'The Simpsons' Voice Actor Pamela Hayden Retiring After 35 Years

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A longtime Simpsons voice actor is retiring.

Pamela Hayden, who has voiced Bart’s friend Milhouse Van Houten — and dozens more characters — for the past 35 years, is departing the long-running Fox series. Hayden has been credited on just under 700 of The Simpsons‘ 774 episodes to date.

In addition to Milhouse, Hayden has provided the voices for Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders (and occasionally his brother Todd), Malibu Stacy, Lisa’s classmate Janey, and many other recurring and one-time characters.

“The time has come for me to hang up my microphone, but how do I say goodbye to The Simpsons? Not easily,” Hayden said in a statement. “It’s been an honor 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.”

Milhouse first appeared in a Butterfinger ad in 1989 — when The Simpsons was still a series of shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show — and has been part of the series since its first episode, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire.”

“Pamela’s talent and joy and love for her characters has added a magic to The Simpsons that will never be forgotten,” said showrunner and executive producer Matt Selman. “Everything’s coming up Pamela!”

Added Simpsons creator Matt Groening, “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.” Executive producer James L. Brooks said, “She is a model for having a great spirit for every cast she has been a part of. We will miss her.”

The Simpsons will begin casting for Hayden’s characters in the near future. A tribute to Hayden’s work on the show is below.

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