13 Facts About Principal Skinner

Principal Seymour Skinner was born on Armin Tamzarian and is a recurring fictional character in the animated sitcom The Simpsons, who is voiced by Harry Shearer.

Principal Skinner is the principal of Springfield Elementary School, which he struggles to control, and is constantly engaged in a battle against its inadequate resources, apathetic and bitter teachers, and often rowdy and unenthusiastic students, Bart Simpson being a standout example.

Principal Skinner is quick to take orders from his superiors, chiefly his mother, Agnes, and Superintendent Chalmers.

One of Principal Skinner's defining traits is that he has served as a Green Beret sergeant during the Vietnam War, where he has been captured by the Viet Cong at the Battle of Khe Sanh and has spent three years as a prisoner of war.

Principal Skinner is quite bitter about the treatment he and other Vietnam veterans have received upon returning from the war.

Related searches

Principal Skinner is a highly skilled combatant, particularly hand-to-hand, and demonstrates his abilities in several episodes.

Principal Skinner often seems weak-willed and easily suppressed, but often will use his military command experience gained in the Vietnam War to get real respect and discipline.

Principal Skinner loses his job along with Edna when Superintendent Chalmers is advised of their romance by Chief Wiggum, after which Skinner and Edna lock themselves in the school with Bart demanding their jobs back.

When Bart Simpson plays numerous pranks on teachers of the school, Principal Skinner reveals to Bart that there was a student who was an even better prankster than him.

Principal Skinner first appeared in "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", which was the first Simpsons episode to air.

Principal Skinner was originally supposed to wear a toupee, but it was dropped because the writers disliked "that type of joke".

In later episodes, Principal Skinner's behavior was based on teachers that Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein had in high school.

The revelation that Principal Skinner was not who the audience had long been led to believe was negatively received by many fans and critics, and is considered by some to be the point at which the series as a whole jumped the shark.