Legendary The Simpsons star RETIRES after 35 years on screens

A beloved member of The Simpsons cast is stepping down after more than three decades on the hit show. 

Pamela Hayden is officially retiring from The Simpsons after voicing an iconic character on the animated Fox series for 35 years. 

The actress, 70, notably portrayed Milhouse Van Houten - one of Bart Simpson's friends. She also voiced a variety of other characters during her time on the show, including Jimbo Jones and Chief Wiggum's wife, Sarah Wiggum. 

In a statement, per Deadline, Hayden expressed, 'The time has come for me to hang up my microphone, but how do I say goodbye to The Simpsons?....Not easily.' 

'It's been an honor and a joy to have worked on such a funny, witty, and groundbreaking show, and to give voice to Milhouse (and Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Janey, Malibu Stacy, and many others).' 

Pamela continued, 'Here's to everyone who made this terrific ride I've been on possible. Thanks for 35 years!!' 

'Be well and happy. My best to you all. P.S. I'll always have a special place in my heart for that blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses.' 

Hayden began her time on the long-running series in 1989 - and her last appearance will be in an episode that is set to air on November 24 titled Treehouse Of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes. 

Executive producer, James L. Brooks, reflected on Pamela's time on the series amid the announcement of her retirement. 

He expressed that she has been 'a model for having a great spirit for every cast she has been a part of.' 

Matt Groening - who created the Fox show - also shared, 'Bart needed someone to talk to in the school cafeteria.'

'We named him Milhouse because that was the most unfortunate name a kid could have.'

Groening further said, 'Pamela gave us tons of laughs with Milhouse, the hapless kid with the biggest nose in Springfield. She made Milhouse hilarious and real, and we will miss her.' 

And Matt Selman - the showrunner and executive producer - added that Hayden's 'talent and joy and love for her characters has added a magic to The Simpsons. Everything's coming up Pamela!' 

According to her IMDB page, Hayden voiced characters on The Simpsons for a whopping total of 694 episodes.  

Social media users jumped to X upon hearing the news of Pamela leaving the series, and shared their thoughts. 

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One fan penned, 'So this is what it feels like, when doves cry,' while another added, 'Wow! Caught me completely off guard! I wish Pamela Hayden the absolute best! Thank you for making milhouse awesome.' 

'She has voiced iconic characters on The Simpsons. She did great voicing Milhouse. Happy retirement Pamela. Thank you for everything you have done on The Simpsons,' one wrote. 

Another typed, 'Thank you Pamela, for bringing one of the greatest sidekicks in TV history to life! My wife and I say "everything's coming up Milhouse!"  weekly! Enjoy your retirement, you will be missed.' 

'I still use "everything's coming up Milhouse" whenever something goes right for me,' one X user shared.

Another also added, 'Wow! Caught me completely off guard! i wish her the absolute best!'

The Simpsons is currently airing its 36th season on Fox, but season 37 has yet to be confirmed. 

For the 36th season premiere a few months earlier in September, it had been dubbed as the 'series finale' - and was hosted by former Simpsons writer Conan O'Brien. 

The episode was titled Bart's Birthday and executive producer Matt Selman told People at the time that the plot had been generated by AI. 

He recalled promoting season 35 and explained that a 'question you always get doing press is what would you do for a last episode of the show?' 

'I always felt like there was no good answer to that question because the show was never meant to end.' 

'It was meant to go on forever. It was meant to make fun of the idea of last episodes and everything we do, every episode is both a first and a last episode of the show,' Matt added.

He also explained that it was 'not a finale, just a playful experiment with silliness' that Selman thought 'really worked beautifully.' 

The producer later expressed, 'You want every episode to be a big transformative cinematic journey.'

'And then of course, no rational family could have 800 of those journeys actually happen to them while they don't get older while 35 years have gone by.'