Dan McGrath, a writer and producer who helped define teh golden age of “The Simpsons,” has died at age 61 following a stroke. McGrath was a key contributor to the show’s celebrated 1990s run, penning episodes that remain fan favorites and earning an Emmy Award for his work on “homer’s Phobia.” His passing marks a loss for the animation industry and the many writers and performers he influenced during his career,which also included time at “Saturday Night Live” and “King of the hill.”
Dan McGrath, a prolific writer for the iconic animated series “The Simpsons,” died Friday, November 17, in New York City, after suffering a stroke. He was 61 years old.
McGrath was a key voice in shaping the show’s early success during the 1990s, contributing as a writer to 50 episodes between 1992 and 1994, and later producing an additional 24. His work on “The Simpsons” helped solidify the show’s place in television history and its enduring cultural impact. He received an Emmy Award in 1997 for “Homer’s Phobia” (Season 8) in the category of Outstanding Animated Program. Other memorable episodes penned by McGrath include classics like “The Devil and Homer Simpson,” “Time and Punishment,” and “Bart the Darkness.”
“We lost my incredible brother Danny yesterday. He was a truly special and one-of-a-kind human being. An amazing son, brother, uncle, and friend. Our hearts are broken,” his sister, Gail Garabadian, wrote on Facebook.
McGrath’s career began in 1991 at “Saturday Night Live,” where he collaborated closely with Adam Sandler (59) and Chris Farley († 33), earning his first Emmy nomination in 1992. Despite being let go from “The Simpsons” on two separate occasions, he continued to thrive in animation, later writing eleven episodes for “King of the Hill.”
