Entertainment
‘The Simpsons’ Producers Confirm Key Character Has Officially Been Killed Off After 34 Years
If the First Church of Springfield feels a little quieter these days, there’s a reason: The Simpsons has officially said goodbye to one of its longest-running background characters. It has now officially been confirmed that Alice Glick — the elderly church organist who first appeared way back in 1991 — has died, and this time, it’s for real. Executive producer Tim Long didn’t mince words about her fate, telling TV Line:
“In a sense, Alice the organist will live forever, through the beautiful music she made. But in another, more important sense, yep she’s dead as a doornail.”
Alice’s death unfolded in the November 16 episode in the kind of darkly comedic fashion only this show can pull off. During an otherwise typical sermon from Reverend Lovejoy, a loud bang abruptly interrupted the service. At first, Lovejoy assumed she’d just hit an enthusiastic chord — but then the congregation discovered Alice slumped lifelessly over the organ she’d played for decades. Even for Springfield, it was a moment. The episode then cut to Springfield Elementary, where Principal Skinner introduced her to a baffled student body as “a dead lady you’ve never met.” In classic Simpsons fashion, the gag escalated when it was revealed Alice had left all her money to the school, specifically to fund a new music program — a final act of generosity from a woman the kids didn’t even know existed.
Fans might recall that Alice has “died” before. Back in Season 22, she was seemingly taken out by a rogue Robopet, only to later reappear — sometimes as a ghost, sometimes just… alive. It became one of those wonderfully weird continuity quirks the show never explained. But now, producers confirm this is the end of the line: Alice has played her last hymn.
Who Was Alice Glick?
Alice Glick made her debut in Season 2’s “Three Men and a Comic Book,” originally voiced by Cloris Leachman. Tress MacNeille later took over the role, bringing Alice back again and again for gags, reaction shots, and the occasional organ riff. If you’re mourning her loss, there’s one perfect way to honor her: rewatch her greatest moment, the legendary Season 7 bit where Bart tricks the congregation into singing a Bible-ified version of Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” When Alice rips into that rock-organ solo, it’s Springfield history — and now, a fitting tribute.
The Simpsons airs on FOX and streams on Hulu.
- Release Date
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December 17, 1989
- Network
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FOX
- Directors
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Steven Dean Moore, Mark Kirkland, Rob Oliver, Michael Polcino, Mike B. Anderson, Chris Clements, Wes Archer, Timothy Bailey, Lance Kramer, Nancy Kruse, Matthew Faughnan, Chuck Sheetz, Rich Moore, Jeffrey Lynch, Pete Michels, Susie Dietter, Raymond S. Persi, Carlos Baeza, Dominic Polcino, Lauren MacMullan, Michael Marcantel, Neil Affleck, Swinton O. Scott III, Jennifer Moeller
- Writers
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J. Stewart Burns, Michael Price, Brian Kelley, Bill Odenkirk, Dan Vebber, Kevin Curran, Stephanie Gillis, Dan Castellaneta, Deb Lacusta, Billy Kimball, Jessica Conrad, Cesar Mazariegos, Daniel Chun, Jennifer Crittenden, Conan O’Brien, Valentina Garza, Elisabeth Kiernan Averick, Christine Nangle, Broti Gupta, Loni Steele Sosthand, Megan Amram, Bob Kushell, David Isaacs, David Mandel
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Homer Simpson / Abe Simpson / Barney Gumble / Krusty (voice)
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Julie Kavner
Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice)
