If any image sums up the feelings of fans of The Simpsons over the sad death of Marcia Wallace, the voice of Edna Krabappel, it’s this one.
Wallace, 70, passed away on Friday night from complications from pneumonia, news which brought great sadness to fans of The Simpsons, on which Wallace had provided the voice of sassy and man-eating elementary school teacher Edna Krabappel since 1990.
In a statement released to Entertainment Weekly, show producer Al Jean spoke of his sadness upon hearing of Wallace’s death and of the intention to retire her character, although he did stress that Krabappel was not the character that the show’s creators intended to kill off this season when announcing plans to do so earlier this year.
“I was tremendously saddened to learn this morning of the passing of the brilliant and gracious Marcia Wallace,” said Jean.
“She was beloved by all at The Simpsons and we intend to retire her irreplaceable character.”
Wallace’s death sparked a flood of tributes online and sparked plenty of memories of Krabappel’s best moments in The Simpsons, none more poignant than an image of Bart looking sad in the classroom while a ghost-like Krabappel looks out the window in the background.
A fitting tribute no doubt and while her character was responsible for loads of brilliant moments (our personal favourite was when Homer said: “Bart’s teacher’s name is Krabappel? I’ve been calling her Crandall. Why didn’t someone tell me?”) it would be remiss of us not to remember her by her signature laugh…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLNkbRvraho
Rest in peace Marcia.
