19-05-2025
The Simpsons reveals new actor playing Milhouse...and she's been in a rock band
The replacement for a long running The Simpsons character has been announced.
In 1989, Pamela Hayden joined the American animated series, voicing characters including Milhouse Van Houten, Jimbo Jones and Rod Flanders.
After appearing in more than 700 episodes, in November last year the 71-year-old revealed she was leaving the show.
'The time has come for me to hang up my microphone, but how do I say goodbye to The Simpsons?……not easily,' she shared in a statement.
'It's been an honour and a joy to have worked on such a funny, witty, and groundbreaking show, and to give voice to Milhouse (and Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Janey, Malibu Stacy, and many others).'
Six months on it's now been revealed who will be taking over the character, best known for being Bart Simpson's best friend.
Entertainment Weekly has reported Milhouse will now be played by singer Kelly Macleod.
In 2022 she appeared in an episode of The Simpsons, the season 33 episode, Bart the Cool Kid.
In it she performed the song Two Badges, One Mind in the ep, which also starred The Weeknd and Michael Rapaport.
She began her career as a member of the rock band Private Life, which released two albums produced by Eddie Van Halen and Ted Templeman.
Their son Touch Me was also featured on the soundtracks of both Wayne's World and Gremlins 2: The New Batch.
Macleod then spent a decade with another band, The Sweet Potatoes and released the solo album, Wide Open, in 2021.
She will make her debut on The Simpson's Sunday night's season finale Estranger Things.
The episode's official synopsis teases: 'When Bart & Lisa stop watching Itchy & Scratchy together, Marge fears that they'll start to drift apart… but she has no idea how bad things are about to get!'
However, Milhouse will only have a minor part in this episode and will say one line. He will appear in a scene where he, Bart, and Lisa are all adults.
When announcing her exit from the show, Pamela also paid tribute to her best-known character.
'P.S. I'll always have a special place in my heart for that blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses,' she wrote. More Trending
Milhouse, named after former US president Richard Milhous Nixon, first appeared in The Simpsons a Butterfinger commercial in 1989.
Creator Matt Groening previously explained his origin story, sharing: 'Bart needed someone to talk to in the school cafeteria.
'We named him Milhouse because that was the most unfortunate name a kid could have.'
View More »
The Simpsons is streaming on Disney Plus.
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: Fans thrilled as Netflix 'saves' beloved children's TV show after shock axe
MORE: WWE fans furious as surprise return gets 'spoiled' hours before tonight's Raw
MORE: My 600-lb Life star Latonya Pottain dies aged 40 after asking fans to 'pray for me'
