Pamela Hayden farewells The Simpsons
Pamela Hayden has voiced Milhouse Van Houten for the past 35 years.
- Published by David Knox
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Pamela Hayden, who has voiced Milhouse Van Houten — and dozens more characters — for the past 35 years has quit the show.
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.”
“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!”
Creator Matt Groening added, “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 recasting voice actors in the near future.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
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4 Responses
Writing Millhouse out of the show – who’s been there from the very start – would certainly make for a more interesting storyline than how they killed off barfly Larry earlier this year.
But overall, I think The Simpsons as a whole should come to an end fairly soon. At least before one of their main six voices inevitably decide to call it quits (or heaven forbid, die), because you couldn’t really imagine the show without Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria or Harry Shearer doing their iconic characters!
Yes what happens when one of the big voice cast decided to leave? Does re show end, or do they recast it with someone else?
Have they got enough stock recordings that they can use technology to animate without actually having to record with someone new?
Evidently not, considering that they haven’t had the forethought to include additional scenes of most of the actors who have passed away (particularly noteworthy is Marcia Wallace as Mrs Krabappel). In most instances, any archival recordings are comprised of those that the audience have already previously heard.
In theory, I’m sure there’s an abundance of deleted scenes that they could repurpose/recontextualise for brief appearances at least, but it won’t be feasible for longterm use, and I think it will be painfully obvious that unrelated lines are being stitched together for the sake of including a deceased actor, similar to what they had done with Carrie Fisher in her last Star Wars film.
I think the producers are completely insane if they do not have a series finale already recorded just in case one of the principal actors dies while the show is still in production (*especially* Dan, Julie, Nancy, or Yeardley). They’ve had 35 years to plan for it!
What an absolute travesty that they aren’t doing some kind of send-off or even a clip show episode showcasing Hayden’s finest moments.
They also would have known for a while that she was leaving as her final appearance will be in an episode that was a production holdover from the previous season.
While her other characters are fair game, I don’t think Milhouse should be recast. They should have farewelled Hayden by sending Milhouse (and the Van Houtens) off into the sunset with an emotional farewell between him and Bart.
Surely they can get Hayden back one last time for such a send-off, but I won’t hold my breath if they’re so eager to recast her this late into the game.
Thanks for all of the laughs, Pamela.
“I’m gonna miss you, spit brother.”
“I’m gonna miss *you*, spit brother.”
While The Simpsons we loved hasn’t been with us in over two decades, it well and truly feels like the beginning of a long, long overdue end.