‘Simpsons’ co-creator, philanthropist Simon dies

Sam Simon, a co-creator of “The Simpsons” and animal-rights advocate who made a midlife career shift into philanthropy and channeled much of his personal fortune into social causes, has died.

Simon died Sunday at his Pacific Palisades, Calif., home, his agent, Andy Patman, said. He was 59 and had been diagnosed with advanced colon cancer in 2011.

After stints writing for “Taxi,” “Cheers” and “The Tracey Ullman Show,” Simon helped launch “The Simpsons.” During his writing and producing career, he collected nine prime-time Emmy awards.

He left “The Simpsons” after its fourth season under a deal that rewarded him with ongoing royalties from the show, which is now in its 26th season.

He then established the Sam Simon Foundation, which rescues dogs from animal shelters and trains them to assist the disabled. He also donated to Mercy for Animals and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, among other groups. In 2013, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ Norfolk, Va., headquarters was christened the Sam Simon Center in recognition of his support for that organization.

Simon also funded a Los Angeles food bank.

In 2013, Simon said he wanted to spend all of his money on charitable causes.

“I’m supporting the charities that I supported during my lifetime,” he said, “and I want to continue to do that.”

In 1987, he became a writer and executive producer on the Fox sketch-comedy series “The Tracey Ullman Show,” where he was teamed with James L. Brooks and cartoonist Matt Groening.

This trio became the founding fathers of “The Simpsons.”

Simon left “The Simpsons” in 1994 due to a strained relationship with Groening. His exit deal entitled him to royalties from “The Simpsons” that, more than 20 years later, annually paid Simon tens of millions of dollars.

“I’m not sad,” Simon declared in 2013, as he battled an illness that his doctors were saying might claim him within months. “I’m happy. I don’t feel angry and bitter. I want to do whatever I can to survive.”