Norman Lear

Known For: Production
Born: July 27, 1922
Place of Birth: New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Died: December 5, 2023

Norman Lear

Norman Milton Lear (July 27, 1922 – December 5, 2023) was a legendary American television writer and producer who produced such 1970s sitcoms as All in the Family, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, Good Times, Maude. As a political activist, he founded the advocacy organization People for the American Way in 1981 and has supported First Amendment rights and progressive causes. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, to Enie/Jeanette (Sokolovsky) and Hyman "Herman" Lear, a traveling salesman. His grandparents were all Russian Jewish immigrants. Jeanette was the inspiration for the character Edith Bunker, and Herman for Archie Bunker. Lear won a one year-scholarship to Emerson College. He dropped out when news about Pearl Harbor struck, and decided to enroll in the United States Army. He was nineteen. In the army, Norman was a radio operator. He was discharged in 1945. Norman landed a press agen…

Filmography

Boots

2025 · Executive Producer

Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television

2025 · Self

Before We Forget

2025 · Executive Producer

Clean Slate

2025 · Executive Producer

Good Times

2024 · Self (voice), Executive Producer

Norman Lear: A Life on Television

Norman Lear: A Life on Television

2023 · Self

Being Mary Tyler Moore

2023 · Self (voice)

I Got A Monster

2023 · Executive Producer

A Case for Kindness

2022 · Self

Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter

2022 · Self

Gratitude Revealed

2022 · Himself

"Sr."

2022 · Self

Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution

2022 · Self

JANET JACKSON.

2022 · Self

Lucy and Desi

2022 · Self

The Super Bob Einstein Movie

2021 · Self

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes

2021 · Self - Host, Executive Producer

Adventures in Christmasing

2021 · Himself

Dean Martin: King of Cool

2021 · Self

I Carry You with Me

2021 · Executive Producer

Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It

2021 · Self, Executive Producer

A Virtual Princess Bride Reunion

2020 · Self

Pioneers in Skirts

2020 · self

Find Your Groove

2020 · Self

Stars in the House

2020 · Self

Visible: Out on Television

2020 · Self

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"

2019 · Self - Co-Host, Original Series Creator, Executive Producer

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"

2019 · Self - host, Writer

I Want My MTV

2019 · Self

Robert Scheer: Above the Fold

2019 · Self

Viewer Direction Advised

2018 · Self

The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee

2017 · Self

If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast

2017 · Self

One Day at a Time

2017 · Executive Producer

America Divided

2016 · Self

To Tell the Truth

2016 · Self - Panelist

Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

2016 · Self

StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson

2015 · Self

Playing for Change 3 - Songs Around the World

2014 · Executive Producer

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014 · Self

Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption

2013 · Self

Casting By

2012 · Self

Pablo

2012 · Self

Finding Your Roots

2012 · Self

The Television Revolution Begins: "All in the Family" Is On the Air

2009 · Self

Those Were the Days: The Birth of "All in the Family"

2009 · Self

The Brothers Warner

2008 · Self

Pete Seeger: The Power of Song

2007 · Executive Producer

Iconoclasts

2005 · Self

A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin

2005

Jack & Bobby

2004

TV Revolution

2004

Way Past Cool

2003 · Executive Producer

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003 · Self

Chappelle's Show

2003 · Writer

The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series

2003 · Self

Funny Is Money

1999 · Self

Channel Umptee-3

1997 · Producer, Creator

South Park

1997

Perfect Moment

1997 · Self

E! True Hollywood Story

1996

The Daily Show

1996 · Self

Corwin

1996 · Self

704 Hauser

1994 · Director, Writer, Creator

Intimate Portrait

1993 · Self

The Powers That Be

1992 · Director, Producer

Color Adjustment

1992 · Self

Fried Green Tomatoes

1991 · Executive Producer

Sunday Dinner

1991 · Writer, Producer, Creator

All in the Family: 20th Anniversary Special

1991 · Self - Host, Executive Producer

The Simpsons

1989 · Norman Lear (voice)

The Princess Bride

1987 · Executive Producer

Video Shock: The Revolution in Your Living Room

Video Shock: The Revolution in Your Living Room

1985 · Self

Heartsounds

1984 · Executive Producer

P.O.P.

1984 · Writer

a.k.a. Pablo

1984 · Writer, Producer, Creator

I Love Liberty

1982 · Executive Producer, Writer

Late Night with David Letterman

1982 · Self - Guest

Traveling Hopefully

1982 · Self - Television Producer

Palmerstown, U.S.A.

1980 · Producer

Archie Bunker's Place

1979 · Creator

The Facts of Life

1979 · Creator

Hanging In

1979 · Producer

Apple Pie

1978 · Creator

America 2-Night

1978 · Creator

A Different Approach

1978

A Year at the Top

A Year at the Top

1977 · Producer

Fernwood 2 Night

1977 · Creator

All That Glitters

All That Glitters

1977 · Creator

Bob Hope's World of Comedy

Bob Hope's World of Comedy

1976 · Self

The Nancy Walker Show

1976 · Producer, Creator

All's Fair

1976 · Creator

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

1976 · Self, Producer, Creator

One Day at a Time

1975 · Producer

Saturday Night Live

1975 · Self - Host

Hot l Baltimore

1975 · Producer

The Jeffersons

1975 · Creator

Dinah!

1974 · Self

Good Times

1974 · Producer

The Thief Who Came to Dinner

1973 · Producer

Maude

1972 · Executive Producer, Creator

Sanford and Son

1972 · Producer, Creator

Cold Turkey

1971 · Crying Man (uncredited), Director, Screenplay, Producer

All in the Family

1971 · Director, Executive Producer, Writer, Creator

Start the Revolution Without Me

1970 · Executive Producer

The Night They Raided Minsky's

1968 · Screenplay, Producer

The Dick Cavett Show

1968 · Self - Guest

Divorce American Style

1967 · Producer, Screenplay

Never Too Late

1965 · Producer

Come Blow Your Horn

1963 · Party Guest (uncredited), Screenplay, Producer

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962 · Self

The Mike Douglas Show

1961 · Self

The Deputy

1959 · Writer, Creator

Scared Stiff

1953 · Additional Dialogue

The Colgate Comedy Hour

1950 · Writer

Television: The Ultimate Drug

— · Self - Producer

Justice for All

Justice for All

— · Creator

Those Were the Days

Those Were the Days

— · Creator

Norman Lear · Virelixia