The iconic animated series The Simpsons has officially confirmed the death of a character who has been part of the Springfield community for a staggering 34 years, leaving fans both mourning and perplexed.
A Final Note for the Church Organist
In the most recent episode of Matt Groening's long-running sitcom, Alice Glick, the beloved organist at Springfield's church, passed away during a service conducted by Reverend Lovejoy. This event seemingly puts to rest years of uncertainty surrounding the character's status.
Alice Glick was first introduced in season two, episode 21, titled 'Three Men and a Comic Book', which originally aired back in 1991. The character was initially voiced by the late Cloris Leachman. Following Leachman's death in 2021, the role was taken over by Tress MacNeille.
Executive producer Tim Long confirmed the news to People, offering a eulogy of sorts. He stated, "In a sense, Alice the organist will live forever, through the beautiful music she made. But in another, more important sense, yep, she's dead as a doornail."
A History of Confusion and Robotic Seals
This confirmation has caused a stir among the show's dedicated fanbase, primarily because many viewers were under the impression that Alice had already been killed off years earlier.
This belief stemmed from the season 23 episode 'Replaceable You', where Alice was attacked by a robotic seal invented by Lisa Simpson. Following this incident, she made an appearance as a ghost, strongly implying her demise.
However, the character later returned in human form in subsequent seasons without any explanation, leading a contingent of fans to theorise that her original death scene was not part of the official Simpsons canon.
Fan Reaction and a Pattern of Goodbyes
The latest episode has ignited confusion and discussion on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). One fan pointed out the inconsistency, writing, "This is the second time she's died," while another asked, "Didn't she die before in that episode where Lisa invents that robot seal toy?"
Another viewer attempted to clarify the situation, explaining, "She died back in season 23 with robotic seals, but then a few seasons ago she was alive again for a small speaking role. This time her second death seems to be the main focus of an episode, so this should be permanent."
This is not the first time The Simpsons has written out a peripheral character. In 2024, the show killed off Larry the Barfly, a background figure who had been a staple since season 10.
In response to viewer upset over Larry's departure, Tim Long said, "I'm sorry if some fans are upset, but we really wanted to use Larry's death as a way to show that even the most peripheral people in our lives have dignity and worth."
Other characters who have been permanently written out of the series include Bart's teacher, Edna Krabappel, following the death of her voice actor, Marcia Wallace, in 2013.
