‘The Simpsons’ writer Dan McGrath dies aged 61

Los Angeles: Emmy-winning comedy writer Dan McGrath, celebrated for his work on ‘The Simpsons’ and the animated cult favourite ‘Mission Hill’, died at the age of 61.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, McGrath passed away on November 14 at NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn after suffering a stroke. His sister, Gail McGrath Garabadian, confirmed the news in a Facebook post, paying tribute to her brother as a “special man” and “one of a kind”.

“We lost my incredible brother Danny yesterday,” she wrote. “He was a special man… an incredible son, brother, uncle and friend. Our hearts are broken.”

How did his career begin?

Born in Brooklyn on July 20, 1964, McGrath attended Regis High School before studying at Harvard University, where he served as vice president of The Harvard Lampoon and worked actively in theatre. His early career included a stint as a writer on Saturday Night Live, earning an Emmy nomination in 1992 and working closely with Chris Farley and Adam Sandler.

McGrath won his Emmy for the acclaimed 1997 episode “Homer’s Phobia” from ‘The Simpsons’. The episode, featuring filmmaker John Waters as a gay antiques dealer who befriends Marge, is remembered as a landmark moment for the series. Other standout episodes penned by McGrath include “Boy-Scoutz ’n the Hood”, “The Devil and Homer Simpson” and “Time and Punishment”.

Beyond ‘The Simpsons’, McGrath contributed to a number of animated and comedy series, including ‘Mission Hill’, ‘King of the Hill’, ‘Sammy’, ‘The PJs’ and ‘Muppets Tonight’.

McGrath is survived by his mother, Eleanor; his brothers, Peter and Michael; his sister, Gail; his sister-in-law, Caroline; his nephew, Dillon, and his nieces, Kylie and Emma.