Charity: Sam Simon told NBC's Maria Shriver that he finds cancer as inspiring as it is daunting
Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon has described his terminal colon cancer as the 'most amazing experience of my life', because he is surrounded by his loved ones and donating his $100 million fortune to his passion - animal rights.
Given
three months to live in 2012, Simon immediately decided to team up with
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) president Ingrid
Newkirk, and dedicate his time to the rescue of maltreated animals and
conservation.
Having
defied that diagnosis’ original death sentence, Simon continues to push
ahead and has also funded projects such as 'Feeding Families' to help
with the underprivileged in inner cities.
And now, as he enters the twilight of his life, has declared himself never happier and finally at peace.
Creators of The Simpsons Matt
Groening, James Brooks, and Sam Simon, right, are interviewed about the
hit show in the early 1990s
'They showed me my scans', said Simon to NBC's Maria Shriver Project during an interview from his Los Angeles mansion.
Philanthropy: Simon, 59, will donate his estimated $100 million fortune to charity
'They said these are the scans of a dead man. I said, 'Is it curable?' And they said, 'We don't use that word.'
'I will say that the doctor said, 'I can't cure you, but my job is to keep you alive. And he has done a remarkable job of it.
'He has done great. I have never been happier, so thank you doctor.'
However, Simon did not shrink from the realities of his condition, nor fail to inject some trademark humor.
'Cancer is a horrible disease. I am struggling with it,' said Simon to NBC.
'Its
everything that everybody always tells you. It's a journey, it's a
fight. But, if you want publicity and you want to pick up girls, then
cancer is the greatest thing in the world.'
Simon
has no children and is not married so he wants to give his millions to
causes he cares about. He was married to actress Jennifer Tilly in the
1980s but divorced in 1991 though they remain close.
Having
already lived almost one year longer than doctors initially gave him,
Simon told Maria Shriver that amazingly, his happiness was a direct
result of his cancer diagnosis.
'Somehow
I ended up surrounded by people who love me and take care of me and
will do anything for me. That is called happiness. I think I may have
had a problem letting it in before.
'Cancer has been a fight, a journey, an adventure and the most amazing experience of my life.'
Hollywood mogul and co-creator of The
Simpsons, Sam Simon, looks at cages at a chinchilla farm after he
financed the purchase of the facility by PETA (People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals) in order to rescue over 400 chinchillas and
shutter the business in Vista, California, in August
Sam Simon, who made a fortune as
co-creator of The Simpsons, is enjoying giving away untold millions as
he battles terminal colon cancer. The nine-time Emmy-winning
writer-producer, 58, says he is using his wealth to, among other causes,
help shut down roadside zoos and abusive animal shows, fund a
dog-rescue haven in Malibu, and fight hunger.
Simon,
58, is spending his final months funding projects that feed homeless
people and save animals from being killed in animal shelters.
'I have used my money along with Ingrid Newkirk, the founder of PETA,' said Simon to NBC.
'She
came up with almost a therapy for me, where we planned and are still
planning a series of animal liberations and actions that I get to
participate in and enjoy.
'It gives me something to look forward.'
'I get to watch these animals that have been in concrete bunkers their whole lives take their first step on grass.'
Simon
created the hit cartoon alongside Matt Groening in 1991. He technically
retired from The Simpsons in 1993, but still receives tens of millions
in royalties every season.
Asked why he decided to dedicate his fortune and final months to animal rights, Simon was unequivocal.
'The
thing about animals that speaks to me so much is that my passion for
the animals and against animal abuse is based on the knowledge that
these creatures which think and feel can't speak for themselves,' said
Simon to NBC.
'I feel it is my responsiblity to speak for those who can't speak for themselves.'
Appreciation: Pamela Anderson kisses Sam Simon during award ceremony for her contribution to 'Mercy For Animals'
Simon grew up comfortably in Beverly Hills, where his father was in the garment industry, not showbiz.
After
turning his drawing talent into a job at an animation studio that made
cartoons for kids, Simon submitted a script, on spec, to the ABC comedy
‘Taxi.’ His script was bought and produced, and Simon, in his 20s, was
hired as a staff writer and soon rose to be the showrunner.
From there he joined a new NBC sitcom called ‘Cheers,’ where he was staff writer for its ascendant first three seasons.
In
1987 he became a writer and executive producer on the Fox comedy series
‘The Tracey Ullman Show,’ teamed alongside James L. Brooks, the comedy
legend with whom he had worked on ‘Cheers’ and ‘Taxi,’ and, of course,
cartoonist Matt Groening. They became the founding fathers of ‘The
Simpsons.’
‘The
Simpsons’ began as interstitial cartoon clips aired during the
otherwise live-action ‘Ullman’ show until, in 1989, it was spun off as a
Fox half-hour of its own.
Simon
was named creative supervisor, and he hired the first writing staff as
well as creating several Springfield citizens, including Mr. Burns, the
cadaverous industrialist, and Dr. Hibbert, the buffoonish physician.
Although Simon remained the least-known of the three creators, by many accounts he was the most hands-on.
‘You
can't overstate his contribution to “The Simpsons,'" says talk-show
star Conan O'Brien, who was a ‘Simpsons’ writer and producer in the
early 1990s. ‘No one's smarter than he is.’
Writer Sam Simon and TV personality
Dr. Drew Pinsky attend Pinsky's unveiling of a new PETA campaign to cure
animal homelessness on August 8, 2012 in Los Angeles, California
The
show - TV's first successful prime-time animated series since ‘The
Flintstones’ nearly three decades before - caught the public off-guard
with its sly but perceptive look at the culture.
‘With “The Simpsons,” people didn't know what they were gonna see,’ says Simon. ‘They didn't have a clue.’
The
show was given time and free reign to flourish by the fledgling Fox
network. ‘I don't think you get that sort of creative freedom with any
broadcast shows today.’
Simon left ‘The Simpsons’ after its fourth season in 1994 owing to a strained relationship with Groening.
But
it was a lucrative departure. His exit deal entitled him to royalties
from ‘The Simpsons’ that, as it enters its 25th season this fall,
annually pad Simon's wallet by tens of millions of dollars.
He
has played no role on the show in nearly 20 years (not even watching
it, he says), even as his name remains in the weekly credits along with
Groening's and Brooks' - and his checks roll in.
Sam Simon with Dogs rescued from a
shelter that was not providing them with the care they needed - a
venture he launched with PETA
This sweet annuity has bankrolled the causes and alternative lifestyle he increasingly came to embrace.
Among
his charitable efforts, he established the Sam Simon Foundation, which
rescues dogs from animal shelters and trains them to assist disabled
veterans and the hard-of-hearing.
He
donated an undisclosed amount of money to the Sea Shepherd Conservation
Society in 2012 to purchase a vessel for their fleet, which was
unveiled last December and named for him.
In
March, 2012, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' Norfolk, Va.,
headquarters were christened the Sam Simon Center in recognition of his
support for that organization.
Simon's
largesse carries over to humans, too, including a Los Angeles food bank
feeding 200 families each day in Simon style: with a vegan menu.
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