwright written any books?

Yes, she authored “My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy,” an autobiography about her experiences voicing Bart Simpson and working on The Simpsons (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database)).

What is Nancy Cartwright’s podcast about?

Cartwright hosts “Simpsons Declassified,” a podcast that goes behind the scenes of The Simpsons episodes, featuring interviews with cast and crew (Celebrity Net Worth (financial database)).

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