Joe Simpson has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The father of Jessica and Ashlee Simpson underwent surgery two months ago and is on the mend, multiple sources tell Us Weekly.
“The surgery went well,” one insider tells Us of the 58-year-old, adding that his famous daughters have been “super supportive.”
Joe, who divorced Ashlee and Jessica’s mom, Tina Simpson, in October 2012 after 34 years of marriage, has been busy working as a photographer as of late. The former "dadager" opened Dreams Work, his first photography exhibit, at the Bruce Lurie gallery in L.A. this past May.
The photog recently worked with Heather Locklear and Richie Sambora’s daughter, Ava Sambora, and told Us in an interview in October 2015 that his true passion has always been to be behind the camera.
"Growing up, we were poor. My mom was always giving us art projects, things to do that we could afford. So at 14, she gave me a camera, and I talked her into helping me with a little darkroom in our garage,” Joe recalled to Us of how his interest began. “I started developing pictures, and I worked my way through college shooting sports, shooting weddings — in fact, I shot my own wedding. Tina’s wedding photo was done by me because we couldn’t afford any other way.”
His divorce from Tina also inspired him to pursue his hobby as a career. “With my camera, it’s just me and my art. So it’s been, like, life-changing,” he explained to Us. “And then, at 40, I became Jessica Simpson’s father, and Ashlee Simpson’s father. … And photography for me allows me to be just Joe Simpson again. I’m not riding the shirttails of my children; I’m not making money off my children. It’s just me, doing my art.”
