Norman Lear left a lasting mark on American television, rising to prominence in the mid-20th century as the creative force behind groundbreaking shows like All in the Family (1971–79), Sanford and Son (1972–77), The Jeffersons (1975–85), and One Day at a Time (1975–84). Long before he reshaped the sitcom landscape, Lear served his country during World War II as a member of the U.S. Army Air Forces.
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.
Participating in bombing missions over Germany
Assigned to the 772nd Bombardment Squadron, 463rd Bombardment (Heavy) Group, Fifteenth Air Force, Lear served primarily in the Mediterranean Theater. His duties included conducting bombing missions over key German cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart, during which he had the remarkable opportunity to fly alongside the Tuskegee Airmen.
During his service, Lear successfully completed 52 combat missions aboard Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses. As the war neared its end, he volunteered for supply and personnel transport missions, driven by a desire to visit Cairo, Egypt. By the time of his discharge in 1945, he had achieved the rank of technical sergeant and earned an Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, recognizing his exceptional contributions.
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 producers would consider themselves lucky to create even one landmark series like All in the Family, but Norman Lear had a far bigger vision. In 1972, he brought the British sitcom Steptoe and Son (1962–74) to American viewers in the form of Sanford and Son, a breakout hit starring Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson.
Then in 1975, Lear introduced The Jeffersons, which focused on a successful African-American couple navigating life in an upscale Manhattan apartment. The show was a trailblazer, notably featuring television’s first interracial married couple, Tom and Helen Willis.
Lear’s influence only grew from there. He helped bring to life other major successes like Maude (1972–78) and Good Times (1974–79). His decades of innovation and impact on American television earned him a coveted 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.”