User blog:Liquidbabydoll/Retiring characters

The Simpsons have retired alot of characters due to the actors that provided the voices death.

I really wished they didn't retire characters for such reasons. Troy McClure &  Edna Krabappel were some of the best characters. I just read here Billy (actor) was retired due to Phil Hartmans death even though Billy was voiced by Tess MacNeile.

I know many think it would be insulting to have keep Edna on but they should have. It is not disrespectful to have some one else voice a character (e.g. Zapp Brannigan). I don't understand how it is disrespectful. Better to let the character stay around and be know longer than fade quickly into obscurity. I know some teens who don't know who Lionel Hutz is, that's sad. Sadder than letting someone impersonate the late actor. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.Tess is 63 and the voice of Martin Prince, Russi Taylor is 70. Most of the main actors are over the hill of middle age...