Norman Lear

Norman Lear

Known for: Production
Biography: 1922-07-27
Deathday: 2023-12-05 (101 years old)

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Biography

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.

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Filmography

all 111

Movies 56

TV Shows 55

self 50

Writer 27

Producer 20

Creator 5

Director 1

Executive Producer
Good Times

Good Times (2024)

TV
Norman Lear: A Life on Television

Norman Lear: A Life on Television (2023)

Movie
Self (voice)
Being Mary Tyler Moore

Being Mary Tyler Moore (2023)

Movie
Executive Producer
I Got A Monster

I Got A Monster (2023)

Movie
10
Self
Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter

Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter (2022)

Movie
Himself
Gratitude Revealed

Gratitude Revealed (2022)

Movie
8
Self
Sr.

Sr. (2022)

Movie
Self
Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution

Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution (2022)

TV
Self
JANET JACKSON.

JANET JACKSON. (2022)

TV
Self
Lucy and Desi

Lucy and Desi (2022)

Movie
Self
The Super Bob Einstein Movie

The Super Bob Einstein Movie (2021)

Movie
Self - Host / Executive Producer
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes (2021)

Movie
Himself
Adventures In Christmasing

Adventures In Christmasing (2021)

Movie
Self
Dean Martin: King of Cool

Dean Martin: King of Cool (2021)

Movie
Executive Producer
I Carry You with Me

I Carry You with Me (2021)

Movie
Self
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It

Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It (2021)

Movie
Self
Pioneers in Skirts

Pioneers in Skirts (2020)

Movie
Self
Find Your Groove

Find Your Groove (2020)

Movie
Self
Visible: Out On Television

Visible: Out On Television (2020)

TV
7.6
Self - Co-Host
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" (2019)

Movie
Writer
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" (2019)

Movie
Self
I Want My MTV

I Want My MTV (2019)

Movie
Self
Robert Scheer: Above the Fold

Robert Scheer: Above the Fold (2019)

Movie
Self
Viewer Direction Advised

Viewer Direction Advised (2018)

Movie
Self
The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee

The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee (2017)

Movie
Self
If You're Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast

If You're Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast (2017)

Movie
Executive Producer
One Day at a Time

One Day at a Time (2017)

TV
5.93
Self
America Divided

America Divided (2016)

TV
Self
To Tell the Truth

To Tell the Truth (2016)

TV
Self
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (2016)

Movie
Self
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson

StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson (2015)

TV
Executive Producer
Playing For Change 3 - Songs Around The World

Playing For Change 3 - Songs Around The World (2014)

Movie
Self
Late Night with Seth Meyers

Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014)

TV
3.5
Self
Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption

Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption (2013)

Movie
Self
Casting By

Casting By (2012)

Movie
6
Self
Pablo

Pablo (2012)

Movie
Self
Finding Your Roots

Finding Your Roots (2012)

TV
Self
Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg

Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg (2009)

Movie
Self
Those Were the Days: The Birth of "All in the Family"

Those Were the Days: The Birth of "All in the Family" (2009)

Movie
Self
The Television Revolution Begins: "All in the Family" Is On the Air

The Television Revolution Begins: "All in the Family" Is On the Air (2009)

Movie
Self - Producer
The Brothers Warner

The Brothers Warner (2008)

Movie
Executive Producer
Pete Seeger: The Power of Song

Pete Seeger: The Power of Song (2007)

Movie
Self
The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord & Conflict

The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord & Conflict (2007)

Movie
Self
Iconoclasts

Iconoclasts (2005)

TV
Self
A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin

A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin (2005)

Movie
Jack & Bobby

Jack & Bobby (2004)

TV
TV Revolution

TV Revolution (2004)

TV
Self
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series

The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series (2003)

Movie
Executive Producer
Way Past Cool

Way Past Cool (2000)

Movie
Self
Funny Is Money

Funny Is Money (1999)

Movie
Writer
Channel Umptee-3

Channel Umptee-3 (1997)

TV
South Park

South Park (1997)

TV
6.5
Himself
Perfect Moment

Perfect Moment (1997)

Movie
E! True Hollywood Story

E! True Hollywood Story (1996)

TV
Self
The Daily Show

The Daily Show (1996)

TV
6.75
Writer
704 Hauser

704 Hauser (1994)

TV
Self
Intimate Portrait

Intimate Portrait (1993)

TV
Producer / Director
The Powers That Be

The Powers That Be (1992)

TV
Self
Color Adjustment

Color Adjustment (1992)

Movie
Executive Producer
Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

Movie
6
Writer
Sunday Dinner

Sunday Dinner (1991)

TV
The Simpsons

The Simpsons (1989)

TV
6.75
Executive Producer
The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride (1987)

Movie
8.4
Executive Producer
Heartsounds

Heartsounds (1984)

Movie
Writer
P.O.P.

P.O.P. (1984)

Movie
Writer
a.k.a. Pablo

a.k.a. Pablo (1984)

TV
Writer
I Love Liberty

I Love Liberty (1982)

Movie
Producer
Palmerstown, U.S.A.

Palmerstown, U.S.A. (1980)

TV
Creator
Archie Bunker's Place

Archie Bunker's Place (1979)

TV
Creator
The Facts of Life

The Facts of Life (1979)

TV
10
Producer
Hanging In

Hanging In (1979)

TV
Writer
Apple Pie

Apple Pie (1978)

TV
Writer
In the Beginning

In the Beginning (1978)

TV
Writer
America 2-Night

America 2-Night (1978)

TV
A Different Approach

A Different Approach (1978)

Movie
Writer
Sanford Arms

Sanford Arms (1977)

TV
Producer
A Year at the Top

A Year at the Top (1977)

TV
Writer
Fernwood 2 Night

Fernwood 2 Night (1977)

TV
Writer
All That Glitters

All That Glitters (1977)

TV
Creator / Producer
The Nancy Walker Show

The Nancy Walker Show (1976)

TV
Writer
All's Fair

All's Fair (1976)

TV
Writer
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976)

TV
Writer
One Day at a Time

One Day at a Time (1975)

TV
Self - Host / Charles W. Robinson / Various
Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live (1975)

TV
6.36
Producer
Hot l Baltimore

Hot l Baltimore (1975)

TV
Writer
The Jeffersons

The Jeffersons (1975)

TV
6.6
Self
Dinah!

Dinah! (1974)

TV
Writer
Good Times

Good Times (1974)

TV
10
Producer
The Thief Who Came to Dinner

The Thief Who Came to Dinner (1973)

Movie
Writer
Maude

Maude (1972)

TV
6
Writer
Sanford and Son

Sanford and Son (1972)

TV
10
Director
Cold Turkey

Cold Turkey (1971)

Movie
Writer
All in the Family

All in the Family (1971)

TV
6.8
Executive Producer
Start the Revolution Without Me

Start the Revolution Without Me (1970)

Movie
Writer
The Night They Raided Minsky's

The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968)

Movie
Self - Guest
The Dick Cavett Show

The Dick Cavett Show (1968)

TV
Writer
Divorce American Style

Divorce American Style (1967)

Movie
Producer
Never Too Late

Never Too Late (1965)

Movie
Writer
Come Blow Your Horn

Come Blow Your Horn (1963)

Movie
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

TV
6
Self
The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show (1961)

TV
Creator / Writer
The Deputy

The Deputy (1959)

TV
Writer
Scared Stiff

Scared Stiff (1953)

Movie
Writer
The Colgate Comedy Hour

The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950)

TV
Self
My Next Breath

My Next Breath

Movie
Self
Corwin

Corwin

Movie
A Case For Kindness

A Case For Kindness

Movie
Creator
Justice for All

Justice for All

TV
Creator
Those Were the Days

Those Were the Days

TV
Executive Producer
The Corps

The Corps

TV
Creator
Mr. Dugan

Mr. Dugan

TV

Ratings

Average 6.36
Based on 1.64 Million movie and tv ratings over time
1950
1977
1997
1978
2023
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Information

Known For
Production

Gender
Male

Birthday
1922-07-27

Deathday
2023-12-05 (101 years old)

Birth Place
New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America

Relationships
Frances Lear (1956-01-01 - 1986-01-01), Lyn Lear (1987-01-01 - 2023-12-05)

Spouse
Lyn Lear

Citizenships
United States of America

Also Known As
Norman Milton Lear

Awards
star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, Marian Anderson Award, Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, National Medal of Arts, Air Medal, Peabody Awards, Evelyn F. Burkey Award, Lucy Award, Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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2 Movies
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