RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
10-26-13, 12:58 PM
#1
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RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
http://www.thewrap.com/marcia-wallace-dead-70-report/
“The Simpsons” and “The Bob Newhart Show” actress earned Emmy and acclaim for idiosyncratic performances
Marcia Wallace, the star of “The Bob Newhart Show” and “The Simpsons,” died Friday. She was 70 and the cause of death was complications from breast cancer.
Wallace’s blazing red hair and bubbly delivery were tailor made for the role of the straight-laced Newhart’s daffy receptionist on the hit CBS show. In fact, the part was written specifically for her at the behest of CBS founder Bill Paley.
She would remain with “The Bob Newhart Show” for its six-season run before seguewaying into guest appearances on shows like “ALF” and “Murphy Brown,” and becoming a regular presence on game shows such as “The 25,000 Pyramid” and “Hollywood Squares.”
She would also build a second career as a voice-over actress, giving life to Edna Krabappel, Bart Simpson’s cynical and chain-smoking fourth grade teacher on “The Simpsons.” The role, a sublime parody of disaffected instruction, earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in 1992. The show’s executive producer Al Jean said Saturday that the character would be retired out of deference to Wallace’s death.
Wallace’s career began with a semi-regular stint on the “Merv Griffin Show,” and also involved successful forays on the New York and Los Angeles state where she appeared in productions of “The Vagina Monologues,” “Gypsy” and “Prisoner of Second Avenue.”
Wallace was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1985 and became involved in charitable groups involved with treating the disease.
She is survived by a son. She is predeceased by a husband, Dennis Hawley.
Has Mrs Krabapple appeared in episodes this season? If she has, will they still show the rest of her appearances
“The Simpsons” and “The Bob Newhart Show” actress earned Emmy and acclaim for idiosyncratic performances
Marcia Wallace, the star of “The Bob Newhart Show” and “The Simpsons,” died Friday. She was 70 and the cause of death was complications from breast cancer.
Wallace’s blazing red hair and bubbly delivery were tailor made for the role of the straight-laced Newhart’s daffy receptionist on the hit CBS show. In fact, the part was written specifically for her at the behest of CBS founder Bill Paley.
She would remain with “The Bob Newhart Show” for its six-season run before seguewaying into guest appearances on shows like “ALF” and “Murphy Brown,” and becoming a regular presence on game shows such as “The 25,000 Pyramid” and “Hollywood Squares.”
She would also build a second career as a voice-over actress, giving life to Edna Krabappel, Bart Simpson’s cynical and chain-smoking fourth grade teacher on “The Simpsons.” The role, a sublime parody of disaffected instruction, earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in 1992. The show’s executive producer Al Jean said Saturday that the character would be retired out of deference to Wallace’s death.
Wallace’s career began with a semi-regular stint on the “Merv Griffin Show,” and also involved successful forays on the New York and Los Angeles state where she appeared in productions of “The Vagina Monologues,” “Gypsy” and “Prisoner of Second Avenue.”
Wallace was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1985 and became involved in charitable groups involved with treating the disease.
She is survived by a son. She is predeceased by a husband, Dennis Hawley.
Has Mrs Krabapple appeared in episodes this season? If she has, will they still show the rest of her appearances
10-26-13, 01:04 PM
#2
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
I loved her in Bob Newhart and on game shows and the occasional bit parts I saw her in. F cancer. 
10-26-13, 01:04 PM
#3
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
There's only been 2 episodes so far this season, but no, she hasn't.
Looks like Flanders will be without a wife again.
RIP. I always liked her in Bob Newhart, too.
Looks like Flanders will be without a wife again.
RIP. I always liked her in Bob Newhart, too.
10-26-13, 01:29 PM
#5
DVD Talk Hero
Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
Such a shame.
10-26-13, 01:47 PM
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Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
Last month, showrunners on The
Simpsons confirmed that one of the
show’s regular characters would pass
away this year, but Jean confirmed on
Saturday that Krabappel was not one of
them – although Simpsons cast and crew
were aware of Wallace’s breast cancer.
“Earlier we had discussed a potential
storyline in which a character passed
away,” Jean said. “This was not Marcia’s
Edna Krabappel. Marcia’s passing is
unrelated and again, a terrible loss for all
who had the pleasure of knowing her.”
Simpsons confirmed that one of the
show’s regular characters would pass
away this year, but Jean confirmed on
Saturday that Krabappel was not one of
them – although Simpsons cast and crew
were aware of Wallace’s breast cancer.
“Earlier we had discussed a potential
storyline in which a character passed
away,” Jean said. “This was not Marcia’s
Edna Krabappel. Marcia’s passing is
unrelated and again, a terrible loss for all
who had the pleasure of knowing her.”
That must have been a very awkard clarification for Al Jean to have to make.
10-26-13, 04:00 PM
#9
DVD Talk Hero
Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
I was actually afraid of her when I was a kid in the '70s. 
As I grew up, I learned to appreciate her wit. RIP
As I grew up, I learned to appreciate her wit. RIP
10-26-13, 06:45 PM
#11
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Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
Never realy watched the Newhart show, so before the Simpsons, I remember her mostly for her many game show appearances. She seemed like a genuinely warm person. She announced her upcoming wedding on an episode of Super Password with Bert Convy back in 86, and was gushing & happy. Her husband died just a few years later of cancer as well.
And of course, there's her appearance on Taxi.
And of course, there's her appearance on Taxi.
10-27-13, 04:39 AM
#14
Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
I always wondered when this day would come, that cast memebers of The Simpsons would start dying off. I believe the show will go on and on, ending only upon the death of Cartwright, Azaria, Shearer, Kavner or Castelente (misspelled, I know, don't feel like looking it up). If Yeardly Smith dies first, I think they may decide to go on without Lisa.
10-27-13, 06:57 AM
#15
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
I always wondered when this day would come, that cast memebers of The Simpsons would start dying off. I believe the show will go on and on, ending only upon the death of Cartwright, Azaria, Shearer, Kavner or Castelente (misspelled, I know, don't feel like looking it up). If Yeardly Smith dies first, I think they may decide to go on without Lisa.
But jeez, Ned Flanders just can't get a break can he? His first wife is killed off, his Vegas wife ran for the hills, and now his third wife is gonna be retired.
10-27-13, 08:55 AM
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Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
Sooner or later it could happen to one of the core family members...and they might recast or put the show on ice for a few years and reboot it like The Flintstones.
10-27-13, 10:44 AM
#18
DVD Talk Hero
Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
It's been a while since I watched The Simpsons but Mrs. Krabapple ended up marrying Ned Flanders? Last time I watched she and Principal Skinner were still on again off again.
10-27-13, 11:01 AM
#19
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
Yep, she and Flanders got married. She still used her last name though. Two wives down for poor Flanders now. RIP Marcia, she was never my favorite character on the show but she is memorable.
10-27-13, 01:29 PM
#20
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
Damn, that sucks. I'll miss hearing her laugh on The Simpsons. She was great on the Bob Newhart Show as well. I wonder if there's going to be any sort of explanation about the character not being on the show anymore, since she is married to Flanders.
10-27-13, 01:37 PM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
My assumption is she'll pass away on the show. Not really sure what else they can really do since they won't be able to film a sendoff episode with her in it. I'm wondering if the writers are going to scrap the idea of killing a character off this season now since she's passed away as they probably won't want to make light of that now or if they'll just use her passing as the character. Although I guess from the statement from Al Jean she wasn't one of the characters they thought of killing off. Plus her character will either need to pass away on the show or somehow be written off.
Last edited by Mike86; 10-27-13 at 01:42 PM.
10-27-13, 01:47 PM
#22
Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
I don't think they have to do anything as drastic as killing Mrs. Krabappel off, I'm sure we'll still see her in the background of scenes. We can see her, just not hear her. Didn't they do that with Lionel Hutz for a little while? Just show him in the background?
10-27-13, 01:54 PM
#23
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
Eh I suppose they could do that but Al Jean said that they would retire the character. That leads me to thinking that she'll be written off the show somehow. Since it seems hard to do a sendoff show without her in it having her pass away would seem kind of logical. Unless they use clips from the past or just have her up and leave which I kind of don't see happening.
10-27-13, 02:09 PM
#24
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
maybe they can send Edna off having her leave Springfield to search for her true love, Woodrow.
RIP. I remember watching her on Win, Lose or Draw. She was a funny lady.
RIP. I remember watching her on Win, Lose or Draw. She was a funny lady.
Last edited by chowderhead; 10-27-13 at 02:15 PM.
10-27-13, 02:20 PM
#25
DVD Talk Hero
Re: RIP Marcia Wallace aka Mrs Krabapple on the Simpsons
Well, it's not like this is the first death. They had to deal with Phil Hartman's death 15 years ago. And while it's sort of been lost in that time, Hartman was as much a part of the cast as any of the regulars, certainly at the same level of Marcia Wallace. I still remember Troy McClure from such films as "The Wackiest Covered Wagon In The West" and "The Erotic Adventures Of Hercules."
But jeez, Ned Flanders just can't get a break can he? His first wife is killed off, his Vegas wife ran for the hills, and now his third wife is gonna be retired.
But jeez, Ned Flanders just can't get a break can he? His first wife is killed off, his Vegas wife ran for the hills, and now his third wife is gonna be retired.