The person who co-created the longest-running cartoon on television has died.
Sam Simon, 59, died on Sunday at his home in Los Angeles after a two-year battle with terminal colorectal cancer, according to his agent, Andy Patman.
“Simpsons” executive producer, show runner and writer Al Jean tweeted around 2:30 p.m. that fans should honor Simon by doing something nice for an animal. After his diagnosis in 2011 he promised to give away his fortune, and in November he announced that his fortune would be left to his foundation, which helps animals and trains them to be service dogs. The Sam Simon Foundation also donates to a food bank that feeds families in Los Angeles daily.
Prior to his seminal work on “The Simpsons,” Simon also wrote for “Taxi,” “Cheers” and “The Tracey Ullman Show.”
“The Simpsons” launched in 1989, but he left the show after the fourth season in a deal that rewarded him future royalties from the show. Not only is “The Simpsons” the longest-running animated television show in American history, it is also the longest-running sitcom and longest-running scripted prime-time show.
Meanwhile, Matt Selman, another executive producer on “The Simpsons” tweeted advice that Simon had once given to writers: