Harry Shearer Announces Exit from FOX's THE SIMPSONS

Long-time SIMPSONS cast member Harry Shearer, took to Twitter to reveal the news that he will be leaving the FOX animated series.

Tweeted the comic on Thursday: "from James L. Brooks' lawyer: "show will go on, Harry will not be part of it, wish him the best.". (1/2)"

Shearer lent his voice to an array of characters on the long-running FOX series including evil tycoon Montgomery C. Burns, Springfield Elementary Principal Seymour Skinner and Simpson family neighbor Ned Flanders. Shearer made his first on-screen appearances in "Abbott and Costello Go to Mars" and "The Robe" in 1953 at age 7. In a career spanning more than 60 years since then, he has worked as a writer, producer, director, actor, radio host, author and voice-over talent. His work today includes the weekly NPR radio program, "Le Show," and continuing roles on "The Simpsons," the longest-running sitcom in American television history.

About THE SIMPSONS:

As the longest-running scripted series in television history, which Entertainment Weekly called the "No. 1 Greatest American Sitcom." THE SIMPSONS has become one of the most consistently groundbreaking, innovative and recognizable entertainment franchises throughout the world. With its subversive humor and delightful wit, the series has made an indelible imprint on American pop culture, and the family members, HOMER, MARGE, BART, LISA and MAGGIE, are television icons.

THE SIMPSONS reside in the town of Springfield. HOMER (Dan Castellaneta) works as a safety inspector at the local nuclear power plant; MARGE (Julie Kavner) tries to keep the peace in her family; BART (Nancy Cartwright) is the mischievous 10-year-old hellion; eight-year-old LISA (Yeardley Smith) is the intelligent, saxophone-playing, vegetarian member of the family; and baby MAGGIE conveys emotions via pacifier sucks.

The critically praised series has been bestowed with numerous honors, including a Peabody Award, 28 Emmy Awards, 29 Annie Awards, five Genesis Awards and seven Environmental Media Awards. THE SIMPSONS has been the subject of a hit feature film; created THE SIMPSONS Ride at Universal Studios; received a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame; was honored with five U.S. postal stamps personally designed by Matt Groening; was named the "Best Show of the 20th Century" by Time magazine; and, most recently, won Vulture.com's Sitcom Smackdown, earning the title "The Best Sitcom of the Past 30 Years."