Norman Lear holds a significant place in the history of television. His story began in the mid-20th century, marked by the creation of beloved series like All in the Family (1971-79), The Jeffersons (1975-85), Sanford and Son (1972-77), and One Day at a Time (1975-84). Prior to his career into television, Lear served in the US Army Air Forces during World War II.
Norman Lear’s upbringing
Norman Lear was born in New Haven, Connecticut on July 27, 1922. His world was turned upside down at just nine years old, when his father, a traveling salesman, was arrested and imprisoned for selling fake bonds. Calling the man a “rascal,” Lear later said that the character of Archie Bunker in All in the Family was partially inspired by him.
Around this time, he also became familiar with the fiercely anti-Semitic priest, Charles Coughlin, who hosted a popular radio show. In October 2022, the 100-year-old Lear shared in a series of tweets:
“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 Germany that followed.”
Enlistment in the US Army Air Forces (USAAF)
Norman Lear graduated from Weaver High School in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1940, before attending Emerson College. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the US military, much to his mother’s dismay. She’d hoped that as long as he remained in school, he wouldn’t go off to war.
After basic training at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, Lear was sent at a pilot training camp in Buffalo, New York. Despite failing the math portion of his exams, he received training as a radio operator and gunner.
He participated in bombing missions over Berlin, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart
Assigned to the 772nd Bombardment Squadron, 463rd Bombardment (Heavy) Group, Fifteenth Air Force, Lear primarily operated in the Mediterranean Theater. His duties involved conducting bombing sorties over key German cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart, during which he had the opportunity to fly alongside the Tuskegee Airmen.
Throughout his service, Lear flew a total of 52 combat missions aboard Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses. As the conflict neared its end, he willingly undertook supply and personnel transport assignments, driven by his aspiration to explore Cairo, Egypt. Following his discharge in 1945, he held the rank of technical sergeant and received an Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters in recognition of his exceptional work.
Norman Lear returns home from the Second World War
Upon his return to the United States following the Second World War, Norman Lear became a public relations professional. He had an uncle who’d taken the same career path and wanted to follow in his footsteps. This took him to Los Angeles, California, where he broke into show business by selling jokes with his writing partner, Ed Simmons, to Dan Rowan and Richard Martin, as well as Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin.
After years of writing and working as a film director, Lear finally saw one of his television projects get picked up. All in the Family was based on the British sitcom Till Death Us Do Part (1965-75), as well as his own experiences with his parents growing up. As aforementioned, Archie Bunker was partially inspired by Lear’s father, while Edith was based on his mother.
A big-time Hollywood executive
Most creators would have been ecstatic to produce just one show like All in the Family, but Norman Lear wasn’t content with only one successful idea on television; he had many more in store. In 1972, he adapted the British series Steptoe and Son (1962–74) for American audiences, resulting in the smash hit Sanford and Son, starring Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson.
In 1975, Lear introduced The Jeffersons, a series about an upper-middle-class African-American couple. The show featured several groundbreaking moments, including the debut of the first interracial couple on American TV, Tom and Helen Willis.
Over time, Lear played a significant role in creating many other television successes, such as Maude (1972–78) and Good Times (1974–79). His contributions to the entertainment industry earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Norman Lear’s legacy and activism
Despite his continued success in television, Norman Lear largely stepped away from show business later in life and became active in a number of causes. In 1980, he formed People for the American Way, an organization focused on countering the actions of the Religious Right. Six years after its creation, it was credited with stopping the Supreme Court nomination of Robert Bork.
In 2001, Lear purchased an early copy of the Declaration of Independence for $8.1 million. He and his wife, Lyn, toured the US with the document, allowing several citizens to see it. Beginning in 2004, he was involved with Declare Yourself, a non-partisan focused on encouraging young people between the ages of 18-29 to vote. Since its inception, it’s helped more than four million individuals register.
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On December 5, 2023, Norman Lear passed away. The 101-year-old’s death was said to be the result of natural causes. Tweeting about his passing, Rob Reiner, who portrayed Michael Stivic on All in the Family, said, “I loved Norman Lear with all my heart. He was my second father.”
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