History DiedDuringProduction / TheSimpsons

* Creator/DanaHill was [[TheOtherMarty originally cast as the voice of school bully Nelson Muntz]] but, due to her chronic health problems from severe diabetes, she was unable to make the table read. Creator/NancyCartwright was cast instead and has voiced Nelson ever since. Hill would succumb to her health problems in 1996.

** Hartman was originally cast as Disco Stu's voice and had recorded lines for his first episode "Two Bad Neighbors". The animators then requested a model change, but Hartman wasn't available to re-record when they were finished. Creator/HankAzaria [[TheOtherMarty filled in for Hartman]] and has voiced the character ever since.

* Similarly, the show retired Lunchlady Doris for many years due to the death of her voice actress, Doris Grau, in 1995; but since 2006, she's speaking again (courtesy of Creator/TressMacNeille), unlike Hutz and [=McClure=].

* In the European Spanish dub, Homer Simpson's beloved original voice actor, Carlos Revilla, passed away after completing Season 11. In Spain, where the show is [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff very well regarded]], this is usually pinpointed as the exact moment where the show started to suffer from SeasonalRot. It's not a vocal issue, as his replacement (Carlos Ysbert) really sounds enough like Revilla that an unknowing person would probably not be able to tell the difference. The problem is that Revilla was also the dub's director, famous for introducing a lot of {{Woolseyism}}s and clever adaptations. Common consensus is that the dub's quality suffered after his passing. Due to the show's [[LongRunners Long-Runner]] status, this has happened with a number of other characters (''twice'' in Grandpa Simpson's case), though none with as much significance.
* In the European French dub, Michel Modo (the first voice of Mr. Burns, Krusty, Chief Wiggum, Principal Skinner, etc.) died of cancer in 2008, during the dub of Season 19. He was replaced by Gérard Rinaldi until his death in March 2012, after season 22. Rinaldi was replaced by Xavier Fagnon.

** Abraham Simpson has ''four'' different German voice actors. The first died after season 8, the second died after season 10, and the third died after season 15.

** Twice with Chief Wiggum. The first one, Eduardo Borja, died in April 11, 2000, and was replaced with Jorge Roldán. Who himself died in June 17, 2020 and was replaced since.
** Carlos Petrel, the original voice of Abe Simpson, died from natural causes in September 17, 2000. His character had to be recast.
** The second and longest voice of Kent Brockman, Gonzalo Curiel, died in March 29, 2020 and had to be replaced with Víctor Manuel Espinoza, the voice of Homer back then, whom had already replaced Curiel in some episodes.

* The passing of Jackie Mason in July 2021 had this impact on Rabbi Krustofski. It is unknown if the character will be retired (being that he passed away in "Clown in the Dumps") or if he will be recast.

* After Marcia Wallace's passing in 2013, long-running side character Edna Krabappel was retired, with the episode "The Man Who Grew Too Much" [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim all but outright saying that she died offscreen]].

* The passing of Jackie Mason had this impact on Rabbi Krustofski. It is unknown if the character will be retired (being that he passed away in "Clown in the Dumps") or if he will be recast.

** Creator/HermanLopez, the longest voice of Otto, died on December 19, 2021 after recording the 32th season.

* Creator/HermanLopez, the Mexican Spanish voice of Otto, died on December 19, 2021.

* Music/MarvinHamlisch played [[YoungFutureFamousPeople a younger version of]] [[AsHimself himself]] in "Gone Abie Gone", airing in November 2012, three months after he'd passed away.
* Similarly, Music/EarthaKitt had recorded a cameo appearance as herself in the episode "Once Upon a Time in Springfield" before her death on Christmas Day in 2008. The episode would end up airing in January of 2010.

* After Marcia Wallace's passing in 2013, long-running side character Edna Krabappel was retired, with the episode "The Man Who Grew Too Much [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim all but outright saying that she died offscreen]].

** [[https://www.npr.org/2004/12/29/4249835/last-laughs-2004-cartoonist-matt-groening According to]] Creator/MattGroening, they thought about having Creator/HarryShearer take over the role of Hutz before deciding to retire Hartman's characters.

* Since Marcia Wallace's death in 2013, long-running side character Edna Krabappel has been retired, with an episode [[BusCrash all but outright saying that she died offscreen.]]

** Similarly, Music/EarthaKitt had recorded a cameo appearance as herself in the episode "Once Upon a Time in Springfield" before her death on Christmas Day in 2008. The episode would end up airing in January of 2010.

** Hartman was originally cast as Disco Stu's voice and had recorded lines for his first episode "Two Bad Neighbors". The animators then requested a model change, but Hartman wasn't available to re-record when they were finished. Hank Azaria [[TheOtherMarty filled in for Hartman]] and has voiced the character ever since.

* In the French dub, Michel Modo (the first voice of Mr. Burns and Krusty) died of cancer in 2008, during the dub of Season 19. He was replaced by Gerard Rinaldi until his death in March 2012, after season 22. Rinaldi was replaced by Xavier Fagnon.

* Creator/HermanLopez, the Mexican Spanish voice of Otto, died on December 19, 2021.

Given how long ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' [[LongRunners has been on the air]], it's all but inevitable that at least some of its cast and crew will pass away in the meantime.

* In the Russian dub, Homer's voice actor for the first 8 seasons, Alexandr Ryzhkov, died on April 16, 2009. Since Season 9 he was replaced by Boris Bystrov, the husband of Irina Savina, who is still voicing Marge Simpson.

Given how long the show [[LongRunners has been on the air]], it's all but inevitable that at least some of its cast and crew will pass away in the meantime.

** Similarly, he was the original choice to play Zapp Brannigan on ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', but died before production began. Phillip J. Fry was named in Hartman's memory and Creator/BillyWest was hired to play Brannigan, capturing a similar smug overtone that would make Hartman proud.

** Hartman also made a guest appearance in the third season cliffhanger of ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun'', but was killed before the resolution could be filmed. The part was re-cast.

* Marge's German voice actress, Elisabeth Volkmann, died in the middle of season 17. She was replaced by Anke Engelke, who doesn't try to imitate Volkmann's performance, but Julie Kavner's.

** Abraham Simpson has ''four'' different German voice actors. The first died after season 8, the second died after season 10, the third died after season 15.

* Creator/DanaHill was [[TheOtherMarty originally cast as the voice of school bully Nelson Muntz]] but, due to her chronic health problems from severe diabetes, she was unable to make the table read so Creator/NancyCartwright was cast instead and has voiced Nelson ever since. Hill would succumb to her health problems in 1996.

Given how long the show [[LongRunners has been on the air]], it's all but inevitable that at least some of its voice actors will pass away in the meantime.