The creators of The Simpsons are killing off a "great character".

Warning, Simpsons fans.

You may find this majorly disappointing.

Also, ALERT. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A SPOILER BELOW.

26 seasons. That’s a loooong time. And when you get to 549 episodes, you know how to work your audience.

Executive producer Al Jean sparked some interest by stating that a “great character” was going to be killed off in the premiere of the 26th season. The character was “voiced by an actor who won an Emmy for playing that [role]”.

It made it sound like it was going to be someone VITAL. Someone ESSENTIAL.

Maybe even someone SIMPSON.

But it wasn’t. The 26th season premiere happened last night, and someone died.

It was Rabbi Hyman Krustofski.

‘EH?’ you might say.

Rabbi Krustofski is Krusty the Clown’s Jewish dad. He was voiced by Jackie Mason, who did win the Emmy for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for this role in 1992 – the first Simpsons guest star to ever win an Emmy for their work on the show.

Whether this is a bit of a let-down to you or not, let it be remembered:

He was a respected Rabbi in the Lower East Side of Springfield, and he fathered a funny.

Vale, Hyman. Vale.

“Excuse us, Rabbi Krustofsky?” “Oh, what can I do for you, my young friend?” #thesimpsons pic.twitter.com/1hC3Z27rAm

— The Diddly Iddly (@thediddlyiddly) September 8, 2014