Pamela Hayden will leave The Simpsons and Milhouse Van Houten after 35 years

The Simpsons will be saying goodbye to one of their original cast members. Pamela Hayden, who's the voice behind the bespeckled Milhouse Van Houten, the always joyous Rod (and sometimes Todd) Flanders, bully Jimbo Jones, and others, will be stepping down from her roles and retiring after 35 years on The Simpsons. The show won't be the same without her, but Hayden was granted a standing ovation for her long tenure.

The Fox's Animation Domination YouTube channel uploaded a tribute to Hayden for her dedication to putting life behind the characters and being part of The Simpsons universe. She began the Milhouse Van Houten role in 1988 in a Butterfinger commercial alongside Bart Simpson, voiced by another woman, Nancy Cartwright.

In the one-and-a-half-minute clip, Hayden highlights her time on The Simpsons and what she learned from voicing one of the series' most beloved characters.

"People are always saying what a nerd he is, but one thing that I love about Milhouse is he's always getting knocked down, but he keeps getting up," shares Hatden in the clip. Also, fans are always quoting Milhouse's lines (I used one for my Boston trip this year), so you know that the little guy, Bart's sidekick and best friend, is a legend.

The last time we'll hear Hayden as Milhouse will be in this Sunday's "Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes." A segment will be honored to Milhouse, so this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment retirement announcement on Hayden's behalf. But it's still a heartbreaking one, as several of the older Simpsons fans grew up with her and know her as Milhouse.

In a statement attained by Duff and Donuts, Hayden expressed her venture with The Simpsons after all these years.

"The time has come for me to hang up my microphone, but how do I say goodbye to The Simpsons? Not easily. It's been an honor 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). Here's to everyone who made this terrific ride I've been on possible! Thanks for 35 years!! Be well and happy! My best to you all. PS: I'll always have a special place in my heart for that blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses."

With Hayden retiring, is this the end for Milhouse?

Milhouse Van Houten will continue on with Pamela Hayden's departure on The Simpsons

While it's hard to imagine Milhouse and the other characters without Hayden's signature voice, they will continue to be in The Simpsons. When Russi Taylor, the original voice of Martin, twins Sherri and Terri, and Uter, passed away a few years ago, Grey Delisle took over her roles. So, with that said, the characters have a chance to move on rather than retire.

Who will be the "new" Milhouse, you ask? Well, at the time of this writing, there's no one just yet, but according to Fox, there will be a casting call in the "near future." It could be Delisle, or Cartwright or someone else entirely.

As an interesting side note, Milhouse is named after former President Richard Milhous Nixon, and as The Simpsons creator described his Milhouse version, "the most unfortunate name a kid could have."