‘The Simpsons’ Kills Off Long-Time Character After 34 Years

The Simpsons has never shied away from death, with several characters having been killed off over the show’s 37 seasons, and now there is another long-serving character to add to the list.

On Sunday’s (November 16) episode, the citizens of Springfield said goodbye to Alice Glick, the First Church of Springfield organist who has been a part of the animated comedy since 1991. The late Cloris Leachman originally voiced the character before Tress MacNeille took over the role in subsequent appearances.

During Sunday’s episode, Reverend Lovejoy was delivering a sermon when Alice collapsed onto her organ, per TVLine. While Lovejoy initially played it off as Alice being overzealous, it was later revealed that she had died, causing shock throughout the congregation.

Principal Skinner later held a memorial for Alice at Springfield Elementary, where it was revealed that she’d left all her money to the school, with the hope of funding a new music program.

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Alice’s passing came with some questions, however, as this isn’t the first time the show has killed her off. Back in Season 22, Alice seemingly died in the episode “Replaceable You” after an attack by a rogue robot seal. The death didn’t stick, though, as Alice later appeared as both a ghost and as a live woman in future episodes.

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So, is Alice truly dead this time? According to The Simpsons executive producer Tim Long, the answer is yes.

“In a sense, Alice the organist will live forever, through the beautiful music she made. But in another, more important sense, yep, she’s dead as a doornail,” Long told TVLine.

Alice’s death comes after the long-running Fox animated series “killed” Marge Simpson in the show’s Season 36 finale. Technically, Marge hasn’t been killed off, as her death was part of a non-canon flash-forward. As expected, Marge remains a central character on the currently airing 37th season.

Other characters who have been killed off over the years include Ned Flanders’ wife, Maude Flanders; Springfield Elementary teacher Edna Krabappel; Lisa’s musical mentor, Bleeding Gums Murphy; Krusty’s father, Rabbi Hyman Krustofsky; and perpetual barfly Larry Dalrymple.