Chris Ledesma, the longtime music editor of The Simpsons, has died at the age of 64.
The animated show paid tribute to Ledesma in the last episode, with a title card that read, “In loving memory of Chris Ledesma.”
The title card showed below an animated version of Ledesma sitting on the Simpsons couch with Homer, Marge, Lisa, Maggie and Bart while holding an orchestra baton. New York Post reports
Ledesma worked on every episode of The Simpsons during his 33 years as music editor from 1989 until he stepped down in May 2022 for health reasons.
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Members of The Simpsons crew have taken to social media to pay tribute to the late music publisher.
“Chris Ledesma was a sweet man who loved his job and was very, very good at it. We miss him,” tweeted writer Carolyn Omine.
“A wonderful, hard-working and very talented man who will be missed by all who knew him,” Al Jean, an early member of the original writing staff, tweeted.
“Chris Ledesma was a sweet, goofy guy with a giant heart – his amazing musical life spanned 33 years of @TheSimpsons,” executive producer and showrunner Matt Selman wrote.
“Chris Ledesma’s passion for music and for @TheSimpsons was an inspiration. I am thankful for the time I spent with him this year. He was a great mentor and a genuine person. My heart goes out to his family. Rest in peace Chris,” said the show’s new music editor Jake Schaefer.
Animator Matthew Schofield added: “I was shocked and saddened to learn of the recent passing of Chris Ledesma. He very kindly arranged for me to sit in on the scoring session for my episode ‘Black Eyes Please’ ( he’s in the red shirt, that’s me on the right). A wonderful guy who truly loved his job. RIP Chris.”
“Chris Ledesma was one of the kindest and most talented people to work with on a team full of kind and mega-talented people. I haven’t worked with him in a while, but his kindness on Twitter these past few years really felt. Rest in peace dear Chris,” ex The Simpsons said showrunner Josh Weinstein.
In September 2021, Ledesma tweeted about a “significant milestone” she reached with the show.
“I have 23,242 days. I have worked The Simpsons for 11,621 days. Born on 28/1/1958. First day on #TheSimpsons on 11/22/1989,” he wrote. “Not many can say they’ve worked ANY job for LITERALLY half their lives.”
Ledesma lived most of his life in Southern California. He studied at the California Institute of the Arts and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, specializing in orchestral conducting.
The music editor also worked in films such as Pure Country, Robin Hood: Men in Tights i Blast from the past.
Ledesma began playing the piano at the age of three and first entered the industry as a tour guide at Universal Studios Hollywood in 1984.
He is survived by his wife Michelle, to whom he was married for 39 years, and their two daughters.
This story originally appeared in the New York Post and is reproduced with permission