BBC:

The co-creator of the hit animated show, The Simpsons, has died aged 59.

Sam Simon had been battling colon cancer, his agent said on Monday.

Simon won seven Emmy awards for his work as a writer, director and executive producer for the longest-running sitcom on American television.

The Simpsons, which chronicles the life of a clumsy father and his dysfunctional family, first aired in 1989.

Simon led the show's writing staff and is credited with developing the characters that feature in the show.

He left the show after four seasons, but continued to receive between $20m (£13.2m) and $30m (£19.9m) each year after striking a deal that gave him a part of the show's future earnings.

After his diagnosis, he said he wanted to donate all of his fortune to charity.

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