Image copyright Fox Image caption Curran also worked on Late Night with David Letterman

Television comedy writer Kevin Curran, who worked on The Simpsons for 17 years, has died at the age of 59.

A spokesman for Fox, which produces the animated series, confirmed he died on Tuesday.

Curran started working on The Simpsons in 1998 as a consulting producer and stayed with the show until 2015.

He won six Emmys across his career as part of the writing teams for The Simpsons as well as Late Night with David Letterman.

The Simpsons team won three Emmys for outstanding animated programme in 2003, 2006 and 2008.

Curran also shared three Emmys between 1985 and 1987 for his work on Letterman's comedy chat show.

Al Jean, executive producer and showrunner on The Simpsons, tweeted: "V sad at the passing of Kevin Curran. Brilliantly funny and true friend."

Curran attended Harvard University and also wrote and produced for Unhappily Ever After and Married … With Children, which starred Ed O'Neill and ran for 10 years.

He was in a previous relationship with English novelist and screenwriter Helen Fielding, creator of the Bridget Jones character.

Curran is survived by his and Fielding's two children - Dashiell and Romy.

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