The talented comedic actress had been a part of two of televisions iconic sitcoms, The Bob NewHart Show and The Simpsons, but it is as the voice of Bart’s hapless teacher, Edna, that she will be immortalized. She will be missed by fans and friends worldwide.
There’s a re-run of The Bob Newhart Show somewhere, probably running late at night. Wallace’s delivery is impeccable and her comic timing is peerless. She was the effervescent red haired receptionist for Newhart’s straight man psychiatrist.
And she would go on to appear in countless shows thereafter, as a guest, shows like ALF and Murphy Brown. But her greatness came with the voice over work on The Simpsons.
As Edna Krabappel, Bart Simpson’s chain smoking fourth grade teacher she won her first and only Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in 1992.
“I was tremendously saddened to learn this morning of the passing of the brilliant and gracious Marcia Wallace,” ‘The Simpsons’ Executive Producer Al Jean said in a statement on Saturday. “She was beloved by all at ‘The Simpsons’ and we intend to retire her irreplaceable character.”
Marcia Wallace had been battling breast cancer since being diagnosed in 1985. She had tirelessly worked for charitable groups to fight the disease. She died one week short of her 70th birthday. Tributes have been pouring in on Twitter. Yeardley Smith, the voice of Bart Simpson, broke the news on her Tumblr earlier today.
RIP Marcia Wallace…from Bob Newhart’s desk to detention w/ Bart to a whirlwind romance w/ Seymour, you will be missed. š #MrsKrabappel
— Chris Hardwick (@nerdist) October 26, 2013
RIP brilliant. funny Marcia Wallace, tireless advocate for working actors. Long live Carol Kester & Edna Krabappel! pic.twitter.com/phiaHb5MLz
— Clark Gregg (@clarkgregg) October 26, 2013
R.I.P the brilliant Marcia Wallace who played Edna Krabappel in The Simpsons.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) October 26, 2013
