Edna Krabappel: Voice Of Bart’s Teacher Dies Aged 70

Edna Krabappel, who was Bart Simpson’s teacher in the much loved show “The Simpsons,” won’t be returning to school next season. Marcia Wallace, who was the voice of Mrs Krabappel, died in Los Angeles on Saturday aged 70.

Her son, Michael Hawley, told the Los Angeles Times that she passed away following complications with Pneumonia. A statement released on Facebook by Al Jean, the show’s executive producer, read:

“I was tremendously saddened to learn this morning of the passing of the brilliant and gracious Marcia Wallace,” adding, “Marcia’s passing is a terrible loss for all who had the pleasure of knowing her.”

Jean said that there had been a plan to kill off another one of the Simpsons characters. Following Wallace’s untimely death Jean confirmed that: “She was beloved by all at ‘The Simpsons’ and we intend to retire her irreplaceable character.”

Harry Shearer, the voice of Montgomery Burns, Ned Flanders and Seymour Skinner, also spoke about his grief at the passing of Wallace: “So sad to learn — through Twitter, first — of the passing of the wonderful Marcia Wallace. Sorely missed already,” Shearer Tweeted.

The woman behind Edna Krabappel wrote an autobiography back in 2004 entitled: “Don’t Look Back, We’re Not Going That Way (… or how I overcame a rocky childhood, a nervous breakdown, breast cancer, widowhood, fat, fire and menopausal motherhood and still managed to count my lucky chickens).”

Wallace was born and bred in Creston, Iowa. She traveled to New York following her graduation in 1964 where she looked for work in acting. At the time she wrote a letter to a friend which appears in the book.

In the letter she writes: “I weigh 230 pounds (104 kilos) and have $150 in the bank…. I supposed my ready cash should at least equal my weight, but what the hell, I’ve always had more guts than brains.”

The death of Wallace has saddened many people though it is generally agreed that the producers of the show are doing the right thing and not finding a new voice for the unique Edna Krabappel.