Norman Milton Lear (1922–2023) was an American television producer, writer, and director whose groundbreaking sitcoms revolutionized television by tackling social and political issues with humor and realism, shaping modern entertainment and public discourse.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, he briefly attended Emerson College before serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. After the war, he pursued television, writing for comedy shows before creating his own productions.
Lear’s most famous works include All in the Family (1971–79,) Sanford and Son (1972–77,) The Jeffersons (1975–85,) Maude (1972–78,) Good Times (1974–79,) and One Day at a Time (1975–84.) These sitcoms addressed race, class, gender, and politics in unprecedented ways. Lear also founded People for the American Way (1980) to promote democratic values. His contributions earned six Emmy Awards, the National Medal of Arts (1999,) and the Kennedy Center Honors (2017.)
Beyond television, he wrote and produced films such as Divorce American Style (1967) and Cold Turkey (1971.) His memoir, Even This I Get to Experience (2014,) offers insights into his career and life.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Norman Lear
When I thought I couldn’t go on, I forced myself to keep going. My success is based on persistence, not luck.
—Norman Lear
Topics: Luck, Persistence
It seems to me that any full grown, mature adult would have a desire to be responsible, to help where he can in a world that needs so very much, that threatens us so very much.
—Norman Lear
Topics: Helping
Life is made up of small pleasures. Happiness is made up of those tiny successes. The big ones come too infrequently. And if you don’t collect all of these tiny successes, the big ones don’t really mean anything.
—Norman Lear
Topics: Little Things, Happiness, Things
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