The Simpsons writer Marc Wilmore dies aged 57 after testing positive for Covid-19

Television writer Marc Wilmore has passed away at the age of 57

Marc Wilmore was best known for being a writer on The Simpsons between 2002 and 2015, but also wrote on In Living Color, The PJs, and F Is For Family. His death was announced by his brother Larry Wilmore, who is a comedian, writer, and podcaster, saying he was battling Coivd-19 and other health conditions. "My brother was the kindest, gentlest, funniest, lion of an angel I’ve ever known," wrote Larry Wilmore. "I love you little brother."

My sweet sweet brother, Marc Edward Wilmore, passed away last night while battling COVID and other conditions that have had him in pain for many years. My brother was the kindest, gentlest, funniest, lion of an angel I’ve ever known. I love you little brother. pic.twitter.com/Zhcg1U4Evr

— Larry Wilmore (@larrywilmore) February 1, 2021

Marc Wilmore got his start as a writer on the influential sketch comedy show In Living Color, and was promoted to cast member in the show's final season, notably doing impressions of Robert Guillaume, Maya Angelou, and James Earl Jones. He then served as a writer on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, before working on Eddie Murphy's short-lived stop motion animated series The PJs. He ended up writing on The Simpsons after playing a prank on Simpsons writer Matt Selman, organised by the show's other staff. Wilmore called Selman claiming to be the mayor of East St. Louis, Illinois, berating Selman over a joke about the city Selman had written in the episode "They Saved Lisa's Brain". After lending his voice to the season 11 episode "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge," Wilmore's first writing credit was for the "Send in the Clones" segment in "Treehouse of Horror XIII" - a segment notable for its famous dig at Family Guy's Peter Griffin. He would go on to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program as a producer for the episode "Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind" in 2008.