Sam Simon earned "tens of millions" annually off his "Simpsons" royalties. Araya Diaz/Getty "The Simpsons" cocreator and producer, Sam Simon, died Monday following a battle with colon cancer.

"After being given three months to live following a cancer diagnosis in 2012, Simon dedicated his $100 million fortune to charitable causes, chiefly the Sam Simon Foundation, which provides service dogs for returning veterans suffering post-traumatic stress disorder and the hearing impaired," reports The Wrap.

Simon, who said he earned nearly "tens of millions" annually off his "Simpsons" royalties, donated his entire fortune to charity before he died.

"I get pleasure from it. I love it. I don't feel like it is an obligation," Simon told The Hollywood Reporter in July 2013.

Various charities are the recipients of Simon's generosity — including a dog-rescue haven in Malibu, PETA, Save the Children, and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

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

Simon said that while he "was never that hands-on with any of it [the charities]" he had "been fortunate to find great people to run things."

Not that Simon had much free time. Between doing his own radio show, working on Charlie Sheen's FX show "Anger Management," and chemotherapy, Simon still kept plenty busy after cocreating "The Simpsons" more than 20 years ago alongside cartoonist Matt Groening.

In August, Simon teamed with Fusion on a documentary that chronicled Simon's fight with his terminal disease and his efforts to save animals from harmful and abusive situations.

Simon has no children and was not married, but his ex-wife, actress Jennifer Tilly, previously told THR, "He really does have a passion to survive, and the longer he's on the earth, the more good work he can do."

"The truth is, I have more money than I'm interested in spending," said Simon. "Everyone in my family is taken care of. And I enjoy this."



The Sam Simon Foundation confirmed Simon's passing on Monday:



Hollywood and the animal-rights community expressed heartbreak over Simon's death (via Deadline):

"Simpsons" executive producer Al Jean:

“He was a genius and a great humanitarian in ways public and private. I personally owe him more than can be repaid, but I will do my best to help every animal I can in his memory.”

Jennifer Tilly, actress:

“Sam was my best friend for thirty years. He was a brilliant man and a great humanitarian. I miss him terribly.”

Hank Azaria, actor/producer/comedian (on Twitter):

“Rest in peace and thank you for The Simpsons, Sam Simon.”

Ari Solomon, Mercy for Animals’ director of communications who cohosted a radio show with Simon:

“To know Sam was to love Sam. He was a true hero and inspiration and his legacy will live on through all of us working towards a kinder, more compassionate world. Words can’t express how much we’ll miss him.”

Nathan Runkle, Mercy for Animals president:

“Sam was a heroic humanitarian whose selfless generosity and boundless courage inspired countless people around the world to be kinder to animals-and each other. His heart was as great as his sense of humor. He never missed an opportunity to speak up for those in need. Sam led by example and showed us all what bravery, kindness, and determination truly were. A more compassionate future draws ever more near because of his legacy of generosity.”

PETA President Ingrid Newkirk on the passing of PETA Honorary Director Sam Simon:

"I think Sam died with a smile on his face, knowing that elephants were on their way out of the circus, something that, together with the closure of SeaWorld, he dreamt of and talked about all the time. He said the last two years of his life, since his diagnosis, were his happiest, as he used them to help animals who had nothing, and it gave him great joy to see chimpanzees, elephants, and even a "gay" bull find freedom from harm because he had worked with PETA to get them all out of hideous circumstances. One day, people will realize that Sam knew what PETA says is right: "Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way." I hope everyone who knew Sam or hears about his great kindness to veterans, to animals, and to all will do something kind themselves in his honor. It's a very sad day for us at the Sam Simon Center, PETA's Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters."

Watch PETA's video tribute to Sam below: