CineScope
Norman Lear picture

Norman Lear

Production
Known For

101 Years Old

Norman Milton Lear (July 27, 1922 – December 5, 2023) was a legendary American television writer and producer who produced such 1970s sitcoms as All in the Family, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, Good Times, Maude. As a political activist, he founded the advocacy organization People for the American Way in 1981 and has supported First Amendment rights and progressive causes. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, to Enie/Jeanette (Sokolovsky) and Hyman "Herman" Lear, a traveling salesman. His grandparents were all Russian Jewish immigrants. Jeanette was the inspiration for the character Edith Bunker, and Herman for Archie Bunker. Lear won a one year-scholarship to Emerson College. He dropped out when news about Pearl Harbor struck, and decided to enroll in the United States Army. He was nineteen. In the army, Norman was a radio operator. He was discharged in 1945. Norman landed a press agent job but was not being paid well so decided to pursue another career. In 1954, he was a writer for the CBS sitcom, Honestly, Celeste! Lear then became the producer of NBC's The Martha Raye Show. In 1959, he created his first TV series with Roland Kibbee, The Deputy, on NBC, starring Henry Fonda. In 1967 his comedic writing career began. He wrote and produced the 1967 film, Divorce American Style, and directed the film, Cold Turkey, starring Dick Van Dyke. All In The Family came about when Lear read a British column on the show "Til Death Do Us Part", about a father and a son-in-law who fought about everything politically. He immediately knew it was just like him and his father. Lear tried to sell the "blue" collar sitcom to ABC, and two pilots were filmed and rejected. A third pilot was filmed, and CBS picked up the show. It premiered on January 12, 1971. When it was first aired, a big warning appeared on the screen stating none of the content being presented should be taken seriously and should only be seen for the purpose of hilarity. Next came Sanford And Son, along with creator Bud Yorkin, in 1972. It was inspired by British sitcom Steptoe and Son. In All In The Family, a guest-star named Bea Arthur appeared in an episode and in 1972 the first spin-off was formed called Maude, starring Arthur. A memorable episode from Maude which struck a degree of controversy was the abortion episode. A spin-off from Maude, Good Times, with the maid character played by Esther Rolle, premiered in 1974, dealing with issues like poverty, crime, welfare and life in low-income African-American housing areas. This wasn't the only sitcom to depict life for African-Americans: in 1975 The Jeffersons, another spin-off from All In The Family, followed. All In The Family received multiple Emmy awards. Good Times ran for five seasons till 1979, with multiple Golden Globe nominations. Maude ran for six seasons, till 1978, receiving multiple Emmy and Golden Globe wins and nominations. Sanford and Son ended in 1977 with a Golden Globe win and several Emmy nominations. All In The Family ended in 1979, after nine seasons. Next came another spin-off of the show called Archie Bunker's Place, with Caroll O'Connor and Danielle Brisebois. Archie Bunker's Place ended in 1983, and was his last successful television show. Lear made a comeback in 1990 with several short-lived shows, including Sunday Dinner and 704 Hauser.

Born

New Haven, Connecticut, USA on 27th July 1922

Died

5th December 2023

All Credits

Late Night with Seth Meyers Image
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
The Daily Show Image
The Daily Show
Self
The Simpsons Image
The Simpsons
Norman Lear (voice)
The Dick Cavett Show Image
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
South Park Image
South Park
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Image
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson Image
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Self
The Mike Douglas Show Image
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
Stars in the House Image
Stars in the House
Self
Intimate Portrait Image
Intimate Portrait
Self
Saturday Night Live Image
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
Finding Your Roots Image
Finding Your Roots
Self
Good Times Image
Good Times
Self (voice)
Iconoclasts Image
Iconoclasts
Self
Visible: Out on Television Image
Visible: Out on Television
Self
To Tell the Truth Image
To Tell the Truth
Self - Panelist
Jack & Bobby Image
Jack & Bobby
Dinah! Image
Dinah!
Self
JANET JACKSON. Image
JANET JACKSON.
Self
America Divided Image
America Divided
Self
E! True Hollywood Story Image
E! True Hollywood Story
Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution Image
Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution
Self
No Image
TV Revolution
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It Image
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
Self
"Sr." Image
"Sr."
Self
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes Image
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes
Self - Host
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" Image
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
Self - Co-Host
Lucy and Desi Image
Lucy and Desi
Self
Dean Martin: King of Cool Image
Dean Martin: King of Cool
Self
Casting By Image
Casting By
Self
Cold Turkey Image
Cold Turkey
Crying Man (uncredited)
Being Mary Tyler Moore Image
Being Mary Tyler Moore
Self (voice)
Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter Image
Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter
Self
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" Image
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"
Himself (host)
The Super Bob Einstein Movie Image
The Super Bob Einstein Movie
Self
A Virtual Princess Bride Reunion Image
A Virtual Princess Bride Reunion
Self
Pablo Image
Pablo
Self
Come Blow Your Horn Image
Come Blow Your Horn
Party Guest (uncredited)
Those Were the Days: The Birth of "All in the Family" Image
Those Were the Days: The Birth of "All in the Family"
Self
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You Image
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
Self
Adventures In Christmasing Image
Adventures In Christmasing
Himself
The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee Image
The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee
Self
Find Your Groove Image
Find Your Groove
Self
Color Adjustment Image
Color Adjustment
Self
If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast Image
If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast
Self
The Television Revolution Begins: "All in the Family" Is On the Air Image
The Television Revolution Begins: "All in the Family" Is On the Air
Self
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series Image
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
Self
Robert Scheer: Above the Fold Image
Robert Scheer: Above the Fold
Self
Viewer Direction Advised Image
Viewer Direction Advised
Self
Funny Is Money Image
Funny Is Money
Self
I Want My MTV Image
I Want My MTV
Self
A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin Image
A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin
No Image
A Case for Kindness
Self
Perfect Moment Image
Perfect Moment
Self
Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption Image
Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption
Self
A Different Approach Image
A Different Approach
No Image
Corwin
Self
The Brothers Warner Image
The Brothers Warner
Self - Producer
All in the Family: 20th Anniversary Special Image
All in the Family: 20th Anniversary Special
Self - Host
No Image
Norman Lear: A Life on Television
Self
Pioneers in Skirts Image
Pioneers in Skirts
self
Gratitude Revealed Image
Gratitude Revealed
Himself
Traveling Hopefully Image
Traveling Hopefully
Self - Television Producer