Controversy after Sam Simon death

USPA NEWS - The comedy writer and producer Sam Simon born June 6 1955, died March 8, 2015 but already controversy has surrounded his family with the gift of a ring to Pamela Anderson just weeks before his death..

Not only did Sam have success as the co-creator of The Simpsons but also with Taxi, Cheers and The Drew Carey Show including writing credits for the award winning shows The Tracey Ullman Show, The George Carlin Show and the British and American versions of Men Behaving Badly as well as a brief run with The Norm Show.

Sam Simon, aged 59 when he died, was a keen animal rights activist who lead a colourful life but it was in his early life that he got his big break at the age of 23, when his script for Taxi was accepted by the studio and went on to complete an amazing 5 series by which time he was the executive story editor.

He was well know for his regular large donations to animal rights organizations such as PETA, the Sam Simon Foundation in Malibu and the marine conservation group Shepherd known for its anti-whaling efforts.

But in November 2012 when he discovered that he was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer and given months to live that he pledged the majority of his huge fortune, rumored to be anywhere between a hundred and four hundred million dollars to all of his philanthropic causes.

Controversially, Sam's family revealed that a couple of weeks before the co-creator succumbed to his colon caner that he had givel Pamela Anderson a ring worh around $800,000. Despite the ironic show of affection, sources close to Sam said that his family were infuriated and felt Pam took advantage of him in his weakened state and should never have accepted the gift. Subsequently, the family banned her from his funeral.

Sam marred twice, the first time to actress Jennifer Tily in 1984 and secondly to Jami Ferrell in 2000 he never had any children from either marriage.