All The Simpsons characters that have been killed off as fans mourn Larry the Barfly

Simpsons fans are in mourning as Larry "The Barfly" Dalrymple, a beloved character who's been a staple on the show for nearly 35 years, was written out of the series.

In the recent episode "Cremains Of The Day," which aired on TV last weekend, the regular at Moe's Tavern was seen dropping dead in his usual haunt.

Despite being a background figure, Larry's departure left many viewers feeling a sense of loss. Larry was often spotted in the backdrop of Moe's Tavern, keeping company with Homer Simpson and his pals, occasionally chiming in with a line or two.

He made his first appearance back in 1989 during the show's inaugural season.

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The mystery behind why The Simpsons decided to say goodbye to Larry unfolds in the episode, where Homer, Moe, Lenny and Carl find themselves at his funeral. They reflect on how little they actually knew about him and Homer even questioned if they're "terrible people" for not knowing more about someone they've been around for so long.

Adding to their guilt, during the service, Larry's mother reveals: "My Lawrence always talked about his best friends, the fellows at Moe's Tavern."

Tim Long, a co-executive producer on the multi-year animated sitcom, revealed to TMZ that Larry's death was intentionally designed to create a stir. He stated that the creators intended for Larry's passing to impact the audience in a significant way, despite him being a secondary character who hadn't had a prominent moment on the show.

Expressing regret, Tim acknowledged that fans have been deeply "upset about the death." Performing his executive role, he accepted that while Larry may have been a minor character within the broader narrative, his death has prompted strong reactions due to the show's limited history of character deaths across its 35-season run.

Every character who have died in The Simpsons

Starting with 'Bleeding Gums' Murphy Hibbert whom audiences first encounter in season 1. Noteworthy mentions include Maude Flanders' death in season 11 and Dr. Marvin Monroe's temporary demise before making a comeback. Rabbi Hyman Krustofsky and Homer's mother Mona Simpson, a recurring character throughout the series, both sadly died in season 26.

Another memorable loss was mob boss Fat Tony, also known as Don Marion Anthony D'Amico, head of Springfield's mafia. It was a poignant moment when he suffered a heart attack in Homer's arms during season 22. Lastly, we mention Marcia Wallace who voiced Bart's schoolteacher Edna Krabappel. Following her real-life death in 2013, the programme's execs decided it was right to retire the character after season 25.

The show has been a staple on Fox for an impressive 35 seasons, yet the outpouring of emotion following Larry's unexpected death is a testament to the enduring love for The Simpsons. Echoing Tim's sentiments, "it's nice to know" that fans continue to hold dear all the quirky characters "who make Springfield what it is."