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"Simpsons" co-creator Sam Simon donates fortune

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Press Trust of India Los Angeles
Sam Simon, the terminally ill co-creator of iconic animated series "The Simpsons", is giving away most of his fortune to various causes.

Simon, 58, is battling colon cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

The nine-time Emmy-winning writer-producer confirmed during a May 16 "WTF With Marc Maron" podcast that he will donate nearly all of his royalties from the series to charity.

"The truth is, I have more money than I'm interested in spending. Everyone in my family is taken care of. And I enjoy this. I get pleasure from it. I love it. I don't feel like it is an obligation," Simon told The Hollywood Reporter.
 

"There is stuff happening, really good stuff, every week," said Simon, who co-created the hit series more than 20 years ago alongside cartoonist Matt Groening.

He is now using the money earned from the show to help shut down roadside zoos and abusive animal shows, fund a dog-rescue haven in Malibu and fight hunger, among other things.

He has Sam Simon Foundation that rescues the hungry and strays dogs besides being involved with PETA, international nonprofit Save the Children; and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a global marine conservation organization.

"I want medical experiments on animals stopped. They don't do anything, and they don't work. Veganism is an answer for almost every problem facing the world in terms of hunger and climate change.

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First Published: Jul 29 2013 | 1:55 PM IST

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