Norman Lear, Legendary Sitcom Creator, Dies At 101

Norman Lear, an iconic television talent behind classic sitcoms like All in the Family, Sanford and Son, and One Day at a Time, has died at age 101.

Television icon Norman Lear has passed away. A television talent for decades, Lear is the creator behind several classic sitcoms including All in the Family. The producer was nominated for copious Emmy awards, throughout his decades-long career.

According to Variety, Lear has died at the age of 101. Lear passed on Tuesday, December 5, reported dying in his Los Angeles home of natural causes. A statement from Lear’s family praising Lear’s “life of creativity, tenacity, and empathy.” Check out the full statement from the family below:

Thank you for the moving outpouring of love and support in honor of our wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Norman lived a life of creativity, tenacity, and empathy. He deeply loved our country and spent a lifetime helping to preserve its founding ideals of justice and equality for all. Knowing and loving him has been the greatest of gifts. We ask for your understanding as we mourn privately in celebration of this remarkable human being.

Norman Lear’s Prolific Television Legacy
Born in 1922, Lear’s career began in his early 30s, when he worked as a writer on movies and TV shows such as Scared Stiff and The Colgate Comedy Hour. In 1968, Lear rose to greater prominence when he was nominated for an Oscar for his screenplay of Divorce American Style, which he also produced. From that point on, Lear’s career would take off in the realm of producing, flourishing in the 1970s.

Working in the industry up until his twilight years, Lear has left an indelible impact on American television that will not be forgotten.

Best known for creating All in the Family, which ran from 1971–1979, Lear was behind several of the 1970s most notable sitcoms. This included Sanfordand Son as well as the original series of One Day at a Time, which kicked off in 1975. The latter show was later rebooted as a 2017 TV series of the same name starring Rita Moreno. Lear served as an executive producer on One Day at a Time while in his 90s.

Through these prominent works, Lear’s outstanding career helped define the American sitcom model. All in the Family was a critically acclaimed and seminal work in family comedy, introducing audiences to episode structures that still linger today. Working in the industry up until his twilight years, Lear has left an indelible impact on American television that will not be forgotten.