Fans Mourn the Loss of Cherished ‘Simpsons’ Voice Star

Béatrice Picard, a longtime favorite for many French-speaking fans of The Simpsons, has died at 96. For a whole generation in Quebec, she was simply the voice of Marge Simpson. Her death was announced on December 9 by Quebec’s Théâtre Duceppe, who shared the news on Facebook along with a message from her children.

They wrote, “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our mother, Beatrice, which occurred this morning, December 9th, at the age of 96. Throughout her life, Béatrice was able to combine her family life with her passion for the performing arts and the causes that were dear to her. So it seemed natural to us to share this news with her friends, her colleagues in the artistic world and, especially with her audience, for whom she was thinking until the very end.”

While American viewers know Marge Simpson through Julie Kavner, people across Quebec and other French-speaking parts of Canada heard Picard’s voice instead. Her version of Marge, warm and slightly raspy, became part of everyday life for many families who watched Les Simpsons. But her work stretched far beyond animated TV.

The Canadian Press reported that Picard began her career in radio dramas in the late 1940s. A few years later, in the 1950s, she started appearing on television and quickly became a recognizable face in popular Canadian shows. By the end of that decade, she was starring in long-running series and performing often on stage.

She later moved into film, and although she worked steadily for years, The Canadian Press noted that her big movie breakthrough came in 2007 when she played the title role in Gabriel Pelletier’s My Aunt Aline. The role earned her a Genie Award nomination for Best Actress.

Still, many fans will remember her best as Marge Simpson. Picard voiced the character for more than 30 years, beginning in 1990 and continuing until 2023. She also voiced Marge in the French-language version of The Simpsons Movie released in 2007.

Théâtre Duceppe shared their own tribute, saying, “The whole team of Duceppe joins the family of Béatrice in paying tribute to this great lady who touched the hearts of so many of our spectators. Throughout an immense career, an artistic journey as varied and prolific that spans 75 years, Béatrice Picard marked our cultural history. Bubbling with enthusiasm, lively, true, feminist of the early hours and molded by a relentless passion, she was able to captivate the people of Quebec with her talent and personality.”

Her voice and her presence shaped decades of entertainment in Quebec, and her work will continue to be remembered by those who grew up with her version of Marge and by those who admired her long and devoted career.

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