HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Simon Cowell just might be a nice guy after all.

On Monday's "Oprah Winfrey Show," the 48-year-old Cowell announced that he was donating $162,000 to a family struggling to take care of their 3-year-old daughter, Madelaine Stoen, who has cancer. The money will be used to pay off the family's mortgage.

Cowell said when was approached by Oprah about helping out, it was an easy decision for him.

"It's a very basic story of a normal family whose daughter got very ill, and they had some financial problems, which was relatively easy for me to sort out," Cowell later explained to Extra.

The "American Idol" judge said he enjoyed the opportunity to meet the family, which drives more than 100 miles a day from their Minnesota home so their daughter can receive treatments.

"They're a very, very nice, sincere family," he said. "This has absolutely knocked their world. They're in a daze, the two of them, you could see that."

As for his feel-good deed, Cowell said it's a side of him that has always existed.

"I've always had a good side," he said. "I think it's the first time I've done something publicly. I normally do these things privately."