--- title: Sam Simon, 'The Simpsons' Co-Creator, Dies description: He was giving away most of his fortunate to charity canonical: https://time.com/3737808/sam-simon-simpsons-co-creator-dies/ author: Nolan Feeney article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-03-09T19:07:39.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:05:09.345Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: Sam Simon, 'The Simpsons' Co-Creator, Dead at 59 og:description: Was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2012 og:url: https://time.com/3737808/sam-simon-simpsons-co-creator-dies/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc53d77c6cfe43a11/698782d52dce013aac9ddf25/sam-simon.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: 4th Annual Sean Penn & Friends "Help Haiti Home" Gala Benefit For J/P HRO - Arrivals og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Sam Simon, 'The Simpsons' Co-Creator, Dead at 59 twitter:description: Was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2012 twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc53d77c6cfe43a11/698782d52dce013aac9ddf25/sam-simon.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Sam Simon, _The Simpsons_ Co-Creator, Dead at 59 > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: See the Real Life People Who Inspired the Simpsons [Watch (HLS stream): See the Real Life People Who Inspired the Simpsons](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/ckFGPY1s.m3u8) (1:33)  _Published 2014-08-21. Even some of the Simpson's more animated characters come from real-life people._  by [Nolan Feeney](https://time.com/author/nolan-feeney/)  ## Nolan Feeney Mar 9, 2015 7:07 PM UTC  Sam Simon attends the "Help Haiti Home" gala at Montage Hotel on Jan. 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Sam Simon attends the "Help Haiti Home" gala at Montage Hotel on Jan. 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Jason LaVeris—FilmMagic/Getty Images  by [Nolan Feeney](https://time.com/author/nolan-feeney/)  ## Nolan Feeney Mar 9, 2015 7:07 PM UTC Sam Simon, one of the co-creators of _The Simpsons_, has died. His foundation, the Sam Simon Foundation, [confirmed the news](https://www.facebook.com/SamSimonFoundationAssistanceDogs/photos/a.10152169639282242.1073741833.63918477241/10152526109582242/?type=1&theater) on Facebook on Monday. “It is with much sadness that we must let you know that Sam Simon has passed over,” the announcement read. Simon, 59, [was diagnosed](http://time.com/3578158/simpsons-sam-simon-fortune-charity/) with terminal colon cancer in 2012, and told he had only three to six months left to live. He survived that diagnosis, and in 2014, he said he was planning to donate $100 million of his fortune to charity, mostly to animal organizations. “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 said in an interview last year](http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nbc-news/the-simpsons-sam-simon-gives-away-fortune-355151427532). Elsewhere during the interview, Simon said he was able to stay positive despite his diagnosis. “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.” Simon, a graduate of Stanford University, had nine primetime Emmys to his name. One was for his work on _The Tracey Ullman Show_, where fellow _Simpsons_ co-creators Matt Groening and James L. Brooks also worked; the other awards were for _The Simpsons_. Simon left the show in 1993, just four years after it debuted on Fox, but remained in the credits as an executive producer and continued to earn money from the show thanks to home video sales deal, [according to _The Hollywood Reporter_](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sam-simon-simpsons-producer-philanthropist-606632). After realizing he was financially set for life a few years later, Simon largely retired from the entertainment business while only in his 30s. The show’s showrunner, Al Jean, paid tribute to his late colleague on Twitter: > [](https://twitter.com/AlJean/status/575000260575014912) _This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates._ ### 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. 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