Kevin Curran, a veteran comedy writer who spent 15 years on “The Simpsons,” died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles after a long illness. He was 59.

Curran graduated from Harvard College in 1979, where he served as an editor for the Harvard Lampoon. While at Harvard, Curran met Al Jean, who would go on to become the showrunner of Fox’s “The Simpsons.” Curran had been on staff at “The Simpsons” since 2001, most recently serving as co-executive producer.

“He was one of the funniest guys I ever met,” Jean said. “He also had one of the sweetest, biggest hearts. He really was a terrific guy.”

Notable episodes Curran wrote for “The Simpsons” include “Don’t Fear the Roofer” (2005) and “I’m Spelling as Fast as I Can” (2003). He conceived the idea and co-wrote the 2002 “Treehouse of Horror” Halloween episode “The Island of Dr. Hibbert.” Curran won three Emmy Awards during his tenure on the show.

In addition, Curran won three consecutive Emmys from 1985-87 as part of the writing team on NBC’s “Late Night With David Letterman.” In the 1990s, he worked on Fox’s “Married With Children” and was also an executive producer of the WB Network’s “Unhappily Ever After” alongside “Married With Children” creator Ron Leavitt. Curran’s other TV credits included the short-lived ABC comedy “The Good Life.”

Curran is survived by a son and a daughter that he had with his former partner, author Helen Fielding.

Friends and former colleagues took to social media to pay tribute to Curran.

.@TheSimpsons V v sad at the passing of Kevin Curran brilliantly funny and true friend https://t.co/hCoPUEV6xx — Al Jean (@AlJean) October 25, 2016

He worked with me at the old Letterman show, a millionyears ago. He was sweet, original and hilarious. Very sad to hear he is gone. https://t.co/REmzcQprjS — Merrill Markoe (@Merrillmarkoe) October 25, 2016

Cynthia Littleton contributed to this report.