Norman Lear
Date of birth: 1922-07-27
Place of birth: New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Known for: Production
Also known as: Norman Milton Lear
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.
Movie Credits
Cold Turkey
1971-02-19
Reverend Brooks leads his small Iowa town in a contest to stop smoking for a month. But some tobacco
Dean Martin: King of Cool
2021-11-14
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Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes
2021-12-07
The live special event features reenactments of episodes from “The Facts of Life” and “Diff’rent Str
Pablo
2012-10-17
Pablo blends documentary and animation elements to tell the saga of "famous unknown" Pablo Ferro, a
The Super Bob Einstein Movie
2021-12-28
This documentary explores Bob Einstein’s unlikely discovery and enduring career, sharing the many ev
Casting By
2012-11-01
This essential new documentary pays tribute to the legacy of the late, legendary casting director Ma
Lucy and Desi
2022-01-21
Explore the unlikely partnership and enduring legacy of one of the most prolific power couples in en
Being Mary Tyler Moore
2023-03-13
With unprecedented access to the Mary Tyler Moore Estate, friends, family, and colleagues, Being Mar
The Television Revolution Begins: "All in the Family" Is On the Air
2009-06-09
DVD featurette documenting the success of "All in the Family".
Those Were the Days: The Birth of "All in the Family"
2009-06-09
DVD featurette documenting the beginnings of "All in the Family"
Funny Is Money
1999-10-01
Showtime's "In the 20th Century" is a millennium-related strand of feature-length documentaries in w
Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption
2013-11-10
Terrence McNally’s Corpus Christi is a play retelling the Jesus story, with Jesus as a gay man livin
Viewer Direction Advised
2018-11-14
Twenty-one year old Ben is on a journey - to follow his TV-obsessed dad and explore how television c
Robert Scheer: Above the Fold
2019-01-28
A documentary on the six-decades long career of a muckraking journalist, who was involved with the r
A Different Approach
1978-01-01
An all-star educational film about the positive side of hiring people with disabilities. A board sit
A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin
2005-08-19
On May 8th, 1945, writer, director Norman Corwin broadcast ON A NOTE OF TRIUMPH, an unforgettable ho
Gratitude Revealed
2022-09-16
An epic journey forty years in the making, acclaimed filmmaker, Louie Schwartzberg, the director of
The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee
2017-12-04
An intimate portrait of Washington Post executive editor Ben Bradlee, tracing his remarkable ascent
Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter
2022-09-22
The one-night-only celebration honoring the life and legacy of the famed producer features intimate
Norman Lear: A Life on Television
2023-12-08
An ET special that features new interviews with stars of the long-running comedies Lear created and
A Case for Kindness
2022-10-19
A Case For Kindness is a journey to understand the true nature of Kindness, making a case for why it
"Sr."
2022-09-02
A portrait of the life and career of Robert Downey Sr. (1936-2021), the visionary and fearless US fi
Come Blow Your Horn
1963-06-05
The story of a young man's decision to leave the home of his parents for the bachelor pad of his old
Adventures In Christmasing
2021-11-29
Parker Baldwin finds her Christmas plans upended when her network persuades her to spend three days
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
2016-01-21
Arguably the most influential creator, writer, and producer in the history of television, Norman Lea
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
2003-01-01
Lifetime's "Intimate Portrait" series shines a spotlight on the Golden Girls -- Bea Arthur, Betty Wh
If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast
2017-05-19
Irrepressible writer-comedian Carl Reiner, who shows no signs of slowing down at 94, tracks down cel
Color Adjustment
1992-01-29
From Amos 'n' Andy to Nat King Cole, from Roots to The Cosby Show, black people have played many rol
Perfect Moment
1997-03-21
In this documentary, artist-filmmaker Nicholas Hondrogen asks people to describe memorable moments o
The Brothers Warner
2008-10-16
An intimate portrait and saga of four film pioneers--Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack who rose from immig
I Want My MTV
2019-05-01
The film is about the formation of a music channel that has shaped modern pop culture. On August 1,
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"
2019-05-22
Celebrities re-create an original episode each from "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons."
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
2019-12-18
Live performances of classic holiday-themed episodes from Norman Lear's hit shows "All in the Family
Find Your Groove
2020-03-24
In this uplifitng documentary, stars and musicians from across the industry speak to the power and i
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
2021-06-18
Rita Moreno defied both her humble upbringing and relentless racism to become one of a select group
All in the Family: 20th Anniversary Special
1991-02-16
A Virtual Princess Bride Reunion
2020-09-13
The cast of The Princess Bride is together again! The stars of the iconic 1987 fantasy film reunited
Corwin
1996-06-14
Biography of Norman Corwin, the great writer, producer and director of the Golden Age of Radio. Acto
Traveling Hopefully
1982-01-06
A documentary about Roger Baldwin, the founder of the ACLU.
Pioneers in Skirts
2020-08-08
Pioneers in Skirts is an Emmy-nominated 60-min documentary about the obstacles that get in the way o
Television: The Ultimate Drug
A close look at television, the ultimate drug, that keeps society turned on and what to expect of th
Video Shock: The Revolution in Your Living Room
1985-03-20
The video revolution and its impact on both the public and the family.