The Simpsons: Edna Krabappel to be retired following Marcia Wallace’s death

The Simpsons character Edna Krabappel will be retired following Marcia Wallace’s death, the show’s producer announced.

Mrs. Edna Krabappel, the chain-smoking fourth grade teacher with a derisive laugh on The Simpsons will be retired after more than two decades on the show, Executive Producer Al Jean said in a statement on Saturday.

The move follows the news that Marcia Wallace, the comedienne who gave voice to the character, died Friday at the age of 70 from complications related to breast cancer.

“I was tremendously saddened to learn this morning of the passing of the brilliant and gracious Marcia Wallace,” Al Jean said in a statement.

“She was beloved by all at <<The Simpsons>> and we intend to retire her irreplaceable character.”

Edna Krabappel has been a fixture on the Fox sitcom since the second episode of the first season in 1990. Divorced and congenitally disaffected, she would endure a series of romantic and professional misadventures, including getting fired for being drunk on the job and having a relationship with the wholesome Ned Flanders.

In the lead-up to the show’s 25th season, Al Jean teased that an iconic character would be killed off, telling reporters that the actor playing the character won an Emmy for playing that character, which Marcia Wallace did in 1992. However, Al Jean said he was not referring to Mrs. Krabappel.

“Marcia’s passing is unrelated and again, a terrible loss for all who had the pleasure of knowing her,” Al Jean said.