The Simpsons writer Dan McGrath has died at the age of 61

The next day, she wrote on Facebook: "We lost my incredible brother Danny yesterday. He was a special man, one of a kind. An incredible son, brother, uncle and friend. Our hearts are broken."

Tributes have since poured in for Dan - who also co-wrote Treehouse of Horror IV's The Devil and Homer Simpson (1993) and Treehouse of Horror V's Time and Punishment (1994) with Greg Daniels.

Former The Simpsons writer and showrunner Bill Oakley, 59, hailed Dan as a "great person".

He wrote on X: "R.I.P. today to Dan McGrath, great person and super-talented writer at The Simpsons, SNL, King of the Hill, and Mission Hill ... He brought so much joy ... You were a real one, Mr McGrath. You'll never be forgotten."

Fellow former The Simpsons writer and showrunner Josh Weinstein, 59, said Dan was "one of the funniest - and kindest - writers and an unsung hero on all the shows he worked on".

Josh added on X: "RIP to one of the sweetest, funniest souls we ever had the pleasure to work with and know."

And a fan of Dan's work also said on the social media platform: "Dan was a huge part of *The Simpsons* Golden Era in Seasons 4-6. Also wrote for *SNL* in Season 16 and 17.

"One of his biggest credits though for me is *Mission Hill*. He wrote two episodes including the finale which is a really beautiful love story. RIP. (sic)."

Dan began his career as a writer on the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and he frequently worked with comedian-and-actors Adam Sandler, 59, and the late Chris Farley.

Dan then moved to work on The Simpsons, where he bagged writing credits for 50 episodes, released from 1992 to 1994, as well as producing 24 episodes released from 1996 to 1998.

He won the Outstanding Animated Program Emmy for his work on the 1997 episode, Homer's Phobia.

The episode sees a gay antiques dealer called John (filmmaker John Waters) be befriended by Marge (Julie Kavner), and Marge's husband Homer (Dan Castellaneta) becomes friends with John.

Dan was also honoured by GLAAD for the episode's anti-homophobia message.

After he got fired twice from The Simpsons, he worked on Mission Hill, Gravity Falls, and spent eight years contributing to episodes for King of the Hill.