Terminally ill The Simpsons co-creator donating $100 million fortune to charity

The Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon is planning to give away his $100 million fortune to charity as he battles cancer.

Simon, 59, was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer in 2012, and told by doctors he only had three to six months to live.

Since then, Simon has been preparing to give away his life savings to a number of charities, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and other animal-centered organizations.

In an interview with NBC News, he explained, "Ingrid Newkirk, who is the founder of PETA and one of the most influential people in my life... she came up with an almost therapy for me, where we planned and are still planning a series of animal liberations and actions that I get to participate in and enjoy and have something to look forward to at the same time.

"I think that my passion for the animals and against animal abuse is based on the knowledge that these creatures who feel and think can't speak for themselves and they're dependent on us for that. And so I feel it's my responsibility to speak for those that can't speak for themselves."

Simon, who was also a producer on hits such as Taxi and Cheers, allocated a large portion of his fortune to his own charity called the Sam Simon Foundation, which feeds starving families in Los Angeles and provides service dogs for veterans.

He adds, "Cancer is a horrible disease, and I am struggling with it... It has been a fight; it's been an adventure; it's been an education. It's been the most amazing experience of my life."