Sam Simon also wrote for Taxi and Cheers. Simon gave millions to save animals.
NewsSam Simon, who co-created The Simpsons, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles at 59. The Emmy winning writer, who was diagnosed in February 2013 with terminal colon cancer, spent the last few years of his life as a philanthropist, giving millions to charity. Much of his work focused on helping animals. After Simon was diagnosed with colon cancer, he bought zoos and circuses and freed the animals.
Simon was an honorary director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which named its headquarter in Norfolk, Va., The Sam Simon Center.
"It is with much sadness that we must let you know that Sam Simon has passed over," the Sam Simon foundation said in a statement. "We all miss him, and in his honor, we will continue bringing his vision to light through our work at The Sam Simon Foundation. We take comfort in knowing how many greetings he is receiving across that Rainbow Bridge. We love you.”
The news was confirmed on Monday in a tweet by Al Jean, the Simpsons showrunner. “Sam Simon taught me everything about animation writing, and even more about life,” Jean said.
“He was a genius and a great humanitarian in ways public and private. I personally owe him more than can be repaid, but I will do my best to help every animal I can in his memory,” Jean said in a recent interview.
Simon was creative consultant, executive producer and writer on The Simpsons, which won seven Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program while he was aboard. Simon won two Emmy Awards for his work on The Tracey Ullman Show. Simon developed The Simpsonswith Matt Groening and James L. Brooks in 1989. He wrote more than ten episodes. He left the show in 1993, but retained the executive producer title.
Before he co-created The Simpsons, Simom wrote episodes of Barney Miller, Taxi, Cheers and It’s Garry Shandling’s Show. Simon felt the animated sitcom gave him more freedom than live action. “You can draw animals and sets but the animated characters also have freedom. The Simpsons sometimes do things that real people wouldn’t do,” he said, according to Variety.
Craig Miller, chairman of the Animation Writers Caucus of the Writers Guild of America West, said Simon “changed the landscape of television and has given him a legacy that will live forever” when he “turned to writing animation.”
Samuel Simon grew up in Beverly Hills and Malibu. He lived across the street from Groucho Marx. Simon said that he once walked in his mom and Groucho in his parents’ bedroom, but they weren’t having sex. Elvis Presley returned the dog that Simon had lost. He studied at Stanford U, where became a cartoonist for the school paper. He was also a sports cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Francisco Examiner.
Simon started as a writer for animated comedies like Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle and Jeckle, and Best of the West. He wrote an episode for the police comedy Barney Miller before writing and serving as executive story editor the sitcom Taxi, which starred Judd Hirsch, Tony Danza and Danny DeVito, from 1981 to 1983. Simon was the showrunner in its final season in 1982-83. He also was a writer and producer for Cheers. Simon wrote three episodes of It’s Garry Shandling’s Show. He was the executive producer of The Tracy Ullman Show in the late 80s.
Simon wrote the screenplay for the 1991 slumlord comedy The Super, starring Joe Pesci. Simon wrote, executive produced and ran The George Carlin Show in 1994-95.
Sam Simon directed episodes of The Drew Carey Show, Friends, Norm and was executive consultant for Anger Management, which starred Charlie Sheen, on FX from 2012 through 2013.
Simon was married to actress Jennifer Tilly from 1984 to 1991. He was married to Playboy Playmate Jami Ferrell from 2000-03. He leaves behind hundreds of saved animals and so many laughs.
SOURCE: VARIETY
