Marcia Wallace, a TV Icon from “The Simpsons” and “The Bob Newhart Show,” died on Friday, Oct. 25, at the age of 70. Mrs. Krabappel is dead. The news of Marcia Wallace’s death spread virally on Twitter after her friend, the comedian and radio host Frank DeCaro, announced it.

As to speculation that the producers of The Simpson knew Marcia Wallace was ill when they made the announcement, if Marcia Wallace already recorded her last episode of `The Simpsons.” Executive Producer Al Jean said "Earlier we had discussed a potential storyline in which a character passed away.This was not Marcia's Edna Krabappel. Marcia's passing is unrelated and again, a terrible loss for all who had the pleasure of knowing her."

According to a statement from Cathryn Michon, who co-wrote and directed Wallace's last movie, "Muffin Top," Marcia Wallace “passed at 9 p.m. last night due to complications from breast cancer of which she was a long and proud survivor and advocate for women and healing. Ironically it was during breast cancer awareness month during which she was always a funny ray of hope for so many. I’m devastated."

According to a Fox publicist, Antonia Coffman, Marcia Wallace, who had survived breast cancer, died at home.

The voice of Lisa Simpson, Yeardley Smith, Tweeted: "Cheers to the hilarious, kind, fab Marcia Wallace, who has taken her leave of us. Heaven is now a much funnier place b/c of you, Marcia."
Al Jean, producer of “The Simpsons” wrote in a statement, “I was tremendously saddened to learn this morning of the passing of the brilliant and gracious Marcia Wallace. She was beloved by all at The Simpsons, and we intend to retire her irreplaceable character.”

Marcia Wallace won an Emmy for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in 1992 for the voice of elementary school teacher Edna Krabappel on “The Simpsons.” Wallace published an autobiography "Don't Look Back, We're Not Going that Way. The part of the wise cracking receptionist Carol Kester on “The Bob Newhart Show” was written specifically for Marcia Wallace based on her appearances on “The Merv Griffin Show.” She played the role of Carol Kester in 139 episodes from 1972-1978.

When she first came to New York to become an actor, Marcia Wallace was a substitute teacher in the Bronx. Wallace played a school principal on “ALF” and Mrs. Caruthers on “Full House”. Marcia Wallace’s Edna Krabappel was “short pants” Bart Simpsons’ wise-ass Springfield Elementary School teacher. Last season Edna Krabappel married Ned Flanders, who lost his wife on the show a few years ago. Wallace also voiced Ms. Mellon in "Bart the Genius," Enchantra in "Marge Gamer," and Mrs. Krabapatra in "Simpsons Bible Stories." Al Jean announced that Mrs. Krabappel would be retired from “The Simpsons.”

Marcia Wallace with the Greenwich Village troupe The Fourth Wall in the late sixties. To appear nude in the Mercer Arts Center’s production of “Dark of the Moon” in 1968, Marcia Wallace lost 100 pounds. She played Darrin’s secretary in an episode of “Bewitched” in 1971. She appeared more than 75 times on "The Merv Griffin show" before being cast on “The Bob Newhart Show” for six seasons until 1978.

After "The Bob Newhart Show" ended, Marcia Wallace appeared on talk shows, game shows like “Hollywood Squares,” “Super Password,” “Family Feud,” “The $25,000 Pyramid,” “Win, Lose or Draw,” and “Match Game.“ Wallace was a regular guest star on a host of popular TV shows in the 1970s and 1980s, from "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island" to "Gimme a Break!". She reprised her role as Carol on “Murphy Brown.” Bob Newhart also made an appearance on that episode.She also appeared on “That’s My Bush” and “The Brady Bunch.” She was also the perfect date for Jim Ignatowski on the sitcom “Taxi.” Wallace also appeared in TV dramas like “Murder, She Wrote,” “Columbo” and ”Magnum PI”. On stage she was in the all-female version of the Neil Simon play “The Odd Couple” and in a touring production of "The Vagina Monologues."

In recent years, Wallace also advocated for awareness of breast cancer, a disease she battled herself. Wallace received the Gilda Radner Courage Award. " Marcia Wallace’s husband, hotelier Dennis Hawley, died in 1992. She had a son, Michael Hawley. She is survived by her son Michael Hawley who appeared in her last movie “Muffin Top.”