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| Sam Simon, co-creator of 'The Simpsons' dies at 59 | Sam Simon, co-creator of 'The Simpsons' dies at 59 |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The co-creator of the hit animated show, The Simpsons, has died at age 59. | |
| Sam Simon had been battling colon cancer, his agent said on Monday. | Sam Simon had been battling colon cancer, his agent said on Monday. |
| Simon won seven Emmy awards for his work as a writer, director and executive producer for the longest-running sitcom on American television. | Simon won seven Emmy awards for his work as a writer, director and executive producer for the longest-running sitcom on American television. |
| The Simpsons, which chronicles the life of a clumsy father and his dysfunctional family, first aired in 1989. | The Simpsons, which chronicles the life of a clumsy father and his dysfunctional family, first aired in 1989. |
| Simon led the show's writing staff and is credited with developing the characters that feature in the show. | Simon led the show's writing staff and is credited with developing the characters that feature in the show. |
| He left the show after four seasons, but continued to receive between $20 million (£13.2 m) to $30 million each year after striking a deal that gave him a part of the show's future earnings. | He left the show after four seasons, but continued to receive between $20 million (£13.2 m) to $30 million each year after striking a deal that gave him a part of the show's future earnings. |
| After his diagnosis, he said he wanted to donate all of his fortune to charity. | After his diagnosis, he said he wanted to donate all of his fortune to charity. |
| Simon gave much of his money to social causes, especially those working on animal welfare issues. | Simon gave much of his money to social causes, especially those working on animal welfare issues. |
| In 2002, he founded the non-profit Sam Simon Foundation which is devoted to rescuing dogs from shelters and training them to assist the disabled. | In 2002, he founded the non-profit Sam Simon Foundation which is devoted to rescuing dogs from shelters and training them to assist the disabled. |
| "I have a desire to help animals," Simon said in an interview with Reuters in 2014. "It's my money and I get to do what I want with it. It's an expensive hobby I picked up at the end of my life." | "I have a desire to help animals," Simon said in an interview with Reuters in 2014. "It's my money and I get to do what I want with it. It's an expensive hobby I picked up at the end of my life." |
| "It is with much sadness that we must let you know that Sam Simon has passed over," the organisation announced on its Facebook page on Monday. | "It is with much sadness that we must let you know that Sam Simon has passed over," the organisation announced on its Facebook page on Monday. |
| Fellow Simpsons producer Al Jean, tweeted "a great man; I owe him everything," from his verified account in response to the news. | Fellow Simpsons producer Al Jean, tweeted "a great man; I owe him everything," from his verified account in response to the news. |
| Simon also worked as a writer for a number of hit sitcoms including "Taxi" and "Cheers". | Simon also worked as a writer for a number of hit sitcoms including "Taxi" and "Cheers". |