The main family aside, which character dying would be the most tragic for the show?

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

I'd go for Moe.

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

Matt Groening

[The Governor]

NOT LENNY!

[Blobulle]

Krusty

[Toomanygrandmas]

I'd have to go for Lenny. He's not an important character or anything, but everything about the guy - from his voice to his outlook on life - is hilarious. He's just inherently funny and one of my favourite minor (well, minor-ish) characters. It would have been sad if Lenny had been the one who died in 'Alone Again, Natura-Diddily'.

Also, if we were talking before the show declined, then I would say Ned. Before he became 'No-fun-ultra-right-mean-conservative' Neddy, he was just such a nice guy, that I wouldn't want any harm to come to him. Now? I guess it would still be sad-ish, but not as bad.

[Bartesque]

Charles Montgomery Burns. The good shouldn't die so young.

[cloneasaurus]

Ned fairly easily. It would leave Rod and Todd orphans and he's probably the most detailed character outside the family. Even with no-fun Ned, it would be pretty sad.

[Comicshow MolemanBob]

Bleeding Gums Murphy - This guy is my life and if anything should ever happen to him, my life wouldn't be worth living :/

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

I appreciate the sentiment, anyway I'd love to stay and chat but I have to patrol the streets looking for depressed 8 year old girls to jam with.

[Hommer]

Bleeding Gums Murphy - This guy is my life and if anything should ever happen to him, my life wouldn't be worth living :/

I don't know how to put this.....

[biffwestwood]

Does Grampa Simpson qualify as a valid response?

If yes, that is my answer

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

It is valid and yes he was in my thoughts for this question.

[D DEBBS]

I agree with Speedway Squad's answer of O'l Painty-Can Ned because Rod and Todd would become orphans...oh, the possibilities! They can become hellions, or even worse for Ned...JEWISH!

I also thought of Skinner because Bart won't have anyone to battle against, Agnes would be lonely and bitter and Edna, although she's with Ned, would have some sort of reaction.

[lionelhutz123]

I think Moe would hit the hardest, because he's lonely with unfulfilled dreams. That's more relatable, and if they killed him off, it would be a pretty cold and dark message. As if the dank bar wasn't depressing enough.

If Ned died, at least his children would EXIST to mourn him. Also, the simpsons are the core of the show, and Moe is just as relevant to the family as Ned (if not more, arguably). We have already seen the effects of Maude's death and the kids seem to be little troopers.

[Jesse Pinkman]

either moe or ned, pretty easily.

[HRH Sir Prince Charles]

any Harry Shearer character

[Diversity Pumpkin]

Who is the glue of Springfield? Who holds the town, and therefore the family, together?

Hans Moleman.

[HMS pinafore]

Burns

[gonzo]

gerald the baby, just because a baby dying would be, like, the most fucked up thing ever

[Dehumanizer]

Either Mr.Burns or Lenny, I too would say. Lenny is just a hilarious character always, and it'd be a shame if he wasn't around anymore. And of course Mr.Burns because he's always been an integral part of the show. Then again, they might as well have killed him off after they way they really ruined him in 'The Fool Monty', horrible utterly horrible episode. One of the top five worst episodes ever if you ask me.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

Either Mr.Burns or Lenny, I too would say. Lenny is just a hilarious character always, and it'd be a shame if he wasn't around anymore. And of course Mr.Burns because he's always been an integral part of the show. Then again, they might as well have killed him off after they way they really ruined him in 'The Fool Monty', horrible utterly horrible episode. One of the top five worst episodes ever if you ask me.

I refuse to watch that episode purely based on reviews and just down to the fact I know I will despise it.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Matt Groening

While it would be pretty sad, it probably wouldn't change the show at all, he basically does nothing but overlook the episodes now.

[bhartman36]

That's a tough one for me to decide. In terms of fleshed-out characters, I would say Milhouse. If they wanted to go for tragic and sad, there are a lot of places they could go with that with Bart and Lisa.

My first instinct was to say Ralph, though. He's such a naive, innocent character that anything bad happening to him would hit pretty hard.

[merzitar]

Moe, definitely Moe! I just feel so sorry for him. He's so alone, his only friends are the select few who drinks in his bar, and if he was to die, it'd most likely be suicide. Moe's not a bad person, he's just not good with people.

[Friz]

Roy.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

Infact change my mind, Karl from 'Simpson and Delilah', he is a total legend and him dying would be catastrophic.

[lionelhutz123]

He is a great character, but neither the audience or the characters would feel that impact because he has never been around since. Also like you said, he's a legend, and legends live on

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

No idea why Karl didn't make another appearance altho if he was to come back in season 24/25, Jean would probably make an entire episode around a threesome between Hank Azaria's high voiced jewish/puerto rican guy, karl and Smithers.

[cloneasaurus]

he (harvey fierstien) was asked to come back for season 14's three gays of the condo, but rejected because he felt it wasn't true to his character and he was just filling a stereotype

EDIT: info can be found here

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

That's interesting, cheers mate and it seems the actor is just as wise as his character was!