--- description: Diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago, he's giving most of his money to animal-related causes title: Terminally Ill Simpsons Co-Creator Sam Simon to Donate His $100 Million Fortune to Charity image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7d2974b604fb6b05/6987682a524fc07b62deaa7e/107533808.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Terminally Ill _Simpsons_ Co-Creator Sam Simon to Donate His $100 Million Fortune to Charity by [Samantha Grossman](/author/samantha-grossman/) ## Samantha Grossman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 11, 2014 3:42 PM CUT  Television producer/writer Sam Simon arrives at the "All In For CP" Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino on December 11, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Television producer/writer Sam Simon arrives at the "All In For CP" Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino on December 11, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.David Becker—Getty Images by [Samantha Grossman](/author/samantha-grossman/) ## Samantha Grossman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 11, 2014 3:42 PM CUT Back in 2012, Sam Simon — best known as one of the creators of _The Simpsons_ — was told he had terminal colon cancer and only three to six months to live. Since then, he’s been preparing to give away his entire fortune to the causes that matter most to him. In a [recent interview](http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nbc-news/the-simpsons-sam-simon-gives-away-fortune-355151427532 "undefined") with NBC News, Simon explained that most of these causes directly involve animals. He as worked closely, for example, with PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk. “I think that my passion for the animals and against animal abuse is based on the knowledge that these creatures who feel and think can’t speak for themselves and they’re dependent on us for that,” he told interviewer Maria Shriver. “And so I feel it’s my responsibility to speak for those that can’t speak for themselves.” The 59-year-old has put most of his money into the [Sam Simon Foundation](http://www.samsimonfoundation.com/ "undefined"), which also works to feed families in need and provide service dogs for veterans. Though Simon has struggled personally during his terminal diagnosis, he explains to Shriver that this is the happiest he’s ever been. “Somehow, I ended up surrounded by people that love me and take care of me and will do anything for me,” he said. “It’s a good feeling. That’s called happiness.” ### Meet the Voices of The Simpsons  Dan Castellaneta is the voice of Homer, the bumbling patriarch of the Simpson family. He also voices other adult males such as Grampa Simpson, Groundskeeper Willie and Krusty the Clown. Michael Tran—FilmMagic/Getty Images; Fox  Julie Kavner voices Marge Simpson as well as her twin sisters Patty and Selma and their estranged mother Jacqueline. Michael N. Todaro—Getty Images; Fox  Nancy Cartwright voices many of the male children in The Simpsons. She primarily voices Bart, but also gives life to Nelson Muntz, Todd Flanders and Ralph Wiggum, amongst others. Amanda Edwards—WireImage/Getty Images; Fox  Yeardley Smith is the voice of Lisa, the brains of the Simpson clan. Imeh Akpanudosen—Getty Images; Fox  Hank Azaria plays the town barkeep, Moe Szyslak, as well as a wide cast of male characters ranging from Chief Wiggum and Apu to Duffman (can't breathe! oh no!). Brad Barket—Getty Images; Fox  The other everyman of the series, Harry Shearer gives voice to Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner and a host of other Springfield residents. Dave J. Hogan—Getty Images; Fox  Pamela Hayden voices Milhouse, Bart's sidekick, as well as some other male children in Springfield like Jimbo Jones and Rod Flanders. Frazer Harrison—Getty Images; Fox  The late Marcia Wallace was the voice of elementary school teacher Edna Krabappel. Angela Weiss—Getty Images; Fox  Russi Taylor voiced some of the kids at Springfield Elementary such as Martin Prince, Terri and Sherri, and German exchange student Üter Zörker. David Livingston—Getty Images; Fox _Read next:_ [_Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg Donates $25 Million to Fight Ebola_](http://time.com/3506341/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-ebola/?xid=time%5Freadnext "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3578158/simpsons-sam-simon-fortune-charity/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3578158/simpsons-sam-simon-fortune-charity/"},"headline":"Terminally Ill Simpsons Co-Creator Sam Simon to Donate His $100 Million Fortune to Charity","datePublished":"2014-11-11T15:42:28.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:48:19.342Z","description":"Diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago, he's giving most of his money to animal-related causes","url":"https://time.com/3578158/simpsons-sam-simon-fortune-charity/","keywords":["Newsfeed","society","Charity","simpsons"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7d2974b604fb6b05/6987682a524fc07b62deaa7e/107533808.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Samantha Grossman","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7d2974b604fb6b05/6987682a524fc07b62deaa7e/107533808.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"\"All In For CP\" No Limit Texas Hold 'em Poker Tournament Benefitting The One Step Closer Foundation","caption":"\"All In For CP\" No Limit Texas Hold 'em Poker Tournament Benefitting The One Step Closer Foundation","creditText":"David Becker—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3578158/simpsons-sam-simon-fortune-charity/","name":"Terminally Ill Simpsons Co-Creator Sam Simon to Donate His $100 Million Fortune to Charity"}}]}] ```