Harry Shearer isn’t going anywhere after all: The longterm “Simpsons” voice talent has inked a new deal with the Fox animated comedy, Fox said on Tuesday.
The deal is the same one as the rest of his fellow voice cast previously signed: a two-year agreement with an option for another two seasons.
The voice behind Mr. Burns, among many others, claimed he was walking away from the show in May. At the time, Shearer had supposedly passed on the same deal, and the roles slated to be recast.
Shearer had previously claimed that the dispute wasn’t over money. But executive producer Al Jean countered that they always let Shearer have “freedom” for other projects — which was the actor’s provided reason for not re-upping.
Shearer rejoins fellow main cast members Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria. The cast have all won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance at some point in the show’s run, which, with the recent two-season pick-up, will extend to an astounding 625 episodes and counting.
“The Simpsons” is the longest-running scripted show in television history. It is currently in production on its record-setting 27th season.
“The Simpsons” is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening and Al Jean are the executive producers. The Gracie Films Worldwide Brand Division develops and produces the licensed content for the series. Film Roman, a Starz company, is the animation house.
11 Surprising 'Simpsons' Deaths That Rocked Springfield (Photos)
Jackie Mason won an Emmy for playing Rabbi Hyman Krustofski, aka Krusty the Clown's father, on the episode "Like Father, Like Clown."
Fox
Maude Flanders died on a 2000 episode of the show, but still makes the occasional posthumous appearance.
Fox
Lisa's sax-wielding mentor Bleeding Gums Murphy is one of the first recurring characters "The Simpsons" killed off.
Fox
Jebediah Springfield died well over a hundred years before Homer Simpson was born, but he's the town's namesake and the star of several episodes.
Fox
Poochie died on his way back to his home planet in 1997.
Fox
The Gypsy appeared on several episodes of "The Simpsons," once turning Lisa into a Centaur, but died while reading Abe Simpson's fortune.
Fox
Grimey died in an accident at the nuclear power plant while trying to prove Homer's idiocy.
Fox
Mob boss "Fat Tony," voiced by Joe Mantegna and at one time Phil Hartman, had a heart attack and died while in Homer's arms.
Fox
Dr. Marvin Monroe was pronounced dead on the show's 138th episode spectacular and even got a tombstone in Springfield Cemetery, but reappeared nearly 10 years later explaining he'd "been very sick."
Fox
The submarine captain torpedoed himself into an enemy ship in "Simpson Tide" and is presumed dead
Fox
Arnie Gumble was killed off on his one and only episode, "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish"; he served alongside Abe Simpson memorably.
Fox
1 of 11
Rabbi Krustofski dies in the long-running Fox show’s Season 26 premiere, but he isn’t the first ”Simpsons“ character to unexpectedly get axed
Jackie Mason won an Emmy for playing Rabbi Hyman Krustofski, aka Krusty the Clown's father, on the episode "Like Father, Like Clown."