The Simpsons to Recast Milhouse and More Following Major Star’s Exit

The Simpsons to Recast Milhouse and More Following Major Star’s Exit

As a long-time Simpsons fanatic who can recall the days when Milhouse was just a blurry image in a Butterfinger commercial, this news of Pamela Hayden’s retirement is bittersweet. It feels like bidding farewell to an old friend, but I guess we all have to move on eventually, even if Bart and Milhouse can’t seem to do it themselves!


Pamela Hayden, a veteran voice actor for the long-running animated sitcom The Simpsons, has declared her retirement from the show. The creators of the series are now planning to replace her in roles such as Milhouse, Jimbo Jones, and others for upcoming episodes. Hayden first lent her voice to the franchise even before it officially started (making her debut as Milhouse’s voice in a few Butterfinger commercials prior to The Simpsons‘ 1989 full-run debut), and her final appearance on the series will be in an episode of Season 36, airing later this weekend.

In a recent update reported by Deadline, I’ve learned that “The Simpsons” is currently re-casting its characters. It’s still unclear whether they’ll assign one new voice actor to cover all roles previously done by Hayden, or bring on multiple actors for different characters. The transformation starts with Hayden’s last performance in the upcoming Season 36 episode, “Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes.” It remains a mystery how her characters will be depicted for the rest of this season as well.

Pamela Hayden Retires From The Simpsons After 35 Years

Pamela Hayden is undeniably a crucial voice actor within the wider cast of “The Simpsons,” excluding the main family. Over the course of 36 seasons, she supplied the voice for Milhouse and numerous other characters such as Jimbo Jones, bully at Springfield Elementary, Lisa’s friend Janey, Ned Flanders’ son Rod, and countless others. However, her portrayal of Bart’s best friend Milhouse is what fans will cherish the most. As Hayden prepares to leave the series, she expressed a heartfelt message about her upcoming farewell.

Hayden expressed it’s not simple for him to bid farewell to “The Simpsons,” but he must. He stated it was an honor and a pleasure to work on such a humorous, clever, and pioneering show, giving voice to characters like Milhouse, Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Janey, Malibu Stacy, and numerous others. As his tenure in these roles concludes, new voices will emerge to animate these cherished characters in upcoming episodes.

The Simpsons to Recast Milhouse and More Following Major Star’s Exit

How Will The Simpsons Handle This Change?

Currently, the creative team at The Simpsons doesn’t seem to be considering a change in the main cast for now, according to showrunner Matt Selman. However, it’s worth noting that the series has previously replaced voice actors when necessary. The decision often depends on the situation. For instance, characters like Lionel Hutz and Edna Krabappel, voiced by Phil Hartman and Marcia Wallace respectively, were retired after their passing. On the other hand, there have been instances where roles have been recast.

After Russi Taylor’s passing in 2019, various characters she voiced like Sherri, Terri, Martin Prince, and others have been revoiced by voice actors such as Grey DeLisle. Similarly, characters have been recast due to race, with Kevin Michael Richardson replacing Harry Shearer as Dr. Julius Hibbert from 2021 onwards. The new voices seamlessly fit into the long-running series without any problems, and it’s expected that this will hold true for Milhouse too. Given his significant role in the show, it’s unlikely that he was ever meant to retire, but now it’s been confirmed that he’ll continue appearing in future episodes.

HT – Deadline

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2024-11-21 01:39