According to Deadline, screenwriter and producer Norman Lear (Maude, Archie’s Bunker Place) passed away on Tuesday at the age of 101. He was in his Los Angeles home when he passed away from natural causes. Lear was the mastermind behind numerous successful shows, including All in the Family, Sanford and Son, and The Jeffersons.
As Variety notes, his family released a statement about his passing. They stated, “Thank you for the moving outpouring of love and support in honor of our wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Norman lived a life of creativity, tenacity, and empathy. He deeply loved our country and spent a lifetime helping to preserve its founding ideals of justice and equality for all. Knowing and loving him has been the greatest of gifts. We ask for your understanding as we mourn privately in celebration of this remarkable human being.”
In the 1970s, Lear worked on a variety of award-winning sitcoms. His series All in the Family aired from 1971 and 1979, and the series was nominated for and won various Emmy Awards, such as Outstanding Comedy Series. Additionally, in 1978, Lear won a Peabody Award for his work.
All in the Family inspired the spin-off Maude. As Deadline notes, Lear would weave in his passion for politics in his works, such as in an episode of Maude where the main character contemplates having an abortion.
In 1981, Lear founded People for the American Way, which was an organization that fought for religious rights and was established in direct opposition to the Moral Majority.
In 1984, Lear was inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. Fifteen years later in 1999, Lear received the National Medal of Arts.
In 2019, Lear was involved with a series created by Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Man Show) titled Live in Front of a Studio Audience. In this series, episodes of 1970s sitcoms, such as All in the Family, were recreated in front of a live audience. In 2020, Lear won an Emmy Award for his work as an executive producer for this series.
Rob Reiner (Stand by Me, The Princess Bride), who played Michael Stivic in All in the Family, paid tribute to Lear in an X/Twitter post. In the post, which can be viewed below, he stated, “I loved Norman Lear with all my heart. He was my second father. Sending my love to Lyn and the whole Lear family.”
In addition to Reiner, People for the American Way also paid tribute to Lear in an X/Twitter post. They stated, “Norman Lear was a legend and a patriot who loved this country. We are heartbroken by his loss, and extend our deepest sympathies to Norman’s wife Lyn and their entire family. Learn more about Norman and his legacy: bit.ly/3uHPCF3.” The post can be viewed below.
On Instagram, Rita Moreno (West Side Story, Singin’ in the Rain), who played Lydia on Lear’s reboot of the sitcom One Day at a Time, shared her condolences. She stated, “I am cut to the quick and already lonesome for my dear friend, Norman. Our nation has lost a treasured looking glass. By his reflected wit we were disarmed enough to see our wrinkles. And he wasn’t promoting makeup but heart transplants.”
On X/Twitter, Billy Crystal (City Slickers, Howl’s Moving Castle) stated, “We have lost a giant..a man of great humor and dignity. What an amazing life that has given so much to us all. He used laughter as a way to look at ourselves. A blessing to have been his friend for almost 50 yrs.”
In addition to friends and co-workers, various Broadcast networks also paid tribute to Lear. As TVLine notes, the networks CBS, ABC, FOX, The CW, and NBC released a statement, stating, “In recognition of Norman Lear’s vast accomplishments and influence across television, CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX and The CW will simulcast an on-air in memoriam card tonight at 8:00 pm ET/PT honoring the late legendary TV writer and producer.”
Lear is survived by his six children and wife Lyn Lear.