“The Simpsons,” the long-running, irreverent animated TV show, will recast a voice actor who has played a black doctor for 31 years.
White actor Harry Shearer has played the character of Dr. Hibbert on the show, but next week he will be voiced by black actor Kevin Michael Richardson, who voices characters in “Family Guy” and “American Dad!”
“Last night’s episode ‘DiaryQueen’ featured Harry Shearer as the voice of Dr. Hibbert for the last time,” 20th Television said in a statement provided to The Wrap on Monday. “Next Sunday’s episode ‘Wad Goals’ will have Kevin Michael Richardson voicing Dr. Hibbert — and from there on out he will voice the character.”
Shearer has voiced Hibbert since the show’s second season in 1990.
The change came after Fox said last summer that “The Simpsons” will do away with actors playing other races, the longest-running in TV history.