The Simpsons Officially Retires Iconic Character 'Duffman' After Nearly 30 Years

Legendary animated series The Simpsons made the surprising decision to retire its iconic character, Duffman, after nearly 30 years.

The Simpsons Officially Retires Iconic Character 'Duffman' After Nearly 30 Years
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Legendary animated series The Simpsons made the surprising decision to retire its iconic character, Duffman, after nearly 30 years.

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The legendary animated series The Simpsons announced the permanent retirement of one of its iconic characters, Duffman, in January 2026 in the season 37 episode titled "Seperance."

Duffman, known by his signature catchphrase "Oh yeah!" and his common name Barry Duffman, directly delivered the news of his retirement to the Simpson family and viewers.

Duffman's departure isn't the first time The Simpsons has said goodbye to a long-standing or iconic character.

"Seperance" Episode: A Dramatic Retirement

Duffman's retirement announcement occurred in the episode "Seperance" (Season 37, Episode 13), which aired on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

The episode, a parody of the Apple TV+ series "Severance," explores the complex theme of separating work and personal life.

In the episode's storyline, Barry Duffman recruits Homer to work for a new company called EOD (Enthusiasm on Demand), which is The Simpsons' version of Lumon Industries.

Although Barry Duffman later undergoes "de-severance" and regains his individuality, he remains without the Duffman costume.

This strongly suggests that his character has ended within The Simpsons' universe, despite the series' notoriously flexible and often inconsistent canon.

Duffman's Long Journey on The Simpsons

Duffman first appeared in the 1997 episode "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson," making him a recurring supporting character for nearly 30 years on The Simpsons.

The character is voiced by Hank Azaria, a veteran voice actor who also voices various other characters on the series.

Duffman is known for his distinctive and instantly recognizable appearance: a red cape, a utility belt filled with Duff beer cans, and an over-the-top superhero persona.

His civilian name, Barry Duffman, is revealed outside his iconic costume, giving the character another dimension.

As the mascot of Duff beer, Duffman has become a cheerful and energetic marketing symbol, frequently appearing at various promotions and events in Springfield.

Other Characters Who Have "Retired" or "Died"

Alice Glick, the First Church organist who had appeared on the show for 34 years, passed away less than two months before Duffman's announcement.

"In a sense, Alice the organist will live forever, through the beautiful music she made," Executive producer Tim Long said. "But in another, more important sense, yep she's dead as a doornail."

Previously, in 2023, Bart's antagonist, Sideshow Bob (voiced by Kelsey Grammer), was also "killed off" in that year's Halloween episode "Treehouse Of Horror."

However, this death is not considered canonical, allowing for the character's potential return in the future.

Even Marge Simpson was "killed off" in a future flashback in season 36, but that event was also non-canonical.