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 EnieJeanette 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 yearscholarship 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 NBCs 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 soninlaw 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 gueststar named Bea Arthur appeared in an episode and in 1972 the first spinoff was formed called Maude starring Arthur A memorable episode from Maude which struck a degree of controversy was the abortion episode A spinoff 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 lowincome AfricanAmerican housing areas This wasnt the only sitcom to depict life for AfricanAmericans in 1975 The Jeffersons another spinoff 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 spinoff of the show called Archie Bunkers Place with Caroll OConnor and Danielle Brisebois Archie Bunkers Place ended in 1983 and was his last successful television show Lear made a comeback in 1990 with several shortlived shows including Sunday Dinner and 704 Hauser