Hank loved playing the evil wizard

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Best known for his voice work in The Simpsons and Happy Feet 2 and appearances in films like The Birdcage, Night at the Museum 2 and in the popular sitcom Friends, Hank Azaria’s next “role” is that of the evil wizard Gargamel in The Smurfs 2. Hank says his role in the film, based on the much-loved children’s characters, feels special, because of how it might appeal to his young son Hal.

“Hal was on the sets and was only a year old when we were shooting the first movie, and he was just barely two at the premiere. I had him on my lap, thinking he would probably only stand 20 minutes of the film, being so young, but he was happy throughout the movie. He knew me as Gargamel because he’s seen me enough in that get-up and when I would leave the screen he would go, ‘Where dada go?’ It was really sweet!” Hank shared.
As for whether Hank is doing more family-oriented films because he’s a father now, the actor said that was partly true: “I would probably have done these jobs if I didn’t have a child but it certainly made it more attractive — the idea that your child can enjoy the movie some day. You can be hero to them when they are eight. Probably the downside is that by the time they are 14, you are a real dork!”