Pamela Hayden, the voice behind Bart Simpson’s best friend Milhouse and several other beloved characters on the iconic animated series The Simpsons
has announced her retirement from character voice work. In a heartfelt statement, Hayden shared, “The time has come for me to hang up my microphone, but how do I say goodbye to The Simpsons? … not easily.”
Hayden reflected on her 35-year journey with the show, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to such a “funny, witty, and groundbreaking” series. She voiced a variety of characters including Milhouse, Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Janey, and Malibu Stacy, all of whom became fan favorites over the years.
Milhouse, who first appeared in a 1989 Butterfinger commercial, was named after Richard Nixon, and The Simpsons creator Matt Groening explained that the character was created as “someone for Bart to talk to in the school cafeteria,” with the name chosen to reflect an “unfortunate” one for a kid. Despite Milhouse’s often unfortunate situations, the character remains a fan favorite, with The Simpsons executive producer Al Jean noting that “most of the writers are more like Milhouse than Bart.”
Hayden’s final appearance on the show will be in the upcoming Treehouse of Horror anthology episode, “Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes,” airing on Sunday, November 24, at 8/7C on FOX.
In her farewell message, Hayden expressed her gratitude to everyone who made her 35-year journey on the show possible, saying, “Thanks for 35 years!! Be well and happy. My best to you all.” She ended with a sweet note: “P.S. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for that blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses.”
