The Simpsons fans are stunned as show KILLS OFF a character featured all the way back in the series premiere episode more than three decades ago

Fans of The Simpsons were in for a shock this weekend when the long-running series killed off a supporting character.

The supporting character made their debut on the show in December 1989 – almost 35 years ago – in the series premiere episode, the Christmas-themed Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire.

In the final episode – with the funny title Cremains Of The Day – viewers heard that Larry the Barfly had died.

Larry was a member of the intoxicated ensemble that frequented Moe’s Tavern, and he was voiced by Spinal Tap star Harry Shearer, known for bringing to life a bevy of characters including Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns, his assistant Smithers, Principal Skinner and Reverend Lovejoy, among many others.

The show, which came under fire from hypersensitive viewers last year for scenes in which Homer comically strangles his son Bart, often featured Larry alongside the much more prominent Barney Gumble, the comedic drunk whose slurred delivery often steals scenes that unfold playing in the bar.

The supporting character made their debut on the show in December 1989 – almost 35 years ago – in the series premiere episode, the Christmas-themed Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire; depicted in season nine

Although Larry had been around for decades, he never played a prominent role in any episodes and almost nothing was known about the character’s backstory.

That changed with Sunday’s episode, when it was posthumously revealed that his name was Lawrence Dalrymple.

In Cremains Of The Day, Homer and his other drinking buddies explored Larry’s surprising history while realizing they barely knew him.

Simpsons fans reacted on social media with a mixture of surprise and mock shock to the news of the minor character’s death.

“Not Larry!” joked one fan who also posted a gif of Marge and the kids looking stunned.

“I just found out they’re killing Larry on The Simpsons tomorrow. I need a minute,” someone else joked.

Others joked about the late character’s lack of screen presence.

“Every time Larry’s not on screen everyone should be asking, ‘Where’s Larry?'” one fan wrote.

Another added: “I hope we find out something about Larry when we don’t see him anymore.”

But others found his life on the margins “really damn sad and tragic.”

Simpsons writer Matt Selman, who serves as co-showrunner with Al Jean, joked about how his own series featured the death of a minor character.

“Who dies this Sunday on @TheSimpsons?” writing on

In the final episode – with the funny title Cremains Of The Day – viewers heard that Larry the Barfly (second from left) had died

In Cremains Of The Day, Homer and his other drinking buddies explored Larry’s surprising history while realizing they barely knew him.

Simpsons fans reacted on social media with a mixture of surprise and mock shock at the news of the minor character’s death

Others joked about the late character’s lack of screen presence

Simpsons writer Matt Selman, who serves as co-showrunner with Al Jean, joked about how his own series played up the death of a minor character

One viewer joked about Larry’s cause of death: “Spoiler: autoerotic asphyxiation.”

Even the Simpsons account got in on the fun by posting an image of Homer and Larry eating “Angel Wings” at a sports bar in heaven

One viewer joked about Larry’s cause of death: “Spoiler: autoerotic asphyxiation.”

Even the Simpsons account got in on the fun by posting an image of Homer and Larry eating “Angel Wings” at a sports bar in heaven.

Despite the publicity of the death, many fans also admitted that they did not even know Larry’s name.

Even as The Simpsons has axed some of its less popular characters, it has also brought back iconic faces in recent years, including the Albert Brooks-voiced Jacques, a French bowler who tried to score a strike with Marge.