The Springfield neighborhood has lost one of its own. On April 21, in episode 15 of season 35 of The Simpsons, fans of the long-running series had to say goodbye to Larry Dalrymple. Who is this character? Although the name doesn’t sound like anything, he has always been there in the background.
Despite being a regular at Moe’s bar since the first episode aired in 1989, Larry had barely spoken two sentences in all the seasons, which did not prevent the most observant fans from recognizing him as one of the patrons of the emblematic establishment along with to Homer, Carl, Lenny or Barney.
The plot of the episode Cremains of the Day reveals that, after losing a bet, Moe tries to vacate the bar in a fit of rage, at which point they discover that Larry does not respond to the owner’s attempts to wake him up, remaining motionless.
This moment leads to the revelation that Larry had died in the same place where they had so often seen him spend his days in complete silence and drowning his sorrows, and although the cause of his death is never clarified, his departure triggers a series of events. emotional events between the main characters.
Larry’s funeral is held sparsely attended, with only his mother present. During the ceremony, it is revealed that he saw Homer, Lenny and Carl as his best friends. However, through a series of flashbacks, it is shown how Larry was often left on the sidelines, drinking alone while the others shared time together. This causes a feeling of guilt in the group, especially after an emotional sermon from Marge about the importance of paying attention to the people around us.
Motivated to redeem himself and honor the memory of his forgotten companion, Homer and his friends decide to take Larry’s ashes to Serenity Falls, a place he always dreamed of visiting with them. This trip not only serves as an act of farewell, but also becomes a moment of unity and reflection for the group, strengthening their friendship and confronting them with their own regrets and memories.
These heavy drinkers aren’t the only ones who have mourned the loss of Larry. Fans of The Simpsons have also regretted that this dull customer of Moe’s bar had to die, something that is unusual in the series, and joins a list that already includes Maude Flanders, Mona Simpson, Frank Grimes or Edna Krabappel.
Tim Long, co-executive producer and co-showrunner of the episode of The Simpsons in which Larry Dalrymple dies, has stated that the death of this supporting actor was designed to have a profound impact on the audience.
In an interview with TMZ, Long stated that, although Larry was a character who rarely featured prominently in the series, his death has generated a significant emotional reaction among viewers, something that pleased him because it shows the extent to which the public continues to love and connect with the series.
