Norman Lear Dead At Age 101

Legendary screenwriter and producer, known for creating sitcoms including 'All in the Family,' 'Sanford and Son,' 'The Jeffersons,' and 'Good Times,' Norman Lear has died at the age of 101.   

"It is with profound sadness and love that we announce the passing of Norman Lear, our beloved husband, father, and grandfather. Norman passed away peacefully on December 5, 2023, surrounded by his family as we told stories and sang songs until the very end."

His loved ones noted he "lived a life in awe of the world around him."

"He marveled at his cup of coffee every morning, the shape of the tree outside his window, and the sounds of beautiful music. But it was people—those he just met and those he knew for decades—who kept his mind and heart forever young. As we celebrate his legacy and reflect on the next chapter of life without him, we would like to thank everyone for all the love and support."

His writing career began in the 1950s, creating comedic sketches and monologues for various TV shows in LA.

He switched to directing movies, then returned to TV with the creation of 'All in the Family.' This debuted in 1971 and was the starting point for those that followed including 'Sanford and Son,' 'Maude,' 'Good Times,' 'The Jeffersons,' 'One Day at a Time,' and more. 

His career as a writer, producer, and creator, spanned over seven decades and included over 100 shows. 

In his later years, he worked as a producer on the revised versions of his sitcoms including the 2017 remake of 'One Day at a Time' and the 2022 Netflix revival of 'Good Times.'

He became a centenarian in July 2022, and penned an op-ed reflecting on what it meant to celebrate a century of life.

"It is remarkable to consider that television—the medium for which I am most well-known—did not even exist when I was born, in 1922. The internet came along decades later, and then social media. We have seen that each of these technologies can be put to destructive use—spreading lies, sowing hatred and creating the conditions for authoritarianism to take root. But that is not the whole story."

"Two of my favorite words are 'over' and 'next.' It's an attitude that has served me well through a long life of ups and downs, along with a deeply felt appreciation for the absurdity of the human condition. Reaching this birthday with my health and wits mostly intact is a privilege. Approaching it with loving family, friends and creative collaborators to share my days has filled me with a gratitude I can hardly express."

He has won six Primetime Emmys, two Peabody Awards, and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1999. 

He was also bestowed with the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017 and the Golden Globe Carol Burnett Award in 2021.

He is survived by his wife Lyn and kids Benjamin, Brianna, and Madeline. He is also survived by his kids from previous marriages, Ellen, Kate, and Maggie, as well as four grandchildren. 

Shortly after news of his passing was shared, the Chairman and CEO of Sony remembered him.

"A Founding Father in our industry, Norman and the shows he created defined what great television could be. Always entertaining, impactful, and fearless in addressing society's most complex and difficult issues through humor, shows like All In The Family, The Jeffersons and One Day at a Time set the standard for modern television audiences and paved the way for just about every great situation comedy or drama that has followed since. Norman will forever be recognized among the great television legends, and we are honored to have had him as part of the Sony family. It was always a such a joy having him with us on the lot, and I'm already missing being able to check in with him. Our hearts go out to Lyn and his family and all those who had the pleasure of knowing him."