The Simpsons has featured an estimated 3,700 characters throughout its 35-year run so far.
The iconic cartoon first aired on December 17, 1989, introducing us to America's favorite dysfunctional family and the fictional city of Springfield.
For various reasons, actors have stepped down from roles over the years.
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Pamela Hayden, the voice of Bart's best friend Milhouse Van Houten, is the latest star to retire from the animated series.
The Simpsons veteran was part of the original cast and appeared in nearly 700 episodes, alongside Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Harry Shearer, and Hank Azaria.
She also lent voice to Springfield's local bully, Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Janey, Malibu Stacy, and many others.
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Hayden's retirement was announced through the official The Simpsons Instagram account, while she said in a statement: "The time has come for me to hang up my microphone, but how do I say goodbye to The Simpsons?……not easily.
"It’s been an honour and a joy to have worked on such a funny, witty, and groundbreaking show...I’ll always have a special place in my heart for that blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses."
Fox has confirmed it will begin recasting to replace Hayden in the near future.
We take a look back at the 20 characters who have been recast on The Simpsons over the years:
Dr Hibbert
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White voice actor Harry Shearer, who provided the voice of Dr Julius Hibbert and a number of other characters on The Simpsons for the past 30 years, handed over the reins of the iconic animated doctor to a Black performer.
Voice acting veteran Kevin Michael Richardson took over the role in 2021.
Shearer continues to provide the voices for his other longtime characters, including Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, and Mr Burns. Speaking of which…
Mr Burns
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Shearer took over the evil Springfield Nuclear Power Plant owner after the first season of the show, replacing the late voice actor Christopher Collins.
Although Collins passed away in 1994, he was removed from the show in 1990.
If you’re wondering why, well, this brings us onto the next character…
Moe Szyslak
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At the same time, Hank Azaria – who now also voices Chief Wiggum and Comic Book Guy, among others – replaced Collins as Moe the Bartender.
In a 2018 interview with GQ, Azaria commented on the situation, claiming that he didn’t find out that he’d replaced another actor until years after the fact.
When asked why, he claimed he was told by Groening: “He [Collins] was great... He was just a d***. His voice was great, he was just kind of jerky to everyone."
Maude Flanders
I was truly traumatized as a kid when The Simpsons killed off Maude Flanders.
Ned Flanders' wife was struck off after actress Maggie Roswell quit over a salary dispute.
Her final appearance was in the February 2000 episode, 'Alone Again, Natura-Diddily,' before she was replaced by Marcia Mitzman Gaven.
But Roswell was rehired in 2002, after bosses agreed to let her record lines from her Denver home.
Sophie Krustofsky
We first met Krusty the Crown's illegitimate daughter, Sophie Krustofsky, in the 2000 episode 'Insane Clown Poppy'.
She was voiced by Drew Barrymore, but later replaced by Orange in the New Black's Natasha Lyonne, who has gone on to voice the character in four episodes since.
Oddly, though, Barrymore returned to The Simpsons to voice herself in season 34, just a few episodes before Lyonne took over.
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
Conversations about the Kwik-E-Mart owner were sparked following comedian Hari Kondabolu’s 2017 documentary, The Problem With Apu.
The doc addressed various issues with the way the character is written, including the fact that – up until 2020 – he was voiced by the aforementioned Azaria, a white actor.
Azaria revealed he would be stepping back from voicing Apu going forward, explaining that, 'It just didn’t feel right'.
Groening claimed he had 'big plans' for Apu in 2021, but ever since, there's been radio silence on a replacement actor.
Bill Clinton
Former US President Bill Clinton has popped up plenty of times on The Simpsons - well, his character has, in jest.
Multiple actors have voiced the public figure, including Karl Wiedergott, Harry Shearer, and the late Phil Hartman, depending on the episode.
Julio Franco
The series sought the same level of diversity for its LGBTQ+ characters, including Julio Franco.
Previously voiced by Azaria, the show chose to replace the character – who is both a love interest for Waylon Smithers and a hairdresser for Marge Simpson – with a gay actor.
In 2021, it was announced that Julio would be voiced by actor Tony Rodriguez, who is also Cuban, as per the character.
Bernice Hibbert
Much like her doctor husband, Bernice Hibbert’s original white voice actor was removed from the role.
Tress MacNeille, who portrays a number of other Springfield residents including Crazy Cat Lady and Lunchlady Doris, was succeeded by actor Dawnn Lewis in 2021.
Lunchlady Doris
While we’re on the topic of the ever-smoking Springfield Elementary School dinner lady, MacNeille took on the role after the passing of actor Doris Grau in 1995.
Following Grau's death, Lunchlady Doris was temporarily retired as a speaking character, but returned to the series with MacNeille at the helm in 2006.
Carl Carlson
Amid The Simpsons’ push for diversity, the show also recast the role of Carl Carlson, with actor Alex Désert taking over from Azaria in 2020.
Désert previously appeared in Better Things and Becker.
Kumiko Albertson
The Comic Book Guy’s wife, who is a Japanese manga fan and artist, was previously portrayed by MacNeille when she was first introduced to the franchise in 2014.
In 2021, Jenny Yokobori, an American voice actress of Japanese descent, took over the role.
Bumblebee Man
Yet another character previously voiced by Azaria was Pedro Chespirito, aka Bumblebee Man.
The Springfield mainstay was similarly replaced in 2021, with Cuban actor Eric Lopez taking over.
Speaking to Mitú about the role at the time, he said: “[Bumblebee Man] is a caricature of the stuff that’s on TV, which is very big and outrageous and goofy. So I was a bit confused. Because you never know if someone is laughing with you or laughing at you.
“But I wasn’t really mad at it so much. Because that’s how cartoons and animation are. You take someone and you make them a big character. And that’s what makes that character loveable.”
Martin Prince
Next up is Lisa’s IQ rival Martin Prince, who was originally voiced by Russi Taylor.
The voice actor sadly passed away in 2019 and, following a grieving period, Grey DeLisle was brought in as the new Prince. Which leads us to...
Sherri and Terri
DeLisle also took on the evil twins after Taylor’s passing.
The Simpsons writer and producer Al Jean took to Twitter in November 2019 to write: “New episode tonight! Please welcome @GreyDeLisle as the new voice of Sherri, Terri and Martin Prince.”
Artie Ziff
Saturday Night Live veteran Jon Lovitz played Marge’s senior-year prom date-turned-tech millionaire, Artie Ziff. He voiced the character for four major appearances, but was replaced by Homer actor Dan Castellaneta for a brief appearance in season four's The Front episode.
Mona Simpson
Hollywood legend Glenn Close took on the role of Homer’s absent mom Mona Simpson, regularly reprising the role. But she's not the only actor to voice the hippie homemaker.
MacNeille, Roswell, and even Hayden took on the role in minor appearances.
Fat Tony
Fat Tony is famously played by Criminal Minds actor Joe Mantegna, but his busy schedule meant other actors had to step-in to cover the role at times.
Phil Hartman played the mobster in season seven, episode 19's 'A Fish Called Selma.'
Mantegna has reprised the role since.
Bleeding Gums Murphy
Lisa Simpson's tragic jazz idol, Bleeding Gums Murphy, was originally voiced by Ron Taylor.
But Taylor sadly passed away in 2002, so the character’s later appearances were taken over by Kevin Michael Richardson.
Maggie
Nancy Cartwright was responsible for Maggie's baby vocalizations, but in one early episode of The Simpsons, she was voiced by Hester Street's Carol Kane, when Bart is imagining her talking.
Later, screen royalty Elizabeth Taylor uttered Maggie’s official first word at the end of season four, episode 10, 'Lisa’s First Word'.
Topics: Film and TV, The Simpsons, Celebrity
Ellie Kemp