Norman Lear
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.
Known For
Credits
- 2024 · Good Times as Self (voice)
- 2023 · Norman Lear: A Life on Television as Self
- 2023 · Being Mary Tyler Moore as Self (voice)
- 2022 · A Case for Kindness as Self
- 2022 · Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter as Self
- 2022 · Gratitude Revealed as Himself
- 2022 · "Sr." as Self
- 2022 · Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution as
- 2022 · JANET JACKSON. as Self
- 2022 · Lucy and Desi as Self
- 2021 · The Super Bob Einstein Movie as Self
- 2021 · Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes as Self - Host
- 2021 · Adventures In Christmasing as Himself
- 2021 · Dean Martin: King of Cool as Self
- 2021 · Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It as Self
- 2020 · Find Your Groove as Self
- 2020 · Stars in the House as Self
- 2020 · Visible: Out on Television as Self
- 2019 · Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" as Self - Co-Host
- 2019 · Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" as Himself (host)
- 2019 · I Want My MTV as Self
- 2019 · Robert Scheer: Above the Fold as Self
- 2018 · Viewer Direction Advised as Self
- 2017 · The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee as Self
- 2017 · If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast as Self
- 2016 · America Divided as Self
- 2016 · To Tell the Truth as Self - Panelist
- 2016 · Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You as Self
- 2015 · StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson as Self
- 2014 · Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self
- 2013 · Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption as Self
- 2012 · Casting By as Self
- 2012 · Pablo as Self
- 2012 · Finding Your Roots as Self
- 2009 · Those Were the Days: The Birth of "All in the Family" as Self
- 2009 · The Television Revolution Begins: "All in the Family" Is On the Air as Self
- 2008 · The Brothers Warner as Self - Producer
- 2005 · Iconoclasts as Self
- 2005 · A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin as
- 2004 · Jack & Bobby as
- 2004 · TV Revolution as
- 2003 · The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series as Self
- 1999 · Funny Is Money as Self
- 1997 · South Park as
- 1997 · Perfect Moment as Self
- 1996 · E! True Hollywood Story as
- 1996 · The Daily Show as Self
- 1993 · Intimate Portrait as Self
- 1992 · Color Adjustment as Self
- 1991 · All in the Family: 20th Anniversary Special as Self - Host
- 1989 · The Simpsons as Norman Lear (voice)
- 1978 · A Different Approach as
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Host
- 1974 · Dinah! as Self
- 1971 · Cold Turkey as Crying Man (uncredited)
- 1968 · The Dick Cavett Show as Self - Guest
- 1963 · Come Blow Your Horn as Party Guest (uncredited)
- 1962 · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self