AceShowbiz -

Emmy Award-winning actress Marcia Wallace, best known for being the voice of Edna Krabappel on "The Simpsons" and the wise-cracking secretary Carol Kester on the 1970s sitcom "The Bob Newhart Show", passed away on Friday, October 25 at the age of 70. She died from pneumonia, deemed to be a complication of breast cancer which she was first diagnosed with back in 1985.

"She was a long and proud survivor and advocate for women and healing," said her friend Cathryn Michon. "She was beloved by all at 'The Simpsons'...," said the show's producer Al Jean in a statement. He "was tremendously saddened" when he learned about "the passing of the brilliant and gracious" actress.

Jean likewise revealed intentions of retiring Wallace's "irreplaceable character" which has somehow become a sad tradition for the show to stop featuring characters whose voice actors have already died. Previously, they have retired lunch lady Doris voiced by Doris Grau who died in 1995 and the characters of attorney Lionel Hutz and pretty-boy Troy McClure both voiced by Phil Hartman who passed away in 1998.

Before Wallace's death, it had been revealed that the show would kill off a veteran character, but Jean notes that her Edna Krabappel was not the one they had intended to eliminate. "Marcia's passing is unrelated and again, a terrible loss for all who had the pleasure of knowing her," clarified Jean.