Dan McGrath, the Emmy-winning writer whose sharp, playful mind helped shape the golden years of "The Simpsons", died on November 14 at the age of 61.

His sister, Gail McGrath Garabadian, announced the news in a Facebook post on Saturday, calling him "a special man, one of a kind… Our hearts are broken."

Across three decades in American television, McGrath carved out a reputation for fearless, absurdist humour and a gift for emotional undercurrents disguised as jokes. His name appears on the writing credits for 50 episodes of "The Simpsons" between 1992 and 1994—an era many fans still consider the show's most inventive. He returned as a producer for 24 more episodes from 1996 to 1998.

In 1997, he earned an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program for "Homer's Phobia", a landmark episode featuring director John Waters as a flamboyant antiques dealer who befriends Marge. The story—Homer panicking over Bart's exposure to a gay man—pushed cultural boundaries with wit, empathy, and a sting of satire that still lands today.

Among McGrath's most memorable contributions are "Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood", "The Devil and Homer Simpson", and "Time and Punishment", each showcasing his addiction to narrative chaos and comic timing.

Before Springfield, he cut his teeth at "Saturday Night Live" from 1991 to 1992, where he became a regular collaborator with Chris Farley and Adam Sandler. His work there earned him an Emmy nomination and made him a trusted voice in a writers' room packed with rising comic giants.

McGrath's career stretched far beyond those two cultural juggernauts. His writing credits include "King of the Hill", "Mission Hill", "Sammy", "The PJs", and "Muppets Tonight", reflecting both his versatility and his appetite for animation's freedoms.

Born in Brooklyn and educated at Harvard University—where he served as vice president of the Harvard Lampoon—McGrath grew into a writer whose instinctive absurdism concealed real tenderness. His obituary summed it up simply: "His prodigious talents and singular personality will be missed by many devoted friends."

His family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Regis High School, his alma mater. He leaves behind his mother, Eleanor; his brothers Michael (and wife Caroline) and Peter; and his sister, Gail.