Sam Simon, a co-creator of The Simpsons , who made a midlife career shift into philanthropy and channelled much of his personal fortune into social causes including animal welfare, has died after a long bout with cancer.
Simon died on Sunday, his agent, Andy Patman said. He was 59.
After stints writing for Taxi , Cheers and The Tracey Ullman Show , Simon helped launch The Simpsons in 1989.