Emmy-winning television writer Dan McGrath has died at 61 following a stroke.
His sister, Gail McGrath Garabadian, shared the news through a Facebook post on Saturday morning.
"We lost my incredible brother Danny yesterday [November 14] she wrote. "He was a special man, one of a kind. An incredible son, brother, uncle and friend. Our hearts are broken."
Mr McGrath earned widespread recognition for his contributions to The Simpsons, where he penned the acclaimed 1997 episode Homer's Phobia.
Dan McGrath's most iconic episode sees Homer befriending John Walter (right)
|FOX
The episode, which featured film director John Waters as a gay antiques dealer, secured Mr McGrath an Emmy Award for outstanding animated programme.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Mr McGrath's family described him as possessing exceptional talent and a distinctive personality that would be deeply missed by his many devoted friends.
Mr McGrath's path to television comedy began at Harvard University, where he served as vice president of the Harvard Lampoon.
He established himself as a theatre director during his university years before transitioning to professional writing.
Gail McGrath Garabadian shared the news of her brother's death on social media
|His breakthrough came with Saturday Night Live from 1991 to 1992, where he formed notable partnerships with comedians Chris Farley and Adam Sandler.
This work earned him an Emmy nomination in 1992. Mr McGrath joined The Simpsons in 1992, contributing 50 episodes as a writer until 1994.
He returned to the programme as a producer from 1996 to 1998, overseeing 24 episodes.
Despite accumulating extensive credits on the series, Mr McGrath reportedly faced dismissal from the show on two occasions.
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Fans offered their sympathies to Dan McGrath's family
|The Homer's Phobia episode explored themes of homophobia when Homer befriends an antiques dealer before discovering his sexual orientation and attempting to shield Bart from his influence.
The episode garnered recognition from GLAAD for its anti-discrimination message.
Mr McGrath's other memorable Simpsons contributions included Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood, The Devil and Homer Simpson, Time and Punishment, Bart of Darkness, and segments of Treehouse of Horror IV.
His writing portfolio extended beyond The Simpsons to encompass King of the Hill, Mission Hill, The PJs, and Muppets Tonight.
Dan McGrath established himself as a theatre director during his university years before transitioning to professional writing
|Channel 4
He also contributed to Gravity Falls and Sammy, the latter created alongside his SNL colleague David Spade.
On Mission Hill, Mr McGrath penned the Gus and Wally episode, which received particular acclaim for its LGBT representation.
Mr McGrath leaves behind his mother Eleanor, brothers Michael and Peter, and sister Gail.
Tributes flooded social media following the announcement.
One colleague recalled following Mr McGrath around university whilst he wore a "Jump Up and Kiss Me" T-shirt, later collaborating on As I Lay Dying. Another remembered McGrath directing them in theatre productions, describing him as "a true genius, always kind, and pushing the envelope."
A Mission Hill collaborator praised Mr McGrath as their "right-hand man" who created the celebrated Gus and Wally episode. The animation community expressed collective grief over losing such a memorable contributor.
Mr McGrath's family requested donations to Regis High School in lieu of flowers.