Sam Simon always made things work his way. So it was tough for him to believe when his doctors told him he had six months, at most, to live.
Out of high school, Simon was recruited to play football at Stanford. Soon after graduating, he was writing for cartoon shows. By his mid-twenties, he was in charge of Cheers, one of the most iconic American TV comedies. He then went on to co-create the show he’s best known for:The Simpsons.
His success writing and producing TV brought him millions of dollars. When he was diagnosed with a terminal cancer, he vowed to give away that fortune to the cause he cared about the most.
Rebel with a Cause: The Sam Simon Story, directed by Justin Baldoni, is a look at the life and legacy of the critically acclaimed television writer-producer as he fought two battles – one against metastatic stage four colon, and another for animal rights.
Simon defied his prognosis. He passed away on March 8, 2015.
Throughout his illness Simon kept the sense of humor that made him famous.
“Dr. Goldman needed a urine sample, a blood sample, a fecal sample, and a semen sample,” he says in the film. “So I just gave him my shorts.”
Visit the Rebel with a Cause: The Sam Simon Story page to see other clips from the documentary.
Credits:
Directed by
Justin Baldoni
Produced by
Michèle K. Bornheim
Executive Producers
Justin Baldoni
Nicolás Ibarguen
Ahmed Musiol
Michelle Nash
Director of Photography
Todd Kellstein
Editor
Matthew Johnston
Animation
Dave Zaboski
Special thanks to the following groups:
PETA
Mercy For Animals
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Writers Guild of America
Discovery Access
WGA
Sam Simon Foundation
UCLA Medical Center
Anger Management Productions
Angenieux Lens
EZ Rig