It's the end of an era. After 35 seasons and nearly 700 episodes, The Simpsons voice actor Pamela Hayden announced that she's retiring. Hayden voiced a number of supporting characters on the long-running animated Fox sitcom, but is best known for Bart's best friend, Milhouse Van Houten.
"The time has come for me to hang up my microphone, but how do I say goodbye to The Simpsons?......not easily," Hayden, who is now 70, said in a statement, via Entertainment Weekly. "It's been an honor and a joy to have worked on such a funny, witty, and groundbreaking show, and to give voice to Milhouse (and Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Janey, Malibu Stacy, and many others)."
"Here's to everyone who made this terrific ride I've been on possible. Thanks for 35 years!! Be well and happy. My best to you all," she continued, adding: "P.S. I'll always have a special place in my heart for that blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses."
In addition to the aforementioned characters, Hayden also voiced Sarah Wiggum; wife to Chief Wiggum and mother to Ralph Wiggum.
The Simpsons creator Matt Groening also spoke out about Hayden's departure in a press release and explained how the character was conceived.
"Bart needed someone to talk to in the school cafeteria. We named him Milhouse because that was the most unfortunate name a kid could have," Groening recalled. "Pamela gave us tons of laughs with Milhouse, the hapless kid with the biggest nose in Springfield. She made Milhouse hilarious and real, and we will miss her."
In a short YouTube retrospective of the character, Hayden opened up about why the character has become so adored over the decades.
"One thing that I love about Milhouse is, he's always getting knocked down, but he keeps getting up. I love the little guy. It's this wonderful analogy for life," she said, before pivoting to the iconic voice. "You put your glasses back on, and you go on."
"Who knew that it would ever become this phenomenon. It's the greatest job in the world," she added.
Hayden will make her final appearance as Milhouse in this week's new season 36 episode, "Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes," premiering on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 8 p.m. on Fox.
Her retirement comes as fans have noticed that some of the voices of the cast members have seen better days, particularly Harry Shearer, 80, who voices Mr. Burns and Julie Kavner, 73, who voices Marge Simpson. In her absence, Fox said that the network would begin recasting Milhouse and at least ten other minor characters that Hayden has lent her talents to. You'll never stop The Simpsons, indeed.
