Community Corner
Simpsons Co-Creator Keeps His Sense of Humor While Battling Cancer
Pacific Palisades resident and well-known philanthropist Sam Simon, hasn't let his diagnosis affect his comic spirit or his charitable works.
Sam Simon, 58, is known for two things: being a philanthropist and as the co-creator of the hit series ‘The Simpsons.’
The Pacific Palisades resident was diagnosed with advanced colon caner in November 2012. He recently spoke from his Palisades home with the Associated Press.
In the interview, Simons says in the wake of his diagnosis, people have been approaching him to donate his vast wealth to various causes. “Some people just want a million dollars. Or help with college tuition. And the rest have business propositions…Like that should be my legacy: to lose money on your movie or your moisturizer line.”
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Despite his diagnosis, Simon continues his work with charitable organizations including his own Sam Simon Foundation, which trains dogs rescued from animal shelters to help disabled veterans.
In 2012, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals named its Virginia headquarters after him.
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Having defied doctors' odds – who told him back in November 2012 he had only three to six months to live – Simon said, "I'm not sad. I'm happy. I don't feel angry and bitter. I want to do whatever I can to survive."
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