Norman Lear never had to question whether or not he and his wife, Lyn Lear, would be together forever. The Good Times producer and the Fantastic Fungi creator had been living a life of bliss for three-plus decades before his death at age 101 in December 2023.
“I love the way she loves me!” the late Hollywood star exclusively shared with Closer in January 2019. “I’m just one selfish cat!”
Norman and Lyn were together since the mid-1980s after she approached him while out and about one day. According to The New York Times, Lyn sought help from the All in the Family writer when she was doing a thesis for her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. The lovebirds hit it off, and by 1987, they tied the knot.
Scroll through the gallery below to learn more about Norman’s third wife, Lyn.
Lyn is an Accomplished Producer
Like Norman, Lyn is a talented TV producer. Per IMDb, she has producing credits in 2014’s Cesar’s Last Fast, 2019’s Where’s My Roy Cohn? and 2020’s The Vow. She also helped create documentaries including Bring Your Own Brigade, Rebel Hearts and Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It, all of which premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
Lyn is Also a Psychologist
Before she got into producing, Lyn was a psychologist who earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and holds a license in Marriage and Family Therapy, according to reports.
Lyn is an Environmentalist and Political Activist
When she’s not working in Hollywood, Lyn is dedicating her time to being a devoted environmentalist and political activist. More than three decades ago in 1989, Lyn founded the Environmental Media Association alongside her beau.
“EMA serves as a valuable link between the world of media and the environmental community, working tirelessly to bring the planet’s most pressing issues to the forefront and make true change by inspiring millions of people across the globe to live sustainable lifestyles and to use their voice to help our planet,” the website explains.
Lyn is a Loving Mom and Stepmom
Together, Lyn and Norman shared their three kids, Brianna, Madelaine and Benjamin. Considering the Sanford and Son creator welcomed his older kids, Maggie and Kate, with his second wife, Frances, this makes Lyn a doting stepmom.
Lyn and Norman Didn’t Have a Secret to Maintaining Their Romance
Lyn and Norman had been going strong since the 1980s, but the two said there was “no secret” to maintaining their marriage.
“In fact, I’ve often had a couple of different one-liners for that answer, and then I decided that really the answer is I’m not going to answer it because the last thing I want to do is come up with some quote that is going to summarize a 30-year relationship you know?” he told Fox News in January 2019. “It’s disrespectful to the relationship. So I don’t really know.”
