In “The Simpsons” episode “Alone Again, Natura-Diddly” (February 13, 2000), the Simpsons discover a new outdoor car racing track in their favorite nature reserve and decide to stay and watch a race or two. Indeed, many recognizable characters are there, including Ned Flanders (Harry Shearer) and his wife Maude (Marcia Mitzman Gaven), who sits in the back row. Between races, cheerleaders take to the track and use a t-shirt cannon to shoot free clothing into the stands. Tragically, one of the errant t-shirts hits Maude in the chest, throwing her over the stadium’s back railing. She plunges to her death, landing in the parking lot below.
The remainder of the episode follows Ned’s grieving process as he mourns the loss of his wife. Ned, perhaps shockingly, even finds his faith in God shaken over the tragedy; Usually, Ned is ultra-Christian.
Maude Flanders is one of the few characters that “The Simpsons” actually gets killed off all the time. The other was jazz musician “bleeding Gums” Murphy, who only returned in flashbacks, or, occasionally, as a ghost. Dr. Marvin Monroe also died, and his tombstone was even seen in “Sone Again, Natura-diddly”, but the character mysteriously returned years later. “I have been very ill,” was all he had to offer.
Maude, however, was an important enough character to change the thrust of that of the more notable “Simpsons” characters. Ned Flanders, previously married with a family, now had to deal with being a widower. The character of joy, was now imbued with an element of tragedy.
It turns out, however, that the writers killed off Maude Flandre for reasons beyond simple storytelling opportunities or the alteration of Ned’s character. It appears the actress who played Maude, Maggie Roswell, asked for a raise. When she didn’t get it, Roswell left. In response, the “Simpsons” writers simply offered up the character. The dispute was reported by CBR.
