The Simpsons and Letterman writer Kevin Curran dies aged 59

Kevin Curran, a comedy writer and producer who spent 15 years working on The Simpsons, has died aged 59 after a long illness.

Curran, who won three Emmy Awards for his work on the hit US show, passed away in Los Angeles on Tuesday, spokeswoman Antonia Coffman said.

He joined the show in 2001 and in recent years had been co-executive producer.

Episodes he wrote included Don't Fear the Roofer in 2005 and The Winter of His Content in 2014.

He was nominated for a Humanitas award for his episode The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed in 2010.

The Simpsons executive producer Al Jean wrote on Twitter: "V v sad at the passing of Kevin Curran brilliantly funny and true friend."

During his career Curran was also on the writing team of Late Night with David Letterman in the 1980s and shared in the show's Emmy successes too.

Merrill Markoe, co-creator and the original head writer for the show, wrote in response to Jean's tweet: "He worked with me at the old Letterman show, a million years ago. He was sweet, original and hilarious. Very sad to hear he is gone."

Curran also wrote for Married ... With Children, a US sitcom featuring the fictional dysfunctional family, The Bundys, for which he also served as the uncredited voice of Buck the Dog.

He is survived by a son and a daughter that he had with his former partner, author Helen Fielding, creator of Bridget Jones.