Renowned television mogul Norman Lear, known for revolutionizing the sitcom genre with iconic shows like “All in the Family,” “Maude,” and “The Jeffersons” during the 1970s, has passed away at the age of 101.
On Wednesday, Lara Bergthold, a representative for the family, officially confirmed his passing.
Born on July 27, 1922, in New Haven, Connecticut, the trailblazing television icon redefined family dynamics during the 1970s with groundbreaking shows such as “Sanford and Son,” “Good Times,” “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” and “One Day at a Time.”
Over the course of his extensive career spanning decades, he garnered numerous accolades for his exceptional producing skills and mastery of comedy.
Receiving nominations for 17 Emmy Awards, Lear secured victory in six categories. Among them, four were for the acclaimed “All in the Family,” featuring Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton in lead roles, which aired from 1971 to 1979.
Recognizing the groundbreaking nature of his many shows, Lear, honored with induction into the Emmy Awards Hall of Fame in 1984, achieved additional Emmy success.
Specifically, he received Emmys for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) in both 2020 and 2019 for his “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” primetime events. These events skillfully recreated episodes from “All in the Family,” “Good Times,” and “The Jeffersons,” along with “The Facts of Life” and “Diff’rent Strokes,” the latter two airing in 2021.
He received two Peabody Awards, one in 2016 and another in 1977, with the latter recognizing the pioneering impact of “All in the Family.” Additionally, President Bill Clinton honored him with the National Medal of Arts in 1999.
In 2021, he was presented with the Carol Burnett Award for television achievement at the Golden Globes ceremony. The Kennedy Center also paid tribute to him in 2017, alongside luminaries such as Carmen de Lavallade, Lionel Richie, LL Cool J, and Gloria Estefan.
Although Lear’s career predominantly centered around television, he also made contributions to the cinema.
On Lear’s 99th birthday in July 2021, it was revealed that a reimagining of the cult classic “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” featuring Louise Lasser, was in development for TBS. The lead role was to be portrayed by Emily Hampshire, known for her work in “Schitt’s Creek.”
The 1975 series “One Day at a Time” underwent a revival in 2017 when it was streamed on Netflix. Executive-produced by Lear, the show concluded its run in 2020 and boasted a predominantly Latino cast, with the multitalented Rita Moreno among the notable members.
Shortly before reaching the milestone of his 100th birthday in 2022, Lear looked back on his career spanning over 60 years and expressed that he had no intention of leaving the business.
Lear, a World War II Army Air Forces veteran with a reported 52 missions under his belt, had three marriages. He is survived by his third wife, Lyn Davis, whom he wed in 1987 and by his six children.
