Last night, longtime voice actor Harry Shearer took to Twitter to announce he was leaving The Simpsons. Shearer is no small part of the show, making his first appearance in the first full-length episode and providing voices for literally dozens of major and supporting characters since. Ned Flanders. Principal Skinner. Mr. Burns — and his doting assistant Waylon Smithers. Otto Mann. Reverend Lovejoy. It's a very, very long list.
But the show must go on, as showrunner Al Jean put it, and many (if not all) of Shearer's characters will be recast. Until that time, let's enjoy Shearer's legacy in Springfield with just some of his most well-known characters.
But first, a clip from Shearer on Inside the Actors Studio:
Ned Flanders
Mr. Burns — and Waylon Smithers
Seymour Skinner (skip ahead to 0:33)
Kang
Kent Brockman
Otto
Rainer Wolfcastle / McBain
Jasper
Lenny
Dr. Hibbert
Reverend Lovejoy