The animated television series “The Simpsons” has once again bid farewell to a beloved character, causing a stir among its dedicated fan base. Alice Glick, the organist at Springfield’s First Church, met her untimely end during a sermon in the episode “Sashes to Sashes” from the show’s 37th season. The episode aired on November 16, 2025.
Alice Glick, a character who has been part of the series for 35 years and 34 seasons, was initially voiced by Cloris Leachman. After Leachman’s death in 2021, Tress MacNeille took over the role. Alice first appeared in the Season 2 episode “Three Men and a Comic Book” in 1991. This isn’t the first time the character has faced death; in Season 22, she was attacked by a wild Robopet but returned in subsequent episodes, sometimes alive, sometimes as a ghost.
However, this time, Alice’s departure is permanent, as confirmed by the show’s executive producer, Tim Long. He expressed that Alice’s legacy would live on through the beautiful music she created, but in reality, she is indeed gone. This revelation sparked a flurry of reactions from fans on social media, with many expressing their shock and sadness at the character’s demise.
Some fans drew parallels between Alice’s death and the death of another character, Larry “The Barfly” Dalrymple, who was written out of the show in the previous year. Co-executive producers Cesar Mazariegos and Jessica Conrad addressed the decision to kill off Larry and clarified rumors about the supposed death of another character, music teacher Dewey Largo. Conrad confirmed that Mr. Largo was still alive and welcomed the controversy, stating that it showed fans’ investment in the characters.
“The Simpsons,” which premiered on Fox in 1989 and holds the record for the longest-running animated show on television, has faced criticism for killing off characters before. In June, the series faced backlash for killing off Marge Simpson in a flash-forward scene during the Season 36 finale. Executive producer Matt Selman defended the decision, calling the backlash “ridiculous” and stating that Marge’s death was a one-time event in a speculative future episode. He argued that the controversy demonstrated the continued relevance of “The Simpsons” and its characters after more than 35 years on air.
Fox renewed “The Simpsons,” which has won 37 Emmys, for four more seasons in April 2025.