The Simpsons writer and producer Kevin Curran has passed away aged 59 after a long period of ill health.
The six-time Emmy Award winner died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday (October 25), Fox confirmed.
Curran met Al Jean, who would go on to become showrunner on The Simpsons, while studying at Harvard. The writer went on to join the long-running show in 2001 and wrote 11 episodes over the following 14 years.
Following the news of his death, Jean said in a statement: "Kevin Curran was a sweet, brilliant man who said many hilarious things, some unprintable, others which will live forever in a children's cartoon."
.@TheSimpsons V v sad at the passing of Kevin Curran brilliantly funny and true friend https://t.co/hCoPUEV6xx
— Al Jean (@AlJean) October 25, 2016
Fellow Simpsons writer-producer Dana Gould also tweeted: "Kevin Curran was a terrific guy, great friend, and brutally funny. Could say the damnedest things the brightest twinkle... Rest In Peace."
Kevin Curran was a terrific guy, great friend, and brutally funny. Could say the damnedest things the brightest twinkle... Rest In Peace.
— Dana Gould (@danagould) October 25, 2016
Memorable episodes Curran wrote for The Simpsons include Don't Fear the Roofer and I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can, and the writer also co-wrote Treehouse of Horror.
He won three Emmy Awards for the animated series and three for his work as part of the writing team on Late Night With David Letterman.
In the 1990s he worked on Fox's Married With Children, Unhappily Ever After and The Good Life before joining The Simpsons' writing staff full-time.
He is survived by his two children, Dashiell and Romy, with former partner, Bridget Jones writer Helen Fielding.
Tributes to the veteran comedy actor have been pouring in on Twitter.
Kevin Curran made u laugh on Simpsons, Married, & more. He was hilariously cynical about everything in life except his kids, whom he adored.
— Mike Scully (@scullymike) October 26, 2016
Sad to hear about passing of Kevin Curran. Didn't know him, but admired his work as a writer for The Simpsons and Letterman. Rest In Peace.
— Frank Conniff (@FrankConniff) October 25, 2016
RIP our talented friend Kevin Curran https://t.co/O6t6bl7hMw
— David Silverman (@tubatron) October 25, 2016
Aw, Kevin Curran R.I.P. Wrote some of my favorite Simpsons episodes, including "The Island of Dr. Hibbert" segment.
— Jenelle Riley (@jenelleriley) October 25, 2016
My dear friend Kevin Curran passed away this morning. I will miss his supreme intelligence, generous warm heart and great wit forever.
— (((Fred Graver))) (@fredgraver) October 25, 2016
RIP, Kevin Curran. You may be gone, but your "Circus" story lives on forever... #JuddHirsch #JuddNelson https://t.co/Afjr72RQTN pic.twitter.com/kI6KqxyTgp
— Will Harris (@NonStopPop) October 25, 2016
What an honor to work alongside the legendary Kevin Curran. A wonderful, hilarious, kind man. pic.twitter.com/bz52HRJSi6
— Brian Kelley (@dcguzzler) October 25, 2016
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