Who was Steve Pepoon? Family and All about Simpson’s writer as he dies unexpectedly at 68

Steve Pepoon, an Emmy Award-winning television writer who worked on The Simpsons and other series, has died at the age of 68. He passed away on May 3, 2025, from cardiac amyloidosis, a rare heart condition. His death was announced weeks later by his wife, Mary Stephenson.

Pepoon was born on May 19, 1956, in Kansas City, Missouri, and moved to Paola with his parents when he was two years old. He became interested in television at a young age. A report by Dengel & Son indicates that The Dick Van Dyke Show was an early inspiration for his ambition to become a screenwriter.

Pepoon graduated from Kansas State University in 1978 and moved to Los Angeles, where he took a series of jobs, including managing a drive-in and running a video arcade, while writing scripts and trying to break into the entertainment business.

Steve Pepoon sold his first script to Silver Spoons in 1985, and in 1987, he began working as a full-time writer for the hit series ALF. While he was there, he wrote on speculation, and one of those scripts became a turning point in his career.

The Simpsons episode "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment" gave him a huge breakthrough. The episode aired in 1991 during the show's second season and won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. Additionally, it introduced us to a new character, Troy McClure, voiced by the late Phil Hartman.

More about Steve Pepoon's career and other projects

Apart from The Simpsons, Steve Pepoon's credits include Roseanne, It's Garry Shandling's Show, Dinosaurs, The PJs, and Get a Life. He was also the head writer and showrunner of The Jackie Thomas Show alongside Tom and Roseanne Arnold.

Pepoon made a significant impact as co-creator of The Wild Thornberrys, a Nickelodeon series that also led to a feature film. He also worked on Rugrats Go Wild and various other animated and live-action projects.

Trending

Dengel & Son notes that he frequently included obscure references to his hometown, Paola, in his creations, such as a nod to his father's construction business in "Tom" and a mention of the town in an episode of "ALF." Steve Pepoon had a variety of interests outside of writing. He was reportedly a skilled close-up magician and a member of the Academy of Magical Arts.

He was also passionate about tennis, astronomy, film history, and classic Americana. A Back to the Future enthusiast, he proudly owned a DeLorean and was often seen driving the iconic car.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback