How Marge Simpson Returned to The Simpsons After Her Character’s Death

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Marge Simpson is officially back from the dead.

After a surprising move months earlier where The Simpsons killed off a fan-favorite mother character in a future scene, she unexpectedly reappeared at the start of the show’s 37th season on Fox.

On the September 28th episode, Marge tried to bond with Lisa by sharing her favorite show from her youth, *Keagan’s Pond* – a teen drama similar to *Dawson’s Creek*. Revisiting the past also prompted Marge to pull out her old clothes from the ’90s, which Lisa then used to create a cool, retro look.

Lisa quickly became known as the most fashionable student at Springfield Elementary, and a group of popular, trendsetting classmates embraced her style.

Lisa quickly discovered her new friends were trouble when they plotted to steal clothes from the mothers of Springfield. Luckily, Marge intervened and stopped Lisa from getting involved, and the experience brought them even closer as a family.

Lisa, feeling awful, apologized to her mom. She explained that she knew her mom just wanted to spend time together, and she was upset that she’d spoiled it, calling herself a bad daughter.

Even though Lisa was punished for what she did, it ended up being a valuable learning experience for both her and the other person involved.

You know, I always tell people, and it reminds me of a beautiful line from a book called *Keagan’s Pond*: true support means being there for the long run. It’s about sticking with someone, through thick and thin, as long as there’s still something to strive for – a goal, a dream, even just a little bit of hope. It’s a promise to be a constant in their life, no matter what challenges they face.

Marge’s return was a welcome surprise for fans who were worried after the season 36 finale seemed to suggest she had died.

The recent Simpsons episode, “Estranger Things,” which aired on May 18th, explored Marge’s biggest fear: her children, Bart and Lisa, drifting apart. The episode showed a future where they eventually came together to care for their aging father, Homer – a vision that brought Marge, watching from the afterlife, great joy. Julie Kavner provides the voice for Marge.

Following the surprising reveal of what happened to Marge, the show’s producer, Matt Selman, reassured fans that she would return.

As *The Simpsons*’ future storylines are purely imaginative, they change with each episode, explained Selman in a recent *Variety* interview. He clarified that Marge’s death is unlikely to be a permanent plot point, only occurring in a single episode that aired just six weeks ago.

However, the public outcry was actually encouraging to Selman.

He believes the public’s concern for Marge is evident. Despite the spread of false and exaggerated stories, he thinks it ultimately benefits the company.

You can watch *The Simpsons* on Fox every Sunday at 8 p.m. But first, here’s a look at some actors who surprisingly left popular TV shows.

According to writer Bill Selman, episodes of *The Simpsons* that depict the future are purely imaginative and change with each iteration. He explained to *Variety* that Marge’s death is unlikely to be a permanent storyline, only occurring in a single episode that aired recently, about six weeks ago.

However, the public outcry was actually encouraging to Selman.

He believes the public’s concern for Marge is evident. Ultimately, he thinks even negative and inaccurate publicity can be beneficial for the business.

You can watch *The Simpsons* on Fox every Sunday at 8 p.m. But first, here’s a look at some surprising times actors left popular TV shows.

Fans were surprised in 2025 to learn that Mehcad Brooks was leaving the NBC crime show before its 25th season.

Brooks, who joined the show in 2022, portrayed Detective Jalen Shaw for three seasons.

Jax Taylor has confirmed he won’t be back for season three of *The Valley*. This decision comes after fans expressed concerns about his actions during the show’s second season.

In July 2025, the Bravo star, who is going through a difficult divorce with Brittany Cartwright, explained that he needs to prioritize getting sober, improving his mental health, and being a good coparent. He believes taking this time to focus on himself is essential, particularly for the sake of his son, Cruz.

Several cast members from *Saturday Night Live* recently announced they won’t be back for the show’s 51st season, with the news coming within a short period of time for each of them.

Longfellow and Walker each spent three seasons on SNL while Wakim exited after just one season.

Following the departures of Longfellow, Walker, and Wakim from *Saturday Night Live*, Gardner and Nwodim, both popular cast members, also announced they wouldn’t be back for the show’s 51st season. Gardner had been with the show for eight seasons, and Nwodim for seven.

I was so sad to see Sofia Mattsson leave *General Hospital*! She played Sasha Gilmore for seven amazing years, and her character just moved to Paris over the summer of 2025. It definitely felt like the end of an era for me as a long-time viewer.

Tracy Ifeachor, who starred in the popular HBO Max series *The Pitt*, decided not to return after its successful first season.

Oh my gosh, I’m still reeling! Seeing Sarah post about playing Dr. Collins… it just means *so* much! She said it was a privilege to be part of such an amazing season, and honestly, it *was* groundbreaking. And the fact that she’s thanking everyone for watching and sharing their stories… it’s just incredible. I’ve been sharing my own thoughts constantly, and knowing she sees that support… it makes me feel so connected to the show and to her! It’s just… everything!

Even though fans might have expected Joel Miller, played by Pedro Pascal, to die – his fate in the show closely mirrored his death in the 2020 video game *The Last of Us Part II*, which season two is based on – the shocking way his character was killed still came as a surprise.

Pascal, known for also being killed off in shows like *Game of Thrones* and *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*, wasn’t too upset about his character’s fate. He jokingly told *Entertainment Weekly*, “I get killed a lot. I actually enjoy it!”

Following what he called a “wild adventure,” Peter Krause finished his run as Captain Bobby Nash on the drama *9-1-1* with an episode airing in April 2025.

According to a statement to the Hollywood Reporter, the character Bobby Nash was intentionally created to make a powerful sacrifice, as a tribute to the bravery of first responders. The show’s creator, Krause, explained that Bobby’s storyline was designed to honor those who risk their lives daily so others can live.

The decision to kill off a popular, yet troubled, firefighter was definitely controversial, showrunner Tim Minear told Variety. He explained that after eight seasons, they needed to raise the stakes for future storylines, and that meant someone had to die to make the show feel truly impactful.

Summer just got a little less fun.

In June 2025, Paige DeSorbo revealed she was leaving the Bravo series after being on the show for seven seasons.

After sharing seven summers with you all, I’m incredibly thankful for the memories, the supportive community, and all the amazing experiences this journey has given me,” the Giggly Squad podcast host announced on Instagram. “However, it’s time to move on to new things – just as with everything else in life, even the mistakes we learn from.

The popular Netflix show won’t have the French actress in its fifth season, which is set to come out in April 2025.

In an Instagram post on April 23rd, the actress announced she’s leaving *Emily in Paris*. She shared photos with her former co-stars and described her time on the show as an amazing experience full of growth, creativity, and cherished memories.

Before the third season of *The Sex Lives of College Girls* begins, Reneé Rapp has announced she will no longer be part of the show.

She shared on social media in July 2023 that the show *College Girls* brought her to Los Angeles and connected her with many of her closest friends. She added that, after two and a half years, it’s also given her a wonderful community of fans like you.

Mindy Kaling, one of the show’s creators, also confirmed that Renée Rapp is leaving. She shared on Instagram that they’re sad to see Leighton Murray go, but excited to support Rapp’s upcoming music tour, saying they ‘love @reneerapp so much’ and ‘can’t wait to see our friend on tour!!’

After over a year of speculation, Kevin Costner confirmed in June 2024 that he won’t be returning for the final season of the popular Paramount drama, following his departure after four and a half seasons.

In February 2023, Ellen Pompeo finished her run as Meredith Grey on the ABC drama after playing the role for 19 years.

Pompeo shared on *The Drew Barrymore Show* in December 2022 that she felt the need to try new things. Despite already making a guest appearance in May and continuing to narrate the show, she explained she’s 53 and wants to challenge her brain. She compared it to needing a break from daily routines, saying you can’t do the same thing every day, like *The New York Times* crossword puzzle.

Henry Cavill, known for playing Superman and Batman, has announced he’s leaving the Netflix series after its third season. Liam Hemsworth will take over the role of Geralt starting with season four and will likely continue in the role for future seasons.

In an October 2022 Instagram post, Henry Cavill announced that his time playing Geralt of Rivia was coming to an end. He said he would be stepping down from the role for Season 4, putting away his Witcher medallion and swords.

Jesse Lee Soffer, an original cast member, left the show in 2022 after playing Detective Jay Halstead for ten seasons.

Everyone involved with the show has poured their heart and soul into making each week’s episode, and it’s been a truly rewarding experience,” said Jesse Soffer after his last appearance on the October 5th episode of the NBC series. “I’m incredibly proud of my years playing Detective Jay Halstead.”

After five seasons, Damian Lewis departed Showtime’s Billions in Oct. 2021.

In August 2021, Emily VanCamp left the TV show *The Resident* on Fox, meaning she would no longer be playing her role as a doctor on the series.

Madeleine Mantock, who played Macy on the CW’s *Charmed* reboot, decided to leave the show after three seasons. She announced her departure in 2021, calling the experience “an immense privilege” and expressing her appreciation for the “fantastic producers, creatives, cast, and crew” she worked with.

Elizabeth Keen will never learn the truth about who Raymond Reddington really is. Megan Boone, the actress who played Liz on NBC’s *The Blacklist*, decided to leave the show after eight seasons. Her character was killed off before she could read a letter that would have finally revealed Reddington’s identity. Boone described her time on the show as “a dream” in an Instagram post when her character’s story ended in 2021.

The second season of *Bridgerton* didn’t include Rege-Jean Page, who became a fan favorite in the first season of the popular Netflix drama. Fans were disappointed when it was announced he wouldn’t be returning in 2021.

He told *Vanity Fair* that he simply did the work he’d agreed to, and then took on additional assignments. He admitted he wished there was a more exciting story behind it all.

Ruby Rose first appeared as Batwoman (Kate Kane) in a 2018 Arrowverse event and then led the CW’s *Batwoman* series for one season. This was a historic moment, as it made her the first openly lesbian superhero to star in her own show. However, Rose announced she was leaving the role just two days after the first season finale in 2020. In season two, Javicia Leslie took over the role, playing a new character named Ryan Wilder who became the new Batwoman.

Later on in season two, Kate got a bit of a face swap and returned played by Wallis Day.

America Ferrera left the show *Superstore* after its fifth season in 2020, which meant Cloud 9 lost its manager and the series lost a main character. Due to the pandemic, she made a brief appearance in the first two episodes of season six. When season six was decided to be the show’s last, she came back for the final episode to give her character, Amy, and Jonah (Ben Feldman) a satisfying conclusion.

In the fourth season finale of the Syfy show *The Magicians*, Jason Ralph’s character, Quentin, successfully rescued Eliot (played by Hale Appleman), but died in the process. Although the show often deals with death, Ralph didn’t reprise his role for the fifth and final season.

Ahead of the final season, Arrow‘s Emily Bett Rickards announced her exit in a poem of sorts.

Felicity and I are very close, but we’ll be leaving after completing grades one through seven, as I’ve written.

She did, however, return for a guest appearance in the show’s 2020 series finale.

Lauren Cohan initially left *The Walking Dead* in 2018 after difficult contract talks. While she appeared in a few episodes of season nine, her character, Maggie Greene, disappeared after a time jump of six years. Producers wanted her to come back, and when her new show, *Whiskey Cavalier*, was canceled, she did. Cohan returned to *The Walking Dead* in October 2020, appearing in the 16th episode of season ten.

Following Danai Gurira’s departure after Cohan and Andrew Lincoln said goodbye to the show, another key cast member left the zombie series. Gurira, who joined in season three as the skilled swordswoman Michonne, appeared for the last time in an episode that aired in March 2020.

Nicollette Sheridan played the famous Alexis Carrington in season one and became a main cast member in season two. In 2019, she decided to leave the CW reboot before season three to care for her mother, who was unwell.

George Eads left the CBS show in 2019, during the third season. He stated he wanted to focus on spending more time with his family.

Oh my god, the drama with *Lethal Weapon*! It’s been crazy. First, they fired Clayne Crawford after season two, which was awful, and then Damon Wayans announced he was leaving after the thirteenth episode of season three! He actually *said* in 2018 he was done in December, no matter what the showrunners planned. Can you believe it? He’s 58 and diabetic, and those sixteen-hour days were just too much. He even joked that Murtaugh would say he’s ‘too old for this’ – it’s just heartbreaking, honestly. I’m so worried about the show now!

Luckily, the producers didn’t have to worry about finding a replacement, as the show ended after just three seasons.

Ian Gallagher, played by Cameron Monaghan, ended up in jail on the show *Shameless*. While Monaghan decided to move on to other roles after nine seasons, he surprisingly agreed to return for seasons 10 and 11, appearing in the show’s final season in December 2020.

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2025-09-29 03:49