‘Simpsons’ voice actor is retiring after 35 years with the show
“The Simpsons” voice actor Pamela Hayden, who played Milhouse and a variety of other characters, announced she is retiring from the show after 35 years.
Her final episode will be “Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes,” airing Nov. 24.
Hayden voiced Milhouse Van Houten, the blue-haired best friend of Bart Simpson, as well as the school bully Jimbo Jones, Ned Flanders’ son Rod (and sometimes his other son Todd), Chief Wiggum’s wife Sarah and Lisa’s friend Janey Powell.
She has been a mainstay on “The Simpsons” since its very first episode in 1989, and she is credited in 694 episodes of the animated sitcom, according to IMDb. Fox will now begin casting for her characters.
“People come up to me and they quote Milhouse lines,” Hayden said in a video announcing her retirement, which included a montage of Milhouse clips. “People are always saying what a nerd he is. But one thing that I love about Milhouse is he’s always getting knocked down, but he keeps getting up. I love the little guy.”
The video also included interview footage of Hayden from years ago, in which she called her “Simpsons” voice acting gig “the greatest job in the world.”
Outside of the show, Hayden’s acting credits include 2007’s “The Simpsons Movie,” “Lloyd in Space” and “Pound Puppies.” She also voiced characters in various “Simpsons” video games, “Lego Dimensions” and “Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly.”
“The Simpsons” is currently airing its 36th season on Fox.
