Pamela Hayden, who has been the voice behind the iconic character Milhouse on The Simpsons for the past 35 years, recently announced her retirement from the beloved animated series. She has been voicing the nerdy and lovable Milhouse Van Houten since 1988, when the show was still just a series of shorts on The Tracy Ullman Show.
Milhouse first made his appearance in a Butterfinger commercial alongside Bart Simpson, and Hayden has been bringing the character to life ever since. In a statement to Deadline, Hayden expressed her bittersweet feelings about saying goodbye to The Simpsons after so many years. She mentioned that it has been an honor and a joy to work on such a funny, witty, and groundbreaking show, and to voice not only Milhouse but also other characters like Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Janey, and Malibu Stacy.
To commemorate Hayden’s retirement and the legacy she leaves behind, Fox released a short video highlighting some of Milhouse’s best moments throughout the series. The video serves as a tribute to the talented voice actor and the impact she has had on the show and its fans.
Simpsons creator Matt Groening shared some insights into the creation of the character Milhouse, revealing that they named him Milhouse because it was the most unfortunate name a kid could have. He praised Pamela Hayden for bringing tons of laughs to the character, describing Milhouse as a hapless kid with the biggest nose in Springfield. Groening emphasized that Hayden’s portrayal of Milhouse made the character both hilarious and real, and her presence on the show will be greatly missed.
According to Deadline, Fox has already started the process of recasting some of the characters voiced by Hayden for future seasons of The Simpsons. The show was recently renewed through 2025, which will see it surpassing 800 episodes. Despite her retirement, Hayden mentioned that Milhouse will always hold a special place in her heart, reflecting on the time she spent bringing the blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses to life on screen.
As fans bid farewell to Pamela Hayden’s iconic characters on The Simpsons, they can look back on the countless memorable moments and laughs she has provided over the past three decades. Her contributions to the show have undoubtedly left a lasting impact on both the series and its dedicated fan base.