After 35 years on the hit animated series, according to Deadline, voiceover actress Pamela Hayden (Lloyd in Space, Pinky and The Brain), who has voiced Milhouse and Jimbo Jones, is retiring.
Hayden’s long journey with the Simpson family will come to an end on Sunday, November 24, according to Deadline. The last episode featuring her voice will be “Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Come.
Besides voicing Bart’s best friend, Milhouse Van Houten, and bully, Jimbo Jones, Hayden has brought life to numerous secondary characters. Her roles include Rod Flanders, Sarah Wiggum and Janey Powell.
Though Hayden may be retiring, these characters will remain; they may just be on hiatus for the rest of the season. The Simpsons, which launched on Fox in December 1989, will now start casting for her characters. This iconic show is set to continue entertaining audiences with fresh talent filling these beloved roles.
Hayden said to Deadline, “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.”
Here’s a fun fact: Milhouse, who made his debut in a 1989 Butterfinger commercial, was named after former U.S. president Richard Milhous Nixon. This quirky detail adds an interesting layer to the character’s history.
“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,” The Simpsons creator Matt Groening (Futurama, Disenchantment) said. “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.”
Al Jean (The Critic, Jean Angel) commented that all the writers loved Milhouse because “most of the writers are more like Milhouse than Bart.”
Another executive producer of The Simpsons, James L. Brooks (Taxi, The Mary Tyler Moore Show) told Deadline about Hayden, “She is a model for having a great spirit for every cast she has been a part of. We will miss her.”
“I’ll always have a special place in my heart for that blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses,” Hayden concluded.
Hayden’s departure marks the end of an era for The Simpsons, a show that has shaped television history with its quirky characters and unforgettable humor. While the voice of Milhouse and Jimbo will be missed, Hayden’s contributions will forever remain a cornerstone of the series’ legacy. As The Simpsons continues to evolve, the memories of her performances will stay alive in the hearts of fans, who will always associate the blue-haired Milhouse with her distinct voice. The show moves forward, but for many, it will never quite be the same without her.