Sam Simon, The Simpsons Co-Creator, Dead at 59

Sam Simon, one of the co-creators of The Simpsons, which is one of the longest running television productions in history, has passed away.

Al Jazeera reports that Simon died after a lengthy battle for his life against colon cancer. In addition to helping create the storied Simpson franchise, Simon worked on the show as a writer, producer, and director. He was rewarded for his efforts with 9 Emmy Awards.

The Simpsons has been a cultural institution in the United States, and some may even argue the world, since the town of Springfield was introduced to us in 1989.

While best known and most passionate about his work with The Simpson, Simon also had philanthropic interests. In particular, Simon sought to help animals by establishing the Sam Simon Foundation in 2002.

The foundation is dedicated to dogs and helping both humans and animals by bringing people and dogs together. Among the foundation's many initiatives is a mobile veterinary clinic, the training and provision of service dogs, animal therapy, and dog adoption. The foundation also has a program to help provide food to needy families.

Simon was a California native who grew up in Los Angeles' Beverly Hills before setting off to the northern part of the state to study at Stanford University.