Luann Van Houten is voiced by Maggie Roswell. When Roswell left the show in 1998, she became a primarily nonspeaking character. However, Roswell returned in 2002. Since the season 8 episode, "A Milhouse Divided", Luann was depicted as a promiscuous, single mother, who stuck her successful love life in the face of her ex-husband, Kirk. She first appeared in "Homer Defined," as a concerned mother who barred Milhouse from being Bart's friend due to Bart being a bad influence. She wears glasses, a trait that she shares with her husband and son. Luann Van Houten's mother is Italian and often abused her grandson, Milhouse, whenever he spoke English (as Luann's mother was left in Italy by an American soldier during World War II and came to resent America because of it). Her father is Greek American. She was born in Shelbyville, and moved to Springfield in early life. It is stated in "A Milhouse Divided" that she has a sister (from whom she borrows money, as her husband does not provide for her at all).
Luann was married to Kirk for several years, giving birth to a son, Milhouse, yet the marriage was an unhappy one. After an argument over a game of Pictionary, she leaves Kirk after he remarks he can't draw "dignity", since he gave it up when he married her. Although Kirk found the new liberty of a single life tough, Luann uses her newfound freedom to live life in the fast lane. Luann began dating American Gladiator Pyro shortly after her divorce with Kirk for several seasons, but was caught cheating on him with his best friend, Gyro. In Apu Nahasapeemapetilon's bachelor years, she had been one of his bachelorettes. In "Milhouse of Sand and Fog", it is revealed that Luann had also gone out with Disco Stu as well and had begun a relationship with Captain MacAllister.
In "Milhouse of Sand and Fog" the Van Houtens reunited. Since then, they are often seen together (although in the episode "Ice Cream of Margie (with the Light Blue Hair)", Kirk was seen with Milhouse at a single father's outing, showing he and Luann were still not married). As of "Little Orphan Millie", they are remarried. The most recent appearance of these two can be found in the episode "Moe Goes from Rags to Riches".
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