Norman Lear dies at age 101
Legendary sitcom producer Norman Lear has passed away at the age of 101.
His family confirmed the news of his death in a statement on his website, writing that the Hollywood icon lived his life with "curiosity, tenacity, and empathy" until the very end.
The statement reads, "Norman lived a life of curiosity, tenacity, and empathy. He deeply loved our country and spent a lifetime helping to preserve its founding ideals of justice and equality for all."
"He began his career in the earliest days of live television and discovered a passion for writing about the real lives of Americans, not a glossy ideal."
"At first, his ideas were met with closed doors and misunderstanding. However, he stuck to his conviction that the 'foolishness of the human condition' made great television, and eventually he was heard."
At the height of his career, Norman dominated the American sitcom scene, producing such shows as All in the Family and The Jeffersons, propelling him to global fame in the 1970s.
Lear was the first to tackle many social issues in his TV shows, such as racism, feminism and social inequalities that no one had yet dared touch, making him a pioneer of comedy with a meaning.
Director Rob Reiner, who starred on the sitcom All in the Family, paid tribute to Lear on social media on Wednesday, writing, "I loved Norman Lear with all my heart. He was my second father. Sending my love to Lyn and the whole Lear family."
Prior to his 100th birthday in 2022, Lear credited work, bagels, the love of his family and laughter for his longevity.
"I like getting up in the morning with something on my mind, something I can work on … to some conclusion," Lear said.
Image credits: Getty Images