The Definitive List Of Simpsons Characters Who Died (Including The Shocking New Death In Season 37)

The Simpsons has been running for decades, a true animated juggernaut that has cemented its place in pop culture history. But even in a world where characters rarely age, the Grim Reaper occasionally makes a canonical visit to Springfield, delivering moments that range from genuinely heartbreaking to darkly comical.

As of December 18, 2025, the list of permanent character deaths has grown, proving that even a show famous for its static timeline is not immune to finality. The most recent passing in Season 37 has once again sent shockwaves through the fandom, forcing us to look back at the most memorable and significant Springfield residents who have shuffled off this mortal coil.

The Most Recent Loss: Alice Glick (Season 37)

The continuity-defying nature of *The Simpsons* means character deaths are rare, making the passing of a long-time background character a significant event. The most recent confirmed, canonical death belongs to Alice Glick, the beloved First Church Organist of Springfield.

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Glick, who had been a recurring minor character since the show's early seasons, met her end in the Season 37 episode, "Sashes to Sashes."

How Alice Glick Died

Unlike some of the show's more dramatic send-offs, Alice Glick’s death was a quiet, yet permanent, moment that occurred during a Sunday service at the First Church of Springfield.

• Character: Alice Glick, the elderly church organist.
• Episode: "Sashes to Sashes" (Season 37, Episode 7).
• Cause of Death: She collapsed suddenly at the organ, passing away mid-sermon.
• Significance: Her passing is confirmed to be permanent and canonical, unlike a previous, non-canonical death in a "Treehouse of Horror" episode. This event solidified the show's willingness to retire even deeply established background figures.

The death of Alice Glick serves as a powerful reminder of the show's longevity and its commitment to occasionally injecting real-world finality into the perpetually young town of Springfield. Fans of the long-running series mourned the loss of the dedicated organist.

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The Iconic, Heartbreaking, and Comical Deaths

Over the decades, a handful of deaths have stood out, either for their emotional impact on characters like Lisa Simpson and Ned Flanders, or for their sheer absurdity. These are the deaths that truly changed the landscape of Springfield.

1. Maude Flanders (The Accidental Killing)

Maude Flanders, the pious and devoted wife of Ned Flanders and mother to Rod and Todd, met one of the most infamously random deaths in animated history. Her passing was a pivotal moment for the Flanders family and a source of guilt for Homer Simpson.

• Character: Maude Flanders, Ned's wife.
• Episode: "Alone Again, Natura-Diddily" (Season 11, Episode 14).
• Cause of Death: She was knocked off the top of a grandstand at the Springfield Speedway by a barrage of t-shirts fired from a cannon.
• Context: Homer, in a moment of thoughtless greed, ducked out of the way of the t-shirt cannon's payload, causing the shirts to hit Maude instead, sending her plummeting to her death. This death was partly motivated by a salary dispute with her original voice actress, Maggie Roswell.

2. Frank Grimes (The Self-Destructive Envy)

Frank Grimes, or "Grimey," is one of the most memorable one-off characters in *The Simpsons*' history. His death is a dark, yet hilarious, commentary on the absurdity of Homer's charmed life.

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• Character: Frank Grimes, a highly successful, hard-working, and realistic man who briefly worked with Homer at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant.
• Episode: "Homer's Enemy" (Season 8, Episode 23).
• Cause of Death: Electrocution. Driven insane by Homer's incompetence and undeserved success, Grimes began to mimic Homer's reckless behavior, grabbing high-voltage wires while sarcastically saying, "I'm Homer Simpson!"
• Context: His death is a fan-favorite moment for its dark humor and its exploration of how Homer’s world defies all logic and realism.

3. Bleeding Gums Murphy (The Poignant Farewell)

Bleeding Gums Murphy's death is arguably the most genuinely sad and emotional death in the show's run, serving as a powerful character arc for Lisa Simpson, whom he mentored.

• Character: Bleeding Gums Murphy, a talented jazz musician and Lisa's idol.
• Episode: "Round Springfield" (Season 6, Episode 22).
• Cause of Death: Illness. He passed away in the hospital while Lisa was visiting him.
• Context: The episode focuses on Lisa's grief and her efforts to honor his memory, culminating in a beautiful, bittersweet scene where she plays his saxophone on a bridge, and his spirit appears in the clouds. This death was one of the first major, permanent character losses.

Other Key Characters Who Have Died in Canon

While the four characters above are the most famous examples, several other recurring characters have had canonical on-screen or confirmed deaths, often to retire the character following the passing of their voice actor or to advance a major storyline.

Edna Krabappel (A Tribute to a Legend)

The retirement of Bart Simpson's cynical, chain-smoking fourth-grade teacher, Edna Krabappel, was a direct result of the real-world passing of her beloved voice actress, Marcia Wallace, in 2013.

• Character: Edna Krabappel, Bart's teacher and Ned Flanders' second wife.
• Context: While no on-screen death was shown, the character was officially retired from the show out of respect for Wallace. Ned is seen mourning her in subsequent episodes, confirming her passing in the show's timeline.

Mona Simpson (Homer's Mother)

Homer's estranged, free-spirited mother, Mona Simpson, returned for a few episodes over the years. Her death was a significant emotional blow to Homer.

• Character: Mona Simpson, Homer's mother and a former counter-culture activist.
• Cause of Death: She passed away peacefully from natural causes in her sleep on the Simpsons' couch.
• Episode: "Mona Leaves-a" (Season 19, Episode 19).

Rabbi Hyman Krustofsky (Krusty's Father)

The death of Krusty the Clown's father, the stern but loving Rabbi Krustofsky, was a major plot point that allowed for a touching reconciliation between the two.

• Character: Rabbi Hyman Krustofsky, Krusty's father.
• Cause of Death: He died suddenly while arguing with Krusty about his career.
• Episode: "Clown in the Dumps" (Season 26, Episode 1).

Fat Tony (The Mob Boss)

The original, long-running mob boss of Springfield, Marion "Fat Tony" Anthony D’Amico, was killed off, only to be replaced by a nearly identical relative, Fit Tony, who quickly became the new "Fat Tony."

• Character: Fat Tony, head of the Springfield Mafia.
• Cause of Death: He died of a heart attack after being stressed by the thought of Homer working for him.
• Episode: "Donnie Fatso" (Season 22, Episode 9).

These canonical deaths—from the recent passing of Alice Glick to the foundational tragedy of Maude Flanders—serve as permanent milestones in the show's otherwise ageless timeline. They remind us that even in a cartoon, life and loss are part of the story, providing some of the series' most memorable, emotional, and surprisingly dark moments.