The Simpsons Permanently Kills Off Longtime Character After 35 Seasons

Springfield has officially lost another long-running resident. In a recent episode of the beloved animated sitcom, Alice Glick, the First Church Organist, was permanently killed off after appearing on the show for 35 seasons.

The character’s final departure occurred in the Season 37 episode, “Sashes to Sashes,” when Alice Glick suddenly died during a church sermon.

A Permanent Farewell to Alice Glick

Alice Glick, a recurring figure in the show’s history, made her debut in a Season 2 episode back in 1991. The character was initially voiced by the late Cloris Leachman, with Tress MacNeille later taking over the role.

While this is not the first time Alice has seemingly perished—she was thought to be dead in a Season 22 incident involving a rogue Robopet, only to return later as both a living character and a ghost—this death is confirmed to be final.

Executive producer Tim Long confirmed the permanence of the character’s exit, stating that while she will “live forever” through her music, “yep she’s dead as a doornail.”

Glick’s Legacy and Recent Cast Cuts

Following her death, the episode revealed a touching side of the character: Alice Glick left her entire estate to fund a new music program at Springfield Elementary, effectively cementing her legacy within the town.

This cancellation follows another major, permanent character death earlier in the series. In April 2024, the show killed off Larry “the Barfly” Dalrymple, a character who had been on the show since the pilot episode in 1989, in an episode titled “Cremains of the Day.”

The Simpsons continues to air new episodes on Sundays on Fox, demonstrating that even after three decades, the series is still willing to make shocking and irreversible changes to the population of Springfield.