R.I.P. Sam Simon, Co-Creator of The Simpsons

Sam Simon, the perfectly cromulent co-creator of The Simpsons and nine-time Emmy winner, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 59 years old.

Besides The Simpsons – which is surely enough of a credit to boast about – Simon wrote for landmark comedies Taxi, Cheers and It’s Garry Shandling’s Show.

Simon had been diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2012 and spent his final years furthering his philanthropic efforts; a mission that included purchasing zoos and circuses as a means of freeing their captive animals. He was reported to have given away most of his $100m fortune by the time of his death.

In 1989, Simon developed The Simpsons with Matt Groening and James L. Brooks as an animated half-hour sitcom for Fox. It had previously existed only as a short on The Tracey Ullman Show.

Though he remained an executive producer for the show’s 26 seasons, he spent the first five as co-showrunner, character designer, creative consultant, creative supervisor, developer and writer.

Perhaps not-so-coincidentally, seasons three, four and five are widely considered the legendary program’s best.

Ken Levine, another writer on the series, extolled Simon’s influence on the show: “I’m here to tell you, the real creative force behind The Simpsons was Sam Simon. The tone, the storytelling, the level of humor – that was all developed on Sam’s watch.”

Feel free to remember Simon by sharing your favourite quote from his immortal show.