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

A spokesperson for Fox, which produces the long-running animated series, confirmed that Curran died on Tuesday. He had battled an illness for a number of years.

Curran began working on The Simpsons as a consulting producer in 1998, and remained with the show until 2015.

In recent years, he had been a co-executive producer on the show, and wrote a number of episodes, including "Don't Fear the Roofer" in 2005, and "The Winter of His Content" in 2014.

Curran won three Emmy Awards during his stint on The Simpsons, and was nominated for a Humanitas Award in 2010 for his episode "The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed".

Tributes poured in on Twitter for Curran from fans and colleagues, including Al Jean, a fellow writer on The Simpsons.

Curran also wrote for Late Night with David Letterman and Married...With Children.

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

Curran is survived by his two children with Fielding, Dashiell and Romy.