The Simpsons has been on air for 35 years, and several of its cast members have been associated with the show since its inception. One of them is Milhouse voice actor Pamela Hayden, who joined the animated series at its beginning in 1989.
Hayden plays Bart Simpson’s nerdy best friend Milhouse Van Houten, and the Springfield Elementary School bully Jimbo Jones. However, the actress has decided to retire from the sitcom.
The Simpsons has officially confirmed Hayden’s departure from the show, announcing that the upcoming episode Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes will mark her last appearance as Milhouse.
Milhouse voice actor Pamela Hayden is retiring from The Simpsons after 35 years
During her long tenure on The Simpsons, Pamela Hayden has played several secondary characters apart from Milhouse and Jimbo. Some of her secondary voice roles include the student Janey Powell, Martin Prince’s mother Gloria Prince, Ned Flanders’ older son Rod, and Ralph Wiggum's mother Sarah Wiggum.
On November 20, 2024, Hayden announced her retirement from the series with an official statement. The 70-year-old actress revealed how it is difficult for her to say goodbye to the show:
“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 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.”
Talking about the fan-favorite Milhouse, Hayden explained how the character became iconic over the years, and how he is an inspiring figure:
“I’ll always have a special place in my heart for that blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses. People would come up to me and they quote Milhouse lines.”
“People are always saying what a nerd he is, but one thing that I love about Millhouse is he’s always getting knocked down, but he keeps getting up. I love the little guy. It’s this wonderful analogy for life.”
Pamela Hayden debuted as Milhouse in The Simpsons in 1989
Milhouse became an important character in The Simpsons when the show premiered as a half-hour comedy on Fox in 1989. He is the smart but sensitive son of Kirk and Luann Van Houten, who is often bullied at school and misled by his best friend Bart.
His name is inspired by former US president Richard Milhous Nixon. Some of the episodes where Milhouse is at the center of the plot include Bart's Friend Falls in Love, Radioactive Man, A Milhouse Divided, Bart Sells His Soul, and Hardly Kirk-ing.
With the exit of Pamela Hayden, the production team will start casting new voice actors for Milhouse and her other characters. In his official statement, series Matt Groening thanked Hayden for her time on the show. He stated:
“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."
James L Brooks, who serves as an executive producer on the series, also expressed his gratitude to Hayden and said:
“I’ll always have a special place in my heart for that blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses.”
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Apart from The Simpsons, Hayden has also been a part of shows like Lloyd in Space, Turbo Teen, Studs Lonigan, Pinky and the Brain, Recess, and Hey Arnold!
Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way, the episode that will feature Hayden’s voice for the final time in the series, will be aired on Fox on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
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