‘Simpson’ legendary voice star Béatrice Picard dies at 96

Béatrice Picard, the beloved Canadian actress famed for voicing Marge Simpson in the Quebec French dub of The Simpsons, has died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 96.

The Les Brillant actress family announced her passing on December 9, sharing on Facebook, "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 has been able to combine her family life with her passion for the performing arts and the causes that were dear to her. It therefore seemed natural to us to share this news with her friends, her colleagues in the artistic field and, above all, with her audience, for whom she had a thought until the very end,” they added.

Fans flooded social media with tributes. One wrote, "We have just lost a (truly) great lady of our Francophone culture. One of the last sacred monsters of the theatre."

Another reflected, "We often get the impression that some people are eternal, so much a part of our daily lives, and we wonder how they would cope if they were us. We came to know humanity through the characters she chose to portray. Thank you to her children for sharing their mother with those who didn’t have one. Now that the curtain has fallen, she will not be forgotten."

A third fan added, "Rest in power and peace sweet soul."

Picard brought Marge to life for French speaking Canadians for 33 seasons including The Simpsons Movie in 2007, before leaving the role in January 2023.

The Negro star's extensive career also included Canadian films such as Taureau, Once Upon a Time in the East, My Aunt Aline, and Deaf to the City and she voiced Mamá Coco in the French-Canadian dub of Coco.

Moreover, in 2012, Béatrice Picard was named an Officer of the National Order of Quebec, cementing her legacy in the performing arts.