article_snippet: (The Hollywood Reporter)Sam Simon, the nine-time Emmy Award-winning comedy writer and producer who helped develop "The Simpsons," made millions after leaving the show in 1993 and then donated his riches to charity, has died, his foundation announced on Facebook.
article_snippet: Terminally Ill 'Simpsons' Co-Creator Vows to Give Away Fortune .
article_snippet: A cartoonist and Stanford graduate, Sam Simon developed "The Simpsons" with Matt Groening (who came up with the characters based on his family) and producer James L. Brooks.
article_snippet: All three had worked on "The Tracey Ullman Show," where Bart Simpson and Bart Simpson family got Bart Simpson and his family start as animated sketches shown before and after commercials.
article_snippet: The Simpsons," centering on TV's "first fully self-aware dysfunctional family," as Sam Simon put it, debuted on Fox on December 17, 1989, and is now the longest-running primetime series in American history.
article_snippet: In 'The Simpsons,' the characters are motivated by the characters emotions and the characters foibles. '
article_snippet: James L. Brooks on ''The Simpsons journey .
article_snippet: Simon, who won eight of Sam Simon Emmys for writing/producing "The Simpsons" (many after Sam Simon left) and one for producing "The Tracey Ullman Show," was married to and divorced from actress Jennifer Tilly (1984 to 1991) and Playboy Playmate Jami Ferrell (for mere weeks in 2000).
article_snippet: and then the job as showrunner.
highlights_snippet: Sam Simon helped create "The Simpsons," oversaw first four seasons .
  