He may be the biggest star this side of Starville, but to his family Homer will always be, well, Homer. A doting dad of three adorable children (Bart, 10, Lisa, 8, and baby Maggie), Homer's often on hand to dish out sound fatherly advice: "If something's hard to do then it's not worth doing." Soft but strict, Homer tries to teach his children right from wrong: "Now son, you don't want to drink beer. Beer's for daddies and kids with fake ids."

Not only a dutiful dad, Homer's also a loyal and loving husband. Homer and Marge were high-school sweethearts. Theirs was a jailhouse romance; they met in detention. For Homer it was love at first sight. Marge wasn't so sure. "She knew I existed. The only problem was she didn't care." But despite her initial disinterest, and her family's unending disapproval ("If you want to paw something fat and lazy, we could get a cat"), the pair eventually got it on.

While courting, the gooey-eyed young lovers use to make out at the local miniature golf course where Homer worked as a crank turner at the windmill hole. It was there that Marge got pregnant. Homer's pa advised him to marry the girl. "Because it's the honourable thing to do?" "No, because you'll never do any better."

It was a no-frills ceremony at Shotgun Pete's. There wasn't even enough money for a wedding ring - Marge had to make do with an onion ring instead. Who would've thought that such mega-stardom could arise from such humble beginnings?

But unlike most members of the high-flying Hollywood jet set, Homer has managed to stay grounded. "Cartoons don't have any deep meaning. They're just stupid drawings that give you a cheap laugh."

And for all the fame and fortune, Homer's tastes have remained much like the man himself: simple. His favourite drink is beer ("My love for you will never die"), his favourite food is doughnuts ("Is there anything they can't do?"), and his favourite pastime is watching TV ("Teacher, mother, secret lover"). And while we're at it, interestingly, his favourite record is 'It's Raining Men' by the Weather Girls ("I'm not gay, but I'll learn").

He may not be homer-sexual, but he is one of us. In an episode in which Bart seems to be going gay, Homer says to his son: "Anyway you choose to live your life is okay with me." Homer, we salute you.