Milhouse gets a new voice actor after 35 years on The Simpsons

Pamela Hayden steps aside for Kelly Macleod as she hands the mic to a new era of a beloved character.

Through The Simpsons, fans have seen and experienced a nineties childhood caricature of themselves with Bart’s closest friend, Milhouse Van Houten. This nerdy, bespectacled boy is now a part of Milhouse’s trivial obsession with Lisa Simpson. His voice is annoyingly captivating and charmingly awkward. Captivatingly, Pamela Hayden voiced him for 35 beautiful years.

But, as The Simpsons rounds off season 36 and looks to step into an incredible 40th season, one of its most iconic voices is undergoing a shocking change.

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Pamela Hayden retires after nearly 700 episodes

Pamela Hayden’s retirement from The Simpsons was officially announced in November 2024, marking the end of an era for the long-running animated sitcom. Hayden made the decision to retire from the animated sitcom after having voiced Milhouse since 1989, when he made his debut alongside Bart Simpson in a Butterfinger commercial.

During her time at the show, Hayden not only voiced Milhouse but also Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Janey Powell, Sarah Wiggum, and even Malibu Stacy. Her incredible skill at and timing of comedy added to the solidification of the ensemble cast.

Reflecting on her departure in a statement to Deadline, Hayden stated,

“The time has come for me to hang up my microphone… 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. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for that blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses.”

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Enter Kelly Macleod: A musician steps into Springfield

In May 2025, Entertainment Weekly announced the casting of Hayden's replacement, revealing that Kelly Macleod, a part-time actor and a professional singer, would become Milhouse’s new voice starting with the Season 36 finale airing on May 18, as the prefix indicates, a Sunday.

This episode has a plot where Bart and Lisa grow apart after they stop watching Itchy & Scratchy together, which is 3×G, and leads to Bart and Lisa’s anime episode. Macleod’s debut as Milhouse’s voice is until the line in a flashforward where Bart, Lisa, and Milhouse as adults look dramatically older than their child selves because of singular lines.

Although Macleod's part in the finale is minor, it is her first opportunity to engage with the story and symbolizes a transition with a hint of anticipation, looking into season 37, where we can expect Macleod to be fully in the role of Milhouse.

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A Musical Past with Ties to The Simpsons

Macleod is not new to The Simpsons. She sang “Two Badges, One Mind” in The Simpsons Season 33 episode “Bart the Cool Kid,” which aired in 2022.

As a member of the rock band Private Life in the 80s, which released two albums under Ted Templeman and Eddie Van Halen, Macleod’s entertainment career bloomed. The band’s discography includes “Touch Me”, a song that was featured in Wayne's World and Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Macleod also sang with The Sweet Potatoes before launching her solo career in 2021, which includes the album Wide Open.

MacLeod has also appeared in the 2009 short Slice of Pie and now has a more permanent role in Springfield.

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Mo Collins replaces Hayden as Jimbo Jones

Pamela Hayden not only brought Milhouse to life but also provided the voice for Springfield Elementary’s sixth-grade bully, Jimbo Jones. She was later replaced by Mo Collins, known from MADtv, Parks and Recreation, and Fear the Walking Dead.

Collins took over the Jimbo role as of the April 13 episode “P.S. I Hate You,” giving the audience their first impression of Jimbo’s new voice. Collins’ background in comedy and her signature raspy voice are perfect for the character.

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A future-proofed Springfield: The show's continued legacy

In April 2025, Fox renewed The Simpsons for four additional seasons, which ensures that the show will run through at least Season 40. This remarkable achievement for American television is something no show has accomplished before. The long-term renewal grants gave Macleod and Collins ample time to redefine and settle into their respective roles.

Macleod and Collins have the opportunity to make a complete character overhaul on their end. While changes like voice actor recasts can be contradictory, they provide an opportunity to make The Simpsons even better, which has been around for over three decades and counting.

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Milhouse’s next chapter

Milhouse may have a different voice going forward, but his awkward, nerdy, and eternally unlucky spirit in love remains unchanged. The legacy of The Simpsons is set for much longer, so with Macleod taking over, the show is ready to step into a new era, one “blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses” at a time.

Mark your calendars; the Season 36 finale is on May 18 on Fox. Streaming episodes is as simple as Hulu or Disney.