The Jan. 4 episode of The Simpsons quietly closed the curtain on one of Springfield’s most recognizable faces.
**At a Glance
- Duffman is officially retired after nearly 30 years on The Simpsons
- The season-37 episode “Seperance” revealed the mascot’s permanent exit
- Why it matters: A second veteran character departs the series within two months, marking a shift in the show’s long-running cast
Springfield’s beer-loving pitchman is hanging up his cape for good. In the Jan. 4, 2026 installment-“Seperance,” a parody of Severance–Duffman informed the Simpson family that the Duff Corporation has shelved its flamboyant spokesman forever.
Exit Announcement
Barry Duffman broke the news while visiting the Simpson home.
> “The Duff Corporation has retired that character forever. All the old forms of advertising are now passé. Corporate spokesmen, print ads, TV spots. Today’s kids can’t even sing the jingles.”
Later scenes showed him out of costume, reinforcing that the retirement sticks.
Character Timeline
| Milestone | Season | Year |
|---|---|---|
| First appearance | 9 | 1997 |
| Latest prior cameo | 36 | 2025 |
| Retirement | 37 | 2026 |
Multiple Springfield residents have portrayed the mascot, all voiced by Hank Azaria. His signature red cape, beer-bottle belt, and booming “Oh, yeah!” made him an advertising icon inside the show’s universe.
Recent Goodbyes
Duffman’s departure follows the November 2025 on-screen death of Alice Glick, the First Church organist who had appeared since season 3. Executive producer Tim Long confirmed her exit with the quip:
> “In a sense, Alice the organist will live forever, through the beautiful music she made. But in another, more important sense, yep she’s dead as a doornail.”
Key Takeaways
- Duffman retires after 29 years on The Simpsons
- The in-universe reason: outdated advertising tactics
- He remains alive, merely out of a job
- Two legacy characters have now departed season 37 within weeks
The Simpsons airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.
