Norman Lear, Legendary TV Sitcom Creator, Dies at 101
Norman Lear, creator of some of the most iconic and influential sitcoms of all time, has died. He was 101.
Lear’s death was confirmed in a statement from his family via social media. The statement began, “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.”
The statement continued, “Norman 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.”
The statement concluded, “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.”
Lear’s impact on television is immense. He created/developed over 100 shows in his career. Among them were All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons, One Day at a Time and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.
Due to his prolific career, Lear earned every imaginable entertainment/arts award. In 1984, Lear was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. He received the National Medal of Arts in 1999. In 2017 alone, Lear received the Woody Guthrie Prize, the Kennedy Center Honors and a lifetime achievement honor from the Peabody Awards. He also received the Golden Globe Carol Burnett Award for his lifetime achievement in television in 2021.
Lear is survived by his third wife, producer Lyn Davis, whom he married in 1987. He is also survived by six children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
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