Marica Wallace, best known as the voice of Edna Krabappel on The Simpsons, died at the age of 70 on Friday, October 25th.
The Huffington Post reports that Wallace had been battling breast cancer for almost 30 years.
According to E! News, the actress’s good friend Cathryn Michon revealed that Wallace died of complications from illnesses other than breast cancer.
"She was an outspoken advocate for Breast Cancer awareness, and as a game show queen, this was one game she was determined to win, and so she did," Michon said.
The actress won an Emmy in 1992 for her role on The Simpsons. The show’s executive producer, Al Jean, spoke about Wallace’s death, saying, “I was tremendously saddened to learn this morning of the passing of the brilliant and gracious Marcia Wallace. She was beloved by all at The Simpsons and we intend to retire her irreplaceable character.”
The Simpson’s star was also well-known as receptionist Carol Kester on The Bob Newhart Show. She also had a passion for game shows and appeared on a variety of shows, including Hollywood Squares, The $25,000 Pyramid, To Tell the Truth, Match Game, and Family Feud.
Yeardley Smith, the voice of Lisa Simpson, took to Twitter to address Wallace’s death: “Cheers to the hilarious, kind, fab Marcia Wallace, who has taken her leave of us,” she wrote. “Heaven is now a much funnier place b/c of you.”
Wallace’s other Simpsons cast mate Harry Shearer also tweeted, “So sad to learn--through Twitter, first--of the passing of the wonderful Marcia Wallace. Sorely missed already.”
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.