Dan McGrath, Acclaimed Writer for ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘SNL,’ Passes Away at 61

Dan McGrath, the Emmy-winning writer and producer best known for his work on ‘The Simpsons,’ passed away on November 14, 2025, at the age of 61. His sister, Gail McGrath Garabadian, confirmed the news in a heartfelt Facebook post, remembering him as ‘an incredible son, brother, uncle, and friend.’ McGrath’s career spanned numerous iconic shows, with notable writing credits on ‘The Simpsons,’ including episodes like ‘Homer’s Phobia,’ ‘Boy-Scoutz ‘n the Hood,’ and ‘The Devil and Homer Simpson.’ He earned an Emmy in 1997 for his work on ‘Homer’s Phobia,’ an episode that featured John Waters. McGrath began his career as a writer for ‘Saturday Night Live’ in the early ’90s and worked alongside comedy legends like Chris Farley and Adam Sandler. He was nominated for an Emmy for his work on the show in 1992. In addition to ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘SNL,’ McGrath’s career included writing for other animated shows like ‘King of the Hill’ and ‘Mission Hill,’ as well as ‘The PJs’ and ‘Muppets Tonight.’ Born in Brooklyn, New York, McGrath graduated from Harvard University, where he served as vice president of the Harvard Lampoon. His family requests donations to his alma mater, Regis High School, in lieu of flowers. McGrath is survived by his mother, two brothers, and a sister.