ABOVE: Watch a report by Vladimir Duthiers on how Sam Simon made a mark by giving away millions of dollars.
TORONTO — Sam Simon, one of the creators of The Simpsons, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer. He was 59.
After being diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2012, Simon publicly pledged to give his fortune to charitable causes — notably animal rights.
He created an eponymous foundation that rescued dogs from shelters and trained them as companions for disabled people and veterans.
“For those of us who knew him, his voice will forever echo in our minds; his sense of humour will continue to make us laugh; and his compassion and generosity will continue to impact our lives,” read a statement from the Sam Simon Foundation.
Simon also supported a number of animal rights organizations, including the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, founded by Toronto’s Paul Watson.
Simon’s personal mission included an offer to pay the Canadian Sealers Association (CSA) if it could arrange a federal buyout of the East Coast seal trade.
He and Canadian actress Pamela Anderson hand-delivered a letter with the offer to the CSA office in St. John’s, NL in December 2013.
Simon helped launch The Simpsons in 1989 with Matt Groening and James L. Brooks, after writing for shows like Taxi and Cheers. He left The Simpsons after four seasons with a deal that includes an “executive producer” credit and millions in annual royalties.
“He was a genius and a great humanitarian in ways public and private,” said The Simpsons executive producer Al Jean. “I personally owe him more than can be repaid, but I will do my best to help every animal I can in his memory.”
He was a producer of The Drew Carey Show, The George Carlin Show and The Tracey Ullman Show. Simon also directed episodes of Friends, Anger Management and Canadian comedian Norm MacDonald’s short-lived series Norm.
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During his career, Simon won nine Emmy Awards.
He was married to B.C.-raised actress Jennifer Tilly from 1984 to 1991.
Celebrities took to social media to pay tribute to Simon.
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