Sam Simon, co-creator of The Simpsons, dies at 59

Sam Simon, co-creator of The Simpsons, has died after a long and public battle with colon cancer. He was 59.

Coming up through the ranks as a writer on classic sitcoms like Taxi and Cheers, Simon was tasked with co-adapting the short Simpsons cartoons that aired during The Tracey Ullman Show — on which he was a writer and producer — into a full-fledged TV series. Working alongside Matt Groening and producer James L. Brooks, Simon served as an executive producer and showrunner on The Simpsons during its early years, and is credited as the writer of classic early episodes like "The Telltale Head," "Some Enchanted Evening," and "The Way We Was." Simon left the show in 1993, but is still credited as an executive producer on every episode — a lucrative deal that has netted him tens of millions of dollars.

In recent years, Simon has drawn attention for planning to donate almost the entirety of his fortune to charity after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis in early 2013. A noted animal lover, Simon's favorite charities included PETA, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and his own Sam Simon Foundation, which serves both people and animals in need.

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"The truth is, I have more money than I'm interested in spending," said Simon in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "Everyone in my family is taken care of. And I enjoy this."