The Simpsons producer apologizes after killing off beloved character as fans mourn

A producer of The Simpsons has issued an apology after killing off a longtime character this week.

The long-running and hugely popular cartoon has been running since 1989, and has seen a lot of characters come and go in that time.

35 seasons have come and gone, and The Simpsons have certainly predicted a lot of real-life events in that time.

While Larry the Barfly may be a minor character in the 20th Century Fox series, his sudden death in a recent episode has shocked fans to the core.

Voiced by Harry Shearer, who also provides the voices for the likes of Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, and Waylon Smithers.

Larry, who has been in the series since the 1989 special 'Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire', was often found at the pub, in particular at Moe's Tavern, the bar that also sees Homer’s friends Lenny, Carl and Barney as regular visitors.

Despite being part of The Simpsons for such a long time, the 765th episode overall revealed that Larry's full name was in fact Lawrence Dalrymple.

Larry, pictured on the left, had been in The Simpsons since 1989. (Disney)

'Cremains of the Day' explored the aftermath of Larry’s death, as Homer and friends at Moe's come to terms with the loss and the mystery behind his life.

Homer, Moe, Lenny and Carl attend Larry's funeral, but realize that they know almost nothing about their 'friend'.

The group, who Iris - Larry's mother - describes as his 'best friends', unconvincingly tells a vague fishing story at the funeral.

Larry's ashes are then sprinkled at a 'special place', Serenity Falls.

Fans of The Simpsons were caught off guard by Larry's death, with many taking to social media in the aftermath of watching his 'death episode'.

"Holy s**t Larry from the Simpsons died, rest in peace my drunken king," one person penned on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Just learned they are killing off Larry on The Simpsons tomorrow. I need a minute," a second added.

The character will be deeply missed. (Disney)

While a third pointed out: "Really enjoyed last night's Simpsons episode. But I couldn't stop wondering why there was no mention of Larry's best friend, Sam."

Co-executive producer Tim Long has since apologized for Larry's death after an outpouring of love for the character.

He told TMZ that he's sorry to fans upset about the death, though added he was pleased with the reaction because it speaks to how beloved the show still is.

Long went on to say that the creative team meant for Larry's death to hit viewers as hard as it did, despite being a minor character in the show.

Characters on The Simpsons don't die often, so Larry's death is certainly a big deal.