The spokeperson of Lear’s family, Lara Bergthold stated that the legendary producer, Norman Lear, passed away in his sleep, on Tuesday Night.
Lear was born in 1922, in New Haven, Connecticut, to Jewish Russian family. As he stated, he created Archie and Edith Bunker on his show, All in the Family, based from his parents.
It was 1942, when he left Emerson College so he would enlist in the Air Force. He was the gunner and the radio operator of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, as he took part in 52 missions.
As the war ended, Lear continued his career in entertainment businnes, where he had a partnership with his cousin’s wife, Ed Simmons, as they wrote sketches, where Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis played in.
It was in 1971, when he created the legendary show, All in the Family. Which was focusing on the relationship and the lives of a married couple, Archie Bunker and Edith, along with their daughter Gloria, and her husband, Michael Stivic.
There were many themes shown in the series as, racism, antisemitism, feminism, and the Vietnam War.
A disclaimer read on the first episode of the show as, “The program you are about to see is All in the Family,”
“It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices, and concerns. By making them a source of laughter we hope to show, in a mature fashion, just how absurd they are.”
The show received the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. And it is counted as one of the best sitcoms of all times, as the show changed the television forever.
In his interview with New York Times, in 2012, Lear said, “You looked around television in those years, and the biggest problem any family faced was ‘Mother dented the car, and how do you keep Dad from finding out’; ‘the boss is coming to dinner, and the roast’s ruined,’”
“The message that was sending out was that we didn’t have any problems.”
And in 1994, he said to AP, “Controversy suggests people are thinking about something. But there’d better be laughing first and foremost or it’s a dog,”
Regarding his passing, his family released a statement, as Variety reported.
“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. We ask for your understanding as we mourn privately in celebration of this remarkable human being.”
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