'The Simpsons' Shocks Fans by Killing Off Longtime Character, Larry the Barfly

The long-running animated series 'The Simpsons' has stunned fans by killing off a 34-year-old character, Larry the Barfly, in a shocking move. Larry, a regular at Moe's Tavern who first appeared in the show's debut episode in 1989, unexpectedly dropped dead at the bar in the recent Season 35 episode titled 'Cremains the Day'.

Larry, voiced by actor Harry Shearer, was a familiar face in scenes set at Moe's Tavern, often seen drinking silently alongside Homer Simpson and other well-known characters. Despite spending countless hours together at the bar, Homer, Moe, Lenny, and Carl realized they knew very little about their late friend when attending his funeral. "Are we terrible people?" Homer questioned, as the group struggled with the guilt of not knowing Larry better.

At the funeral, Larry's mother, Iris, paid an emotional tribute to her son, revealing his full name as Lawrence Dalrymple. She shared that Larry would often talk about his 'best friends' at the tavern, prompting Homer and the others to fabricate a fishing story to share memories of him. The episode ended with the four friends spreading Larry's ashes at his 'special place' in Serenity Falls.

Fans expressed their shock and sadness over the character's unexpected demise on social media. Many commented on how Larry had been a background extra for 35 years before finally getting attention, only to be killed off. "Really f***ing sad and tragic," one fan described Larry's life in the margins. Others admitted they didn't even know the character's name until this episode.

'The Simpsons' writer Matt Selman praised the emotional storytelling in 'Cremains the Day', crediting the team behind the episode. He also poked fun at the attention given to the death of a relatively minor character. In recent years, the show has revisited several characters and plotlines from its 'Golden Era' in the 1990s, including the reintroduction of the lascivious bowling instructor Jacques, voiced by Albert Brooks.

While Larry the Barfly's death may have been unexpected, it has undoubtedly left a mark on <a href

Key Takeaways

• The Simpsons killed off a 34-year-old character, Larry the Barfly.
• Larry was a background character who finally got attention, only to be killed off.
• The episode explored the characters' guilt over not knowing Larry better.
• Fans expressed shock and sadness over Larry's unexpected demise.
• The episode's emotional storytelling highlighted the show's ability to surprise viewers.