The Simpsons Edna Krabappel Dead At 70

[Ian]

Okay so not really, but ...

(CNN) -- Marcia Wallace, whose four-decade television career included playing the secretary on "The Bob Newhart Show" and Bart's fourth-grade teacher on "The Simpsons," has died, her agent said Saturday.

Wallace was 70, according to imdb.com. Her cause of death were not immediately confirmed.

Wallace starred for six seasons as Carol Kester on "The Bob Newhart Show" in the 1970s and reprised the role in the 1990s on "Murphy Brown."

But it was her Emmy-winning role as Edna Krabappel, Bart Simpson's teacher with the snarky laugh, that may have earned her the most fame in recent years. It was a part she held since the show's premiere in 1990.

"I was tremendously saddened to learn this morning of the passing of the brilliant and gracious Marcia Wallace," executive producer Al Jean of "The Simpsons" said in a statement. "She was beloved by all at 'The Simpsons' and we intend to retire her irreplaceable character."

ean said rumors that the show had already planned to retire Wallace's character are not true, he added.

"Marcia's passing is unrelated and again, a terrible loss for all who had the pleasure of knowing her," Jean said.

Wallace was a regular guest star on a host of popular TV shows in the 1970s and 1980s, from "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island" to "Gimme a Break!", "ALF," "Night Court," "Charles in Charge" and "Magnum, P.I."

She was also a mainstay of TV game shows such "The Hollywood Squares," "Password" and "The (New) $25,000 Pyramid" and starred in numerous stage productions.

In recent years, Wallace also advocated for awareness of breast cancer, a disease she battled herself. Her 2004 book, "Don't Look Back, We're Not Going That Way," in part chronicled her fight with breast cancer.

[SBETigg]

Well, I feel old because I know her more from Newhart and Love Boat appearances. The Krabappel voice work, though more recent, is not what I associate when I hear Marcia Wallace.

[VWL Mom]

Well, I feel old because I know her more from Newhart and Love Boat appearances.

Right there with you Sherri.

Loved her on Newhart and some of her one liners on the game shows were priceless.
RIP Marcia Wallace.

[PirateLover]

I'm more familiar with Mrs. Krabappel. Rest in Peace, Marcia.

[Fangorn]

Edna has always been one of my most favorite characters on "The Simpsons". The episode where she is nominated for Teacher of the Year and travels to the awards ceremony at "EFCOT" is a classic masterpiece.

Marcia Wallace and Mrs. Krabappel will be missed.

Steve

[MNNHFLTX]

I just read this piece of news in the newspaper this morning. She was a wonderful comedic actress on The Bob Newhart Show and Murphy Brown and probably deserved more accolades for those roles than she got. So glad that she won an Emmy for her involvement on The Simpsons, even though I don't watch that show.