Watch: 'Simpsons' EP Clarifies Marge Simpson's Fate After Shocking DeathMarge Simpson is officially back from the dead. Several months after The Simpsons shocked fans by killing off the long-running animated comedy's beloved matriarch during a flash-forward, the character made her highly anticipated return to the Fox series on the season 37 premiere. The Sept. 28 episode saw Marge attempting to connect with Lisa Simpson by showing her daughter her favorite old school TV series Keagan's Pond, a Dawson's Creek-style teen drama. The trip down memory lane inspired Marge to unpack and dust off her old '90s clothes, which Lisa used to give her wardrobe a trendy retro update. At school, Lisa quickly became recognized as Springfield Elementary's most stylish student and she was even taken in by a group of popular fashionista classmates. But after the clique concocted a plan to steal vintage clothes from all the moms in Springfield, Lisa realized her new friends were bad news. Thankfully, Marge swooped in to save Lisa from the illegal activities, bringing the mother-daughter duo ever closer than before.photos2025 TV Premiere DatesAs regretful Lisa told her mom, "I'm so sorry mom. You just wanted to bond with me and I ruined it. I'm such a terrible daughter." And although Lisa was grounded for her misbehavior, it ultimately proved to be a teachable moment for the twosome. As Marge assured Lisa, quoting a line from Keagan's Pond, "Remember: I'm with you for the long haul. As long as there's a pond and a ladder, I'll be there."FOXMarge's heartwarming homecoming was surely a relief to viewers who panicked over the character's death in the season 36 finale. In the episode "Estranger Things," which aired May 18, Marge's worst fear came true when her eldest kids Bart and Lisa grew apart and the matriarch (voiced by Julie Kavner) envisioned the family's future, during which they eventually reunite to care for an aging Homer, delighting Marge, who watched from heaven. After Marge's shocking fate was revealed, the show's executive producer Matt Selman did some damage control by assuring fans that she wasn't gone for good.FOX"Obviously since The Simpsons future episodes are all speculative fantasies, they're all different every time," Selman told Variety in an interview published June 26. "Marge will probably never be dead ever again. The only place Marge is dead is in one future episode that aired six weeks ago." However, the public outcry was actually encouraging to Selman. "I guess this speaks to the fact that people care about Marge," he added. "At the end of the day, it's probably good for business even when these ridiculous, misleading stories go viral!" The Simpsons airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on Fox. In the meantime, keep reading for real-life actors who made shocking exits from their hit TV shows.
Virginia Sherwood/NBCMehcad Brooks, Law & OrderMehcad Brooks shocked fans in 2025 when it was revealed he was leaving the NBC crime drama ahead of season 25. Brooks, who joined the show in 2022, portrayed Detective Jalen Shaw for three seasons.
BravoJax Taylor, The ValleyJax Taylor announced he will not be returning to The Valley for season three amid growing concern from fans about his behavior during the show's second season. "Right now, my focus needs to be on my sobriety, my mental health, and coparenting," the Bravo star-who is embroiled in a nasty divorce from estranged wife Brittany Cartwright-shared in July 2025. "Taking this time is necessary for me to become the best version of myself-especially for our son, Cruz."Mike Coppola/NBC via Getty ImagesMichael Longfellow, Emil Wakim & Devon Walker, Saturday Night LiveThe Saturday Night Live stars all announced within days of each other that they would not be returning for the sketch comedy series' 51st season. Longfellow and Walker each spent three seasons on SNL while Wakim exited after just one season.
Todd Williamson/NBCHeidi Gardner & Ego Nwodim, Saturday Night LiveWeeks after Longfellow, Walker and Wakim left SNL, longtime fan-favorites Gardner and Nwodim also confirmed they would not be returning for season 51 after eight and seven seasons, respectively.
Disney/Bahareh RitterSofia Mattsson, General HospitalSofia Mattsson exited the long-running soap opera in summer 2025 after seven years playing Sasha Gilmore. Her character left Port Charles for Paris.HBO Max/Warrick PageTracy Ifeachor, The PittThe Pitt star Tracy Ifeachor walked away from the hit HBO Max series after the medical drama's breakout first season. "It was an absolute privilege to play Dr. Heather Collins in such a groundbreaking season and piece," the actress posted on Instagram July 10. "Thank you to everyone who has watched & supported Season 1 & shared their stories with me."Liane Hentscher/HBOPedro Pascal, The Last of UsWhile fans maybe should have been aware that the days were numbered for Pedro Pascal's Joel Miller, considering his April 2025 death was quite similar to how it unfolded in The Last of Us Pa