Don Payne, a co-executive producer of The Simpsons and Thor screenwriter, died in Los Angeles on Tuesday after battling cancer. He was 48.

The University of California, Los Angeles graduate won four primetime Emmys with The Simpsons since joining the Fox show's writing staff in 1998. Payne wrote 16 episodes, including Fraudcast News, which earned him the 2005 Writers Guild Paul Selvin Award, Yahoo reported. 

"Don was a wonderful writer and an even more wonderful man," said Simpsons showrunner Al Jean in a statement, according to the report. "He was beloved in the Simpsons community and his untimely passing is terrible news to us all. I know he is up with Thor now looking down at us and smiling."

While working for The Simpsons, Payne began screenwriting. He produced My Super Ex-Girlfriend in 2006, followed by Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer in 2007.

Payne also wrote a draft of Thor for Marvel, before working on the sequel, Thor: The Dark World.

Maximum Ride, Payne's most recent writing gig, is an adaptation of a James Patterson novel about genetically-engineered children with wings who fly around the country to discover their origins. The film doesn't yet have a release date.

Payne had two episodes of The Simpsons in production at the time of his death. They are both scheduled to air during the show's Season 25, including this year's Christmas special, White Christmas Blues.

Payne is survived by his wife and three children.

 

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