The Simpsons’ voice actress Pamela Hayden is known to voice Bart’s best friend, Milhouse Van Houten. After voicing the character for 35 years, Hayden has decided to retire from voicing the role. She told the world, “It’s been an honor and a joy to have worked on such a funny, witty, and groundbreaking show. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the blue-haired 10-year-old boy.”
Milhouse Van Houten’s First Appearance
From 1987-1989, Matt Groening’s The Simpsons was a part of The Tracey Ullman Show. The animated sitcom quickly surpassed the watch time of the live-action broadcast. It even got a few product marketing deals including the crunchy peanut butter bar, Butterfinger. When Simpsons’ first Butterfinger commercial aired in 1988, it was also when the world first met Bart’s best friend, Milhouse Van Houten. Pamela Hayden got hired for the voice, offering his light hoarse voice for the blue-haired boy.
Then 2011, Simpsons fan blogger, Rubbercat discovered Milhouse could be from a rejected NBC cartoon Groening had pitched. One of Groening’s network buddies, David Silverman debunked the theory that the kid was a ripoff Paul Pfeiffer. However, Silverman couldn’t remember the name of the show until 2021. Another Simpsons blogger, miscolored.simpsons shared character designs from an eBay account. It was found in 1993’s Wizard Magazine #28 with an interview from Groening himself.
Here's a interesting piece of Simpsons history which sold today at auction, a 1988 Matt Groening concept drawing for Milhouse (gifted to former director Wes Archer). I believe this could have been originally produced for Matt's unproduced NBC pilot Melvin's Inferno. pic.twitter.com/mtPOdhjgr9
— Simpsons Production Art (@SimpsonsArt_) October 21, 2023
He mentions he created a character named Melvin for Melvin’s Inferno. Melvin is the beta Bart Simpson, even having his own superhero identity, SuperMelvin. One of his friends has a similar design to Milhouse’s current design. Silverman and show director Wes Archer chose him to be Springfield Elementary’s troublemaker’s best friend.
Pamela Hayden Brought Milhouse to Life
Since Milhouse’s introduction, Hayden has become a long-time Simpsons cast member. Alongside Bart, this nerd grew into a fan-favorite character. Hayden shares why she and Milhouse fans love him: “People are always saying what a nerd he is. But the one thing that I love about Milhouse is he’s always getting knocked down, but he keeps getting back up. I love that little guy!”
This is very true to Milhouse as he’s considered to be unlucky. He goes through a divorce between his parents, gets beaten up by bullies, and receives rejections from Lisa Simpson. His best friend Bart gives him a sense of adventure by pulling pranks and stuns around Springfield. He does improve himself over time in time-skip episodes after Bart uses him as a scapegoat to avoid trouble. Most of them show Milhouse becoming muscular and trying not to be his immature father, Kirk.
What made Hayden perfect for the blue-haired nerd is her personal experiences. As revealed in her 2023 documentary film, Jailhouse to Milhouse, Hayden struggled through the abusive teachings in her boarding school. One day, she went to juvenile detention for attempted theft. In the film’s trailer, she stated that the administration believed she wouldn’t make it in her adult life. Hayden went through many career paths including being a Playboy Bunny model and a pool gambler. Her life is responsible for his catchphrase, “Everything’s coming up Milhouse!”
More than Van Houten
While Milhouse is Hayden’s first voice-acting role, she has voiced other iconic Simpsons characters as well. Most of these voices were the children of Springfield. Here are four Simpsons roles you may recognize from her.
Jimbo Jones
Jimbo is the second-in-command of the Springfield bullies with Nelson being the leader. He wears a black skull shirt, and purple wool hat, and has buck teeth. Hayden deepens her Milhouse voice to sound like a grungy kid. However, it is confirmed that he and his two friends, Dolph and Kearney are adults who have been held back in the 5th grade many times.
Martin Prince
Martin is one of the 5th-grade nerds who adores math. He is also one of Springfield’s richest kids that can let his greed get him cocky. Hayden gives him a very high pitch and enthusiastic energy to match his intellectual speech. It is pretty hard to see his character now changed to a 35-year-old undercover cop in the recent season. His condition makes him the perfect inside man to find crime happening in Springfield Elementary.
Ralph Wiggum
Speaking of high-pitched children, Ralph is shown to be the opposite of Martin. Ralph has a speech impediment and learning disabilities when it comes to studying. What he does succeed at is theatre, specifically acting and ballet. His parents, Chief Clancy Wiggum and Sarah, love their son dearly. Hayden summons her whimsical child voice to project his iconic giggles and positive attitude. Ralph’s most memed line is “I’m in danger” in a nonchalant way.
Mona Simpson
Mona is one of the few characters Hayden shows off her motherly nature. Except for Homer’s mother, Mona lost that charm when she attempted to stop Montgomery Burns’ power plant in the early 1970s. She was a heavy environment activist that influenced by the Beatnik era. Her ex-husband Abe who grew up during the World Wars often argued with Mona on her idealogy.
When it was time for Mona to meet her grandchildren, Homer learned the truth about her disappearance. Her undercover work against Burns made it hard for her to stay with Homer and Abe. After attempting to bring Homer to destroy Burns’ nuclear power plant properties twice, Homer finally lets out his frustrations about Mona’s fleeing behavior. She agrees to stay one night in his family home, later passing away in the episode “Mona Leaves-a”.
Pamela Hayden’s Retirement
After 35 years, Hayden has decided to step away from the spotlight to enjoy a more peaceful life. She was expected to die during her 20s and 30s, only to show she persevered her past doubts. Hayden has only started her 70s this year, going strong and teaching young girls they can conquer anything with a positive attitude and explore their options. At this time, it is unknown who will fill her shoes in her Simpson roles. Her final episode as Milhouse aired for Treehouse of Horror: Simpsons Wicked Come This Way.
