‘The Simpsons,’ ‘King of the Hill’ writer Dan McGrath passes away at 61

Dan McGrath, Emmy-winning writer and producer behind iconic shows like The Simpsons and King of the Hill, died at the age of 61.

The icon passed away on Friday at NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn after suffering a stroke, his sister Gail Garabadian confirmed.

McGrath started his career at The Harvard Lampoon before moving to Saturday Night Live in 1991.

During his two seasons on the show, he earned an Emmy nomination in 1992 and worked closely with comedy stars Adam Sandler and Chris Farley.

However, he made a lasting mark on The Simpsons, writing 50 episodes from 1992 to 1994 and producing 24 episodes from 1996 to 1998.

Some of his most loved episodes included The Devil and Homer Simpson, Time and Punishment, Bart of Darkness and Homer’s Phobia, which won him an Emmy in 1997.

Moreover, McGrath was known for his sharp humour and imaginative storytelling, which left a lasting impact on the show’s legacy.

Afterward, the late star spent eight years on King of the Hill, writing 11 episodes and producing 28 from 2002 to 2010.

His work included Full Metal Dust Jacket and The Minh Who Knew Too Much, as he also contributed to other animated shows, including Muppets Tonight, Gravity Falls, Sammy, Mission Hill, and The PJs.

Born in Brooklyn on July 20, 1964, Dan McGrath studied East Asian Studies at Harvard and briefly worked on educational computer games.