Fans Shocked After 'The Simpsons' Kills Off Character Who's Been Around Since Episode One

We are gathered here today in the fictional town of Springfield in memory of Larry the Barfly, who is sadly no longer with us.

The beloved but quiet bar patron, who has been on The Simpsons since the animated sitcom's first season in 1989 and was voiced by actor Harry Shearer, has been killed off, leaving Homer and the gang—and fans—in mourning.

Larry, whose surname was Dalrymple, was a character mostly relegated to the background in scenes at the local watering hole, Moe's Tavern.

He was known as one of the taller regulars in the establishment and was a man of few words.

Larry spoke just twice in the show's 34-year-run so far. In the second season's “Bart Gets Hit by a Car” Larry said, “Who’s the chick?” In the eighth season's “El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer” he said, simply, “Colleague.”

His unexpected death was the focus of the show's 765th episode, “Cremains of the Day”.

The Simpson's co-executive producer Tim Long told TMZ that he and the creative team intended for Larry's death to make an impact on fans despite the character's minor role in the show.

Long told the media outlet that "it doesn't matter how small Larry's role was, because characters on The Simpsons don't die often ... so, it's a huge deal when they do."

Other characters that died included Fat Tony; Ned Flanders' first wife, Maude; Lisa's mentor, Bleeding Gums Murphy; and Krusty's dad, Rabbi Hyman Krustofsky.

And while Long said "he's sorry" for upsetting fans for killing off one of Moe's regulars, he appreciated "that fans seemed to take it as hard as Homer and the gang did" in the episode.

Fans paid their respects on social media.

The poignant episode allowed viewers and the characters to learn more about his elusive character. Homer and his buddies, who felt terrible for not really knowing Larry, discovered that he liked fishing, lived at 652 8th Avenue, and that his mother's name was Iris.

Endearingly, the late character called Homer, Lenny, Carl, or Moe, his "best friends" and referred to them as "Moe's Bros," even though he never talked to them.

RIP Larry Dalrymple.

We raise our glasses of Duff beer to you.