As a lifelong fan of The Simpsons, I have grown up with the characters, and they hold a special place in my heart. Milhouse Van Houten, voiced by the talented Pamela Hayden, was one of those characters that made me laugh, cringe, and empathize throughout the years. Her retirement from the show is bittersweet; it’s sad to see her go, but I am grateful for the memories she has given us.
Following a span of 35 years, one of the dearest cast members from The Simpsons is preparing to depart. Initially introduced as part of the ensemble on The Tracey Ullman Show, the family of characters for The Simpsons has expanded over the years, with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie being the initial figures. Among these additions was Milhouse Van Houten, a cherished friend to Bart, who first appeared in a Butterfinger commercial before joining the main series. Known for his role as the straight-laced companion to Bart’s rebellious character, many memorable lines from the show can be attributed to Milhouse and his voice actress, Pamela Hayden. However, even the most enduring things eventually reach their conclusion.
Pamela Hayden has announced her retirement from “The Simpsons,” as reported by Deadline. Although she is most recognized for voicing Milhouse Van Houten, she has also lent her voice to numerous other memorable characters in the show, including bullies like Jimbo Jones and Ned Flander’s son Rod, among others. Hayden’s final appearance will be in “Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes,” which is scheduled to air on November 24, 2024. As a tribute to Pamela Hayden’s work on “The Simpsons,” Fox’s Animation Domination YouTube channel shared a special video farewell (check it out below).
Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, shared with Deadline that “Pamela brought countless laughs to Milhouse, the clumsy kid with an oversized nose in Springfield. She made Milhouse both funny and relatable, and we will deeply miss her.” James L Brooks, Executive Producer of The Simpsons, also expressed his sentiments, saying “She was a shining example of positivity for every cast she worked with. We will remember her fondly.” Upon the announcement, Hayden merely stated, “That blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses will always hold a special place in my heart.
Thanks For Being a Friend, Milhouse
The exit of Hayden from “The Simpsons” is one of numerous significant changes in the show’s cast over recent times. In 2013, Marcia Wallace, the voice actress behind Edna Krabappel, passed away, and the character was retired. In 2019, Russi Taylor, who was renowned for voicing Martin Prince, died, and Grey DeLisle stepped into the role, as well as other parts previously played by Taylor. In June 2020, “The Simpsons” announced that white actors would no longer voice Black characters, leading to Kevin Michael Richardson replacing Harry Shearer as Dr. Hibbert and Alex Désert taking over Carl’s role from Hank Azaria. It remains uncertain whether 20th Century Television and Disney will choose to retire or recast characters like Milhouse in the future.
The long-running animated series, “The Simpsons”, is now on its 36th season and shows no signs of stopping. Since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019, “The Simpsons” has played a significant role in Disney+ specials. However, the departure of Hayden from the series has sparked concerns among fans about the original voice cast’s longevity. Some fans have expressed worry over the vocal health of Julie Kavner, who voices Marge Simpson, especially in later seasons. As with any long-running show, there will come a day when the current voice actors can no longer continue – will that be the end for “The Simpsons”, or will it carry on with new voice actors? Could it be that “The Simpsons” actually foresaw its own future in the episode “Gump Roast,” where they sang “They’ll Never Stop the Simpsons”?
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2024-11-21 00:33