Simpsons creator Sam Simon goes on philanthropic spree after terminal cancer diagnosis Mr Simon, who has been given six months to live, told how after he nearly died from septicemia when his colon was perforated by his cancer, he had devised a plan to rescue circus animals with Ingrid Newkirk, the president of PETA, when she came to visit him in hospital. Ingrid and I got this fun idea. I started to buy these zoos and circuses in December. I just wanted to have some days where I get to see animals walk in grass for the first time," he said, "They are some of the most abused animals in the country. Freeing those animals, that's something I'm not sure I would do if it weren't for the cancer. Mr Simon, who said his foundation will continue to receive royalties from The Simpsons after his death, said he had received huge pleasure from giving money to charities, which also include the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a global marine conservation organisation, which named a ship after him this year. A graduate of Stanford university, Mr Simon was fast riser in the TV becoming the show-runner of Taxi at the age 24, and after The Simpsons continued to work in TV directing The Drew Carey Show and having a short-lived poker reality TV show on the Playboy Channel. He hopes that his giving will also encourage more people to take up veganism which he said was the answer "for almost every problem facing the world" in terms of hunger and climate change. It helps people's health. Meat is the biggest greenhouse gas producer. There's also the cruelty and suffering aspect. When people do meatless Mondays, and when people adopt instead of buying a dog, that's a PETA victory," he told the magazine.