United Kingdom, May 14 -- 'The Simpsons' writer Steve Pepoon has died at the age of 68.

The award-winning writer - who had been receiving treatment for a heart condition called cardiac amyloidosis - died unexpectedly outside his home in Paola, Kansas, on May 3.

Mary Stephenson, Pepoon's wife, has confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.

The writer enjoyed a hugely successful career in the TV industry, working on a host of well-known shows, such as 'The Simpsons', 'Roseanne' and 'The Wild Thornberrys'.

Pepoon left Kansas to move to Los Angeles in 1979 and in 1985, he sold at script that eventually became an episode of 'Silver Spoons', the NBC sitcom that starred Alfonso Ribeiro and Jason Bateman.

In 1987, Pepoon was hired as a st...