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. 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. 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.
@nytimes ・・・ Norman Lear, the television writer and producer who introduced political and social commentary into situation comedy with “All in the Family” and other shows, proving that it was possible to be topical as well as funny while attracting millions of viewers, died on Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 101. Lear reigned at the top of the television world through the 1970s and into the early ’80s, leaving a lasting mark with shows that brought the sitcom into the real world. “The Jeffersons” looked at the struggles faced by an upwardly mobile Black family; the very different Black family on “Good Times” dealt with poverty and discrimination. The protagonist of “Maude” was an outspoken feminist; the heroine of “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” was plagued by all manner of modern-day problems, not least her own neurosis. His crowning achievement was “All in the Family,” and his greatest creation was Archie Bunker, the focus of that show and one of the most enduring characters in television history. Tap the link in our bio to read Lear’s full obituary. Photo by Andrew Renneisen for The New York Times
After just watching a group of writers and actors on both coasts wish me a happy birthday, I can’t help but think back to my very first WGA strike in 1960. It was a different America then and has me reflecting on all of the Americas I’ve known for 101 years.
I was nine years old when my dad was found to have committed fraud and was sent to prison for a few years. Alone in bed one night, my father away, I was playing with a crystal set radio and came across the vicious antisemitic voice of Father Coughlin railing against American Jews. I’m confident that that horrifying moment resulted in my early enlistment in WWII and the 52 combat missions over Nazi Germany that followed. Today, having recently turned 100, I read Donald Trump’s appalling words about American Jews, and I am nine years old again. The phrase, a horse’s ass, was an everyday expression when I was nine and it occurs to me again now.
My late and beloved friend Ginny Mancini would have been 99 years old today, just two days ahead of my 101st. Happy birthday, Ginny, and please set the table for me! Love you.
On this Veterans Day weekend, this World War II combat vet honors all who defend democracy, with gratitude to @peoplefor_ and all who give of themselves to make our beloved country a more perfect union. Link in bio. #veteransday #usatoday
#breakfastthoughts
In my almost 101 years, while I have served other posts, I have been, at my core, a writer. A writer who struggled and anguished to put words to paper that would provoke, create conversation, humanize us, help us see each other — words that would matter. I wrote in the very first year of television, when writers were revered. I now watch talented writers struggle to earn a living wage without the path to a career like mine. The stories we tell, the stories I can now watch on any device, are the stories that connect us, engage us, make us laugh and cry together, and inspire understanding and compassion. That is something to be protected and cherished. I stand with writers and with the Writers Guild of America, my union. The industry is stronger when we stand together to protect our collective community. #wgastrong
Dearest @lin_manuel, The song you sent was the gift of gifts and the treasure of treasures. I don’t have the words to tell you how lifted and touched I was by your generosity of spirit. Bless our friendship and bless you.
As one of our dearest friends and godmother to our twin daughters, we can’t overstate how much @drmayaangelou, her courage, brilliance, and friendship meant to our family. We bless and treasure every memory of our time together. #celebrateangelou95 #drangelou95
I’m the guy on the right with my B-17 crew. We flew 52 missions and dropped bombs 35 times on the Nazis in World War II. I salute every glorious comrade who served and put their country above self. Bless them all. #veteransday
This is one of LA’s most important mayoral races ever…and I have seen a lot of races in my 100 years. Karen Bass is the one true, lifelong, pro-choice Democrat who shares our values. She is the only candidate in the race with a record of getting hard things done. We should value lifelong public servants and should not dismiss them for something shiny and new. Experience and knowledge are invaluable. Running a city isn’t the same as building a mall. Los Angeles needs a leader who understands the challenges Angelenos face every day – and that leader is Karen Bass. Karen is endorsed by the LA Times, La Opinión, and many other leaders because she has real plans – – not just things that sound good – – to solve homelessness and make LA safer and more affordable. #vote #karenbassformayor
This day changed my life. It changed our country’s history.
As I reflect on @onedayatatimepop, leadership and voting, I had this thought…
It’s delighted me across the years from the moment Rob Reiner sent me a copy of his script for @theprincessbridemovie. Today, it is celebrating its 35th anniversary. The film is 100% Rob’s rendition of William Goldman’s story. While I had nothing to do with it creatively, I take great pride in the part I played helping it get made. Bless Rob for the gift he has given audiences across the globe. #Repost @theprincessbridemovie ・・・ Today #ThePrincessBride turns 35 years old! That’s 35 years of fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love and miracles. Can you believe it?
One of the easiest, happiest, and most treasured decisions I ever made was to participate in this song with my glorious grandson Noah LaPook as he wrestles to make the right decisions in life. And he will, I know. #Repost @lapookaracha ・・・ Decisions, Decisions is now streaming wherever you get your music! This song is about my anxiety surrounding making decisions—big, small, and everything in between. How do you know you’re choosing correctly? Do you ever? It’s the part of adulthood I still can’t wrap my head around. What I DO know is that I chose an incredible producer: @stojomusic , incredible musicians: @mattydeitch @mike_lunoe @rojoned , an incredible mastering engineer: @mariatriana_mastering , and an incredible harmonica-wielding grandfather: @thenormanlear Animation: @logoanimator 📸: gnomistphoto #newmusic #singersongwriter #folk
Thank you, my friend, @tylerperry for posting this personal story. We are joined together to lift each other up and to ensure that we, the human of the species, whatever our race or creed, are one. #Repost @tylerperry ・・・ This first photo is of my mother with these adorable children she worked with at a Jewish community center. I remember her coming home from work one day devastated because there was a bomb threat and my mother was horrified that there were people who wanted to blow up a building full of children because they were Jewish. I blurred their faces but think about that. It brought her back to that pain of having to live through the bombing of a church in Alabama where three little black girls died. My mother made sure that I knew the commonality of what black people and Jewish people have endured – she not only taught me about slavery but she also taught me about the Holocaust. But in teaching me about all our common pains she also taught me about the allies that Jewish people have been for black people. Case in point, look at the founding members of the NAACP – it took allies to get us to a better place in this country and those allies didn’t look like us. It was Jewish allies that were murdered in Mississippi trying to help us get the right to vote. I can fill this post with so many examples including my own allies that I work with today who have helped me grow a business that has allowed me to hire more black people than most businesses in Hollywood. No one makes it alone. Refuse hate!!
#breakfastthoughts
As a recently minted centenarian, I have so much to be thankful for – – and as a combat veteran of World War II, I could not be more grateful for the the primarily black Tuskegee airmen who flew fighter planes escorting our B-17s to our targets over Germany. They fought off the Messerschmitt fighter planes that the enemy sent to attack us. Bless you, @robinrobertsgma and @tylerperry for making it possible for me to have this moment with with my Tuskegee brothers, Lt. Col. Harry Stewart Jr. and Lt. Col. George Hardy. #linkinbio
I think of the last few days as the beginning of a new year of Thanksgiving. In that context, I think of what brings us all closer together – – sports, music, and laughter. We sit at such events with a degree of oneness and empathy that brings us as close to together as we could ever be. Let me dwell on the word empathy. It could be the essence of brotherhood and sisterhood, two words that we toss around too easily. Empathy is at the core of feeling for one another, listening heart and mind to one another, caring for one another. I am proud to have a son-in-law, @drlapook, who many years ago started @nyuempathy at @nyulangone and @nyugrossman. It and everything IT is about, could not be more needed at this time. #Repost @nyuempathy ・・・ We’re all talking about what the new normal will look like. Let’s agree that it includes being empathic. Deal? #empathy #thenewnormal #empathyiscool
This man, @paulhipp, is one of the great songwriters you may have yet to know. He’s also one helluva performer. And he’s a friend. His song about me ran a bit long, but not too long to share with all of you.
As a Jewish WWII combat veteran, I was proud to be a part of this important @nbcnews special with my friend @jacobsoboroff. I am also proud to have done this interview with another friend, our newly minted President of @peoplefor_, @svantemyrick. #linkinbio
My son, Ben Lear, made an impactful film called, THEY CALL US MONSTERS. This young man was a subject in the film and needs our support ASAP. Please review the petition and make your own decision. I’m choosing to sign it immediately. #linkinbio
I am excited that @svantemyrick will become @peoplefor_ ’s new president. I am always inspired when young people committed to democracy pick up the torch and run with it. Thanks to @benjealous and best wishes in his new position at the @sierraclub. #Repost @peoplefor_ ・・・ 📣We’ve got news!!📣 Please help us welcome our very own @svantemyrick as our new President! Svante will succeed @benjealous , who has accepted a new position as executive director of @sierraclub “I believe in the American promise,” Myrick said. “I was born into homelessness and raised by a single mother. Thanks to supportive people and policies, I had the opportunity to attend Cornell University and serve a city I love. I am grateful and eager to lead People For the America Way’s work to defend truth, justice, and the American Way so that generations of others will have the same opportunities.” People For the American Way founder @thenormanlear said that Myrick gives him hope in hard times. “Nothing encourages me more than committed young people taking the torch and running with it,” Lear said. “And no one impresses me more than Svante Myrick. He makes me believe in the future.” Here’s to an exciting new chapter! Cheers to Ben and Svante!
