With a show as long-running as loveable side characters such as Krusty the Clown, Chief Wiggum, Reverend Lovejoy, and so many others, there are plenty of great faces around Springfield.
As the show continues, more and more characters seem to away as a means to create drama. In a cast as big as this one, not all of them are going to be revered. Here are five dead Simpsons characters that will surely be missed (and five that won’t). Characters that have died in "Treehouse of Horror" segments or in episodes set in the future are not listed.
We’ll Miss: Sherry Bobbins
This nanny, who is a 100% original creation and not based on any character from a major company, appeared in the extra-musical season eight episode, “Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious.” She was hired by the rambunctious Simpson family as a way to keep things in control and does a great job of teaching the Simpson kids to behave.
Unfortunately, she realizes that some things can’t change and returns home via her flying umbrella, only to be killed by an airplane’s turbine engine. Her character was interesting, but probably too hard to keep around due to the obvious Marry Poppins parody. She may be gone but her lessons of cutting corners to get work done live on.
We Won’t Miss: Snowball III and Coltrane
In the season fifteen episode “I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot,” the Simpsons lose their beloved cat Snowball II. This marked the first time that a member of the Simpsons family had died, making the entire ordeal a significant one. In an attempt to get over the death of her pet, Lisa decides to adopt another cat, Snowball III, only to have it die on her again. Devastated, she adopts another one and names it Coltrane, who ironically dies after hearing the music of John Coltrane.
These cats were not a memorable bunch and were quickly replaced by Snowball V, a cat that looked exactly the same as Snowball II. They look so much alike that Lisa ends up calling it Snowball II and pretends that none of the events in the episode happened.
We’ll Miss: Pinchy
The season ten episode “Lisa Gets an ‘A’” is a pretty good episode centered around Lisa, that deals with the morality of cheating on a test. The B-plot in which Homer buys a lobster is even better. There, Homer plans to fatten it up in order to feed his family for cheap. After becoming attached to the Lobster, he decides to keep it as a pet with the name Pinchy. The two are inseparable and Homer takes it everywhere. Unfortunately, after giving Pinchy a bath that is too hot, Homer kills him unwillingly.
Pinchy’s death was one of the funniest scenes in the series, as Homer cries to himself as he eats away at his former crustacean friend, assuring his family it's what the lobster would have wanted. Pinchy will be missed but at least Homer got a decent meal out of the ordeal.
We Won’t Miss: Mrs. Glick
Who? One of Springfield’s elderly residents, Mrs. Glick appeared as a part of the show’s background cast. Her death was actually fairly dark and a bit ridiculous, as it was the result of a funeral company turning a robotic seal against the senior citizens.
It’s kind of dumb and a bit outlandish but that’s what happens when a show is at 23 seasons. Mrs. Glick was not the most memorable face in The Simpsons. She may have delivered a few funny lines but it is very doubtful that she will be missed.
We Will Miss: Edna Krabappel
This is one of the more sadder deaths in series history, as it was brought upon by the real-life death of Krabappel voice actress Marcia Wallace. Thankfully, the show sends her off in a respectful and poignant fashion, reminding viewers of the good times.
Edna was one of the most fleshed-out ing characters in the show. She was seen having different relationships (“That was Edna Krabappel. You only get one chance with Edna Krabappel,” is one of the best Sideshow Bob quotes), she had wants, desires and an interesting career teaching fourth grade at Springfield Elementary School. She will certainly be missed.
We Won’t Miss: Maude Flanders
If someone’s eulogy includes “She didn’t grab our attention” in any capacity, it’s safe to assume they won’t be missed. Maude’s death came out of nowhere in season 11 in a darkly humorous way and was the result of a pay dispute with her voice actress. While the Flanders family losing the matriarch of their house is devastating, her character is not the most memorable.
It’s a thing with a lot of Simpsons characters. The writers seem to struggle writing women that are not named Marge or Lisa and Maude was a victim of that.
We Will Miss: Bleeding Gums Murphy
The rise and fall of Bleeding Gums Murphy was one of the most fascinating arcs during the golden age of the series. Murphy was an accomplished Jazz musician who served as a mentor and friend to Lisa Simpson. His death came as a surprise and was a downer of an episode, full of a bunch of awful events that led to his downfall as an entertainer.
Thankfully, after his death, Lisa was able to honor his memory in a touching tribute, complete with a Lion King-esque scene where the spirit of Murphy was able to properly say goodbye.
We Won’t Miss: Frank Grimes
Yes, while this man was driven to death out of frustration for Homer’s recklessness. He seems like the only character anyone should feel bad for considering how hard his life was up to the events of “Homer’s Enemy.” Unfortunately, Frank’s bitterness makes him an unlikeable character, especially when compared to the delightfully wonderful Homer Simpson (a sentiment shared by others).
While his demise proved to be one of the darkest moments in series history, he never presented himself as a sympathetic character. Basically, Frank Grimes was the prototypical incel before the rise of the internet. His son eventually sought revenge on Homer, to equally unsuccessful results.
We Will Miss: Mona Simpson
Glenn Close’s role as Homer’s oft-absent mother is among the best in the series. A radical activist, she was on the run from the law for most of Homer’s life, which of course caused a lot of friction in the Simpson family. Her marriage to Grandpa Simpson was rocky as well, considering he held nothing but contempt for her throughout the series run.
In spite of all this, her love for Homer is so strong that it ranks among the most genuine and heartwarming moments on the show. She found ways to communicate with her son through several means, something that should be celebrated considering the types of parents that inhabit Springfield. Her death is easily the most heartbreaking in the show but her legacy definitely lives on.
We Won’t Miss: Poochie
When a show goes on as long as The Itchy and Scratchy Show, there’s bound to be a new character to try and shake things up. Enter Poochie, a hip dog with lots of attitude voiced by Homer who was meant to revitalize interest in the cat and mouse cartoon. Unfortunately, Poochie is not a great fit for the show and robs it all of its trademark violence.
In his second (and last) appearance, Poochie’s lines are dubbed over with the iconic “I have to go now, my planet needs me” before the announcement he died on his way. He was so reviled that Krusty the Clown had a death certificate shown to confirm that Poochie would never come back. Poochie is a cautionary tale to networks: don’t chase trends or try to seem cool. At least Roy was okay.