Expert: Angela - 8/18/2004

Question
How exactly did Dr. Marvin Monroe die?  In which episode did this vague incident occur?  Thank you.


Answer
There was never an episode featuring Dr. Marvin Monroe's death. After playing a recurring role in the first couple of seasons, the writers of The Simpsons simply stopped using the character. In the episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part Two," the hospital Mr. Burns stayed at was named Dr. Marvin Monroe Memorial Hospital. Finally, in "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular" it is finally revealed that Monroe is intended to be dead.

HOWEVER, in season 15's Diatribe of a Mad Housewife, Dr. Marvin Monroe re-appears and mentions he had a long illness that kept him from being visible this last decade or so. The writers have not gone into this any further, so it's very uncertain whether Monroe actually died or if this is a joke the writers are playing on us. Time will tell, as usual. The original "killing off" was probably because Harry Shearer did not like doing Monroe's raspy voice.

That should sum it up for you!