‘The Simpsons’ Rocked By Marge’s “Death”: Did The Voice Of Marge Simpson Die?

The Simpsons took an unexpectedly morbid turn during the Season 36 finale by teasing Marge Simpson’s imminent death, leaving fans wondering what this could possibly mean for the long-running FOX series.

The episode, titled “Estranger Things,” jumps 35 years in the future, showing Lisa and Bart Simpson as estranged siblings who have grown apart over the years. The circumstances surrounding Marge’s death are not addressed throughout the episode besides Lisa referencing her “late mother,” but it is revealed that Homer Simpson is still very much alive and well. Lisa later reunites with Bart to rescue Homer after he gets relocated from Springfield to Florida by Springfield’s Senior Protective Services, all while Marge watches on from Heaven with her new husband, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr.

“I’m so happy my kids are close again,” she says as she watches her family’s happy reunion.

Starr then tells her they’ll be “late for the Heaven Buffett” where they’re serving a shrimp tower, to which she replies, “Okay Ringo. I’m just so glad that we’re allowed to marry different people in Heaven.”

The season finale makes it very clear that Marge’s death could be imminent on the show. But the show has pulled similar stunts before, like when the Season 36 premiere episode doubled as the series finale. But the show must go on, and it certainly cannot go on without one of its most central characters.

Did Marge Simpson’s voice actor die?

No, Julie Kavner is not dead. Marge has been voiced by Kavner since 1989, when the show first debuted. There is no indication that the shocking episode was written to navigate Kavner’s death, but rather to illustrate how Marge would imagine the afterlife in case she did pass away before her husband.

In fact, showrunner Matt Selman has said that he is in “super denial” about what they would have to do if a member of the main voice cast suddenly passed away.

“I don’t think about it, so I’m just going to not think about that,” he said. “But certainly, it’s just if the show ever does a last episode.”

It is also unlikely that The Simpsons would actually kill Marge off the show. Selman previously said before that he imagined the series finale will feature the entire family getting up to their usual shenanigans.

“I just hope it’s just a regular episode with no Winky Winky stuff at all,” he told People in 2024. “Just a great family story, just like a classic story that’s just funny and involves the whole family and doesn’t feel like it needs to wrap up anything or change anything or tie anything up or be magic or talk to the audience directly.”

The Simpsons has already been renewed for Season 37, which is slated to premiere later this year.