'The Simpsons' writer Don Payne dies

Don Payne, the author behind hit TV series 'The Simpsons', has died after battling bone cancer. He was 48.

The four-time Emmy-winning writer, a self-professed "comic book geek", co-wrote the script for 'Thor'.

He was behind the scripts for 'My Super Ex-Girlfriend', starring Uma Thurman and Luke Wilson, 'Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer' and upcoming film 'Maximum Ride'.

Payne started on 'The Simpsons' in 1998 and wrote more than a dozen episodes of the long-running Fox series and served as a consulting producer on 100, the Hollywood Reporter said.

"Don was a wonderful writer and an even more wonderful man," showrunner Al Jean said.
 

"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."

Payne is survived by his wife Julie and three children.