Born New Haven, Connecticut
Millions of Americans grew up watching writer-producer Norman Lear’s genre-defying sitcoms, including All in the Family (1971–79), Sanford and Son (1972–77), Maude (1972–78), Good Times (1974–79), and The Jeffersons (1975–85). His many honors include six Emmys, a National Medal of Arts (1999), a Peabody Lifetime Achievement Award (2016), a Kennedy Center Honor (2017), and the Carol Burnett Award (2021). A progressive activist, he cofounded People for the American Way in 1981.
Before working in Hollywood, Lear left college to join the U.S. Army Air Forces. He served as a B17 radio operator and gunner during World War II. After the war, Lear moved to California, becoming a writer for the actors and comedians Danny Thomas, Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, and others. He wrote successful screenplays for the movies Come Blow Your Horn (1963), Divorce American Style (1967), and others. In January 1971, he and business partner Bud Yorkin launched All in the Family, making television history.
Lear’s television shows broke from traditional sitcom storylines, confronting controversial topics like homophobia, sexism, abortion, and racism. He aimed to entertain and educate viewers, stating, “America has a hard time looking in the mirror and seeing itself truthfully.” While his portrayals of families were somewhat more realistic than past television offerings, Lear also faced criticism for using cliches and promoting stereotypes, particularly of African Americans.
