The Simpsons recasts classic character Dr Hibbert
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The Simpsons has recast another classic character to better reflect diversity on-screen.
Last summer, Fox announced that it would be changing up the cast of the Emmy-winning animated series by no longer having "white actors [voicing] non-white characters".
The latest casting will see white actor Harry Shearer stepping down from playing Dr Hibbert after 31 years in the role, with his final appearance having already aired last weekend (via Vulture).
Taking Shearer's place as Springfield's top doc beginning in the February 28, 2021 episode is Kevin Michael Richardson, a frequent voice actor on Seth MacFarlane's animated shows Family Guy, The Cleveland Show and American Dad.
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Richardson has also guested on The Simpsons more than 70 times before, most notably as the TV sports host Anger Watkins from the fictional ESBN channel.
The actor's many credits also include earning two Daytime Emmy Award nominations for playing The Joker in the animated series The Batman, as well as contributing to Young Justice, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness and the Trolls movies.
Shearer will continue to voice his many other characters on The Simpsons – including Mr Burns and Smithers, Ned Flanders and Kent Brockman – even though he has stepped down from playing Dr Hibbert.
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Two other previous Simpsons recastings have impacted Hank Azaria, first by stepping down from voicing the Indian character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon following years of controversy.
Azaria was also replaced last September in his role as Homer's co-worker and fellow Moe's bar patron Carl Carlson by Alex Désert, from the Spider-Man and Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes animated shows.
The Simpsons is now available to watch on Disney+ in the US and the UK.
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