American screenwriter and producer Norman Lear is known for developing over a hundred shows including All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, and Good Times. The screenwriter was a member of the Television Academy Hall of Fame and was one of the highly celebrated screenwriters, creators, and writers of sitcoms.

Norman Lear won five Emmy Awards and was well appreciated for his trailblazing sitcoms, as his shows were the first ones to address the serious political, cultural, and social flashpoints of the day at the time. The writer-producer-developer has unfortunately passed away at the age of 101.

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Norman Lear
Norman Lear (Picture Courtesy: CBS News)

Norman Lear passed away at the age of 101 of natural causes

American screenwriter and producer Norman Lear who was 101 years old has passed away at his Los Angeles house of natural causes. His publicist who shared a statement from the family via Variety confirmed his death,

“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.”

The family statement continued,

“We ask for your understanding as we mourn privately in celebration of this remarkable human being.”

Norman Lear
Norman Lear passed away at the age of 101 (Picture Courtesy: EW/AMANDA EDWARDS/GETTY IMAGES)

Lear’s sitcoms dwelled on topics including racism, abortion, homosexuality, the Vietnam War, etc. No subject was taboo for the screenwriter and he had shared in an interview with Onion A.V. Club back in 2005 via Vibe,

“Originally, with all the shows, we went looking for belly laughs. It crossed our minds early on that the more an audience cared- we were working before, on average, 240 live people- if you could get them caring, the more they cared, the harder they laughed.”

The late screenwriter was also regarded as one of the few outspoken liberals and progressive philanthropists who to counteract the activities of the conservative Moral Majority had founded an advocacy group in 1981 named; People for the American Way.

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Condolence messages poured in for Norman Lear

George Clooney in a statement paid tribute to the late screenwriter:

“It’s hard to reconcile that at 101 years old, Norman Lear is gone too soon. The entire world of reason just lost its greatest advocate and our family lost a dear friend. A giant walked in his shoes.”

Mark Ruffalo praised the late screenwriter-producer as “one of the great Humanists who changed the world by being honest about love, laughter and troubles we all share.” Actress Jamie Lee Curtis shared via her Instagram,

Norman Lear
Norman Lear (Picture Courtesy: CNN)

“He was working on a project with me and he and Lyn welcomed us into their home in October where we talked politics and comedy and family. Norman Lear was a great example to me and millions and millions of other people.”

Norman Lear’s The Jeffersons is known as one of the few sitcoms that have managed to portray the success of an African-American couple in New York society in a pure and unapologetic manner. According to NY Times, in 2003 the writer helped in writing a few episodes for South Park, in 2009, he developed a series about professional wrestling for HBO although it was not picked up.

A private memorial service will be held for Norman Lear’s family in the coming days.

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