The Death of Mrs. Glick in The Simpsons: A Character Present Since 1991 Finally Leaves
Mrs. Glick, one of the long-standing characters of The Simpsons who has appeared since 1991, was officially killed off in the latest episode "Sashes to Sashes."
In the latest episode “Sashes to Sashes” which opens with a scene at the church, viewers are presented with a shocking moment: Alice Glick — the church organist who has long appeared in the series — is found collapsed on the organ and later declared dead. The next scene shows Principal Skinner leading a meeting saying that Mrs. Glick’s legacy will be donated to the school to fund a new music program.
This loss occurs in the series which has now entered its 37th season — even though Mrs. Glick herself first appeared in the early era of the show, long before most modern fans were born.
Mrs. Glick first appeared in the 1991 episode titled “Three Men and a Comic Book”, where Bart does chores for her to earn pocket money. Her voice was originally provided by Cloris Leachman, then by Tress MacNeille. Interestingly, this is not the first time the series has featured Mrs. Glick’s death: in the season 23 episode, “Replaceable You” (2011), she was previously “killed” by a robotic seal pup, and the closing scene showed her dancing in heaven — a way for The Simpsons to joke about its continuity.
Although the world of The Simpsons is known for being loose in terms of continuity — characters rarely age or change permanently — the series does not hesitate to remove old characters when the story requires it. Iconic examples include the death of Maude Flanders in 2000 and the emotional farewell to Lisa’s mentor, Bleeding Gums Murphy, in 1995.
Debates about what counts as “canon” are also not new for The Simpsons. In the season 36 finale, a future was depicted in which Marge dies, but producer Matt Selman emphasized that it was just one of many speculative scenarios and not a permanent removal of the character — considering the series often plays with alternate realities and fantasies.
The series continues: The Simpsons returned for its 37th season in September and has been renewed through season 40. Additionally, the second The Simpsons movie is in the works and scheduled for release in July 2027. With so much old and fresh material, Springfield keeps changing — sometimes in ways that surprise both longtime and new fans alike.
