Carl Carlson Traditional Cache

C. Carlton "Carl" Carlson Jr. or "the black one" (as referred to by Homer Simpson as a simpler way of remembering who he is) is a safety operations supervisor from the sector 7G of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, where he works alongside his childhood friends Lenny and Homer.

Carl is a self-restrained organized (although not maniac about it, like was Frank Grimes) employee and likes to call himself "an urban Lenny". It is hinted in the series that he and Lenny may be more than just friends. Carl also attended Springfield A&M University and possesses a master's degree in nuclear physics. Mr Burns once implied that he was a war hero. Carl is an African-Icelandic-American, and a Buddhist with a master's degree in nuclear physics, fond of bowling and drinking at Moe's Tavern. He was born on September 25, 1951.

Carl often serves as a taciturn straight man to Homer and company, probably because of his harsh opinions of others. On one occasion, he makes everyone in Moe's Tavern cry and then turns to the camera, explaining: "See, this is why I don't talk much."