Roseanne writer Eric Gilliland dead at 62 after colon cancer battle

Roseanne writer Eric Gilliland has passed away aged 62 after a colon cancer battle.

The sad news centered around the television and producer best known for his work on the hit 1990s era sitcom was confirmed by his sister Lisa to Variety on Monday.

Gilliland served as both producer and writer on the ABC series from 1992 to 1996.

He was recognized for his efforts as he earned a nomination for a Writers Guild of America Awards for the episode The Dark Ages which aired in 1992.

Roseanne writer Eric Gilliland has passed away aged 62 after a colon cancer battle

Gilliland served as both producer and writer on the ABC series from 1992 to 1996

The talented Hollywood veteran then went on to work as a consulting producer for two episodes of Roseanne spin-off series The Conners in 2019. 

 Gilliland was also known for his work as a consulting producer on popular teen sitcom That '70s Show from 1998 to 1999.

 During his time on the Fox series he wrote the first season's third episode titled 'Streaking.'

The creative did plenty of television producing during his career including on Nurses, That's Life, Welcome To New York, Mr. Sunshine, and My Boys.

He also wrote episodes for many of those aforementioned series including two episodes of Mr. Sunshine, which the late Matthew Perry both starred in and co-created, but was short-lived on ABC.

Gilliland's other writing credits included The Wonder Years, Who's The Boss, Doogie Howser, M.D., Women In Prison, Live-In,  Living Dolls, and Married People.

More recently he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for his work on Netflix historical sketch comedy series The Who Was? Show in 2019. 

He was born and raised in Glenview, Illinois.

The talented Hollywood veteran then went on to work as a consulting producer for two episodes of Roseanne spin-off series The Conners in 2019

He (pictured in June 2017) was born and raised in Glenview, Illinois and graduated from Glenbrook South High School in 1980 before getting his degree from the Northwestern University School of Communication in 1984

Gilliland graduated from Glenbrook South High School in 1980 before getting his degree from the Northwestern University School of Communication in 1984.

Many in the entertainment industry took to social media to pay tribute to the producer and writer.

Modern Family co-creator Steve Levitan wrote on Facebook Monday: 'Weird, I know, but I found myself thinking this morning that Eric Gilliland would have taken some perverse pleasure in knowing that, of all people, he was outlived by Dick Van Dyke.

'That’s one of the ways Eric and I bonded back in 8th grade, over our mutual love for The Dick Van Dyke Show. And Monty Python, Jack Benny, The Carol Burnett Show, SNL and bad puns. (Yes, people, we started a pun club).'

Gilliland was also known for his work as a consulting producer on popular teen sitcom That '70s Show from 1998 to 1999

More recently he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for his work on Netflix historical sketch comedy series The Who Was? Show in 2019

Actor Martha Plimpton took to Instagram to pay tribute as they wrote: 'I don’t have the ability to find the older pictures right now. I don’t know entirely what to do with myself. 

'Today is harder. The world is a less happy and laughter filled place without my friend, Eric Gilliland.'

Actor Dan Bucatinsky called Gilliland 'brilliant, swet, kind, funny, generous' in his tribute posted on Instagram.

He concluded: 'His legacy is the wake of love he generated from so many friends.'