Pamela Hayden (voice of Milhouse) retiring from The Simpsons after 35 years

[SoldierofLove]

 

Everything's still coming up Milhouse for Pamela Hayden. The actress, who has voiced Bart's best friend on "The Simpsons" for 35 years, is retiring after Sunday night's episode, "Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes." But Hayden said she has no regrets in parting ways with the long-running show.

 

Given the long lead time that animation takes from concept to air, Hayden's exit has been in the works for a while. Hayden, whose voices also included school bully Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Chief Wiggum's wife Sarah and Lisa's friend Janey Powell, said "The Simpsons" has been accommodating in preparing for her retirement, and the producers even offered to give her a going-away party.

 

"It's just not like anything I've ever worked on," said Hayden, who has also voiced characters on "Hey Arnold," "Pinky and the Brain," "The New Batman Adventures" and "Recess."

 

"The Simpsons" producers plan to audition a new actor to pick up Milhouse and Hayden's other roles. ("I know they won't kill them off because it's a comedy," she said. "You don't want to kill off a 10 year old character!") Her advice to those looking to audition? Make the characters their own, rather than imitating her.

 

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-simpsons-milhouse-pamela-hayden-why-shes-leaving-1236222141/

 

Truly the end of an era