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Norman Lear Biography

Birth Name:Norman Milton Lear

Birth Place:New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Profession Producer, Writer, Production manager, Actor, Director, Soundtrack, Script department

Fast Facts

  • Awarded an American National Medal of the Arts in 1999
  • Founded the non-profit organization People For the American Way in 1981
  • Was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1984
  • Graduated from Emerson College in 1944
  • Was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Southern California in 2008
  • Started out writing jokes and monologues for Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin
  • Quote: "Of all the characters I've created and cast, the one who resembles me most is Maude․ That's the character who shares my passion, my social concerns and my politics․․․it was Maude who dealt best with the foolishness of the human condition because she knew herself to personify it․"
  • Best known as the creator of the sitcoms "All in the Family," "The Jeffersons" and "Sanford and Son․"
  • Once served as mentor to fellow writer Seth MacFarlane
  • Served as a pilot in World War II
  • Is the godfather of actress Katey Sagal

Awards

  • 1968Oscar-Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
  • 1968WGA Award (Screen)-Best Written American Comedy: nominated
  • 1971Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Series - Comedy: winner
  • 1971Primetime Emmy-Outstanding New Series: winner
  • 1971Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy: nominated
  • 1972Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Series - Comedy: winner
  • 1972Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Single Program - Drama or Comedy: nominated
  • 1972Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy: nominated
  • 1973Primetime Emmy-Outstanding New Series: nominated
  • 1973Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
  • 1973Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1974Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1976Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1976Primetime Emmy-Special Classification of Outstanding Program and Individual Achievement: nominated
  • 1978Personal Award-: winner
  • 1985Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special: nominated
  • 1991Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Informational Special: nominated
  • 1992Wise Owl Award-Television and Theatrical Film Fiction: winner
  • 2008IDA Award-Continuing Series: nominated
  • 2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Special (Live): winner
  • 2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Special (Live): winner
  • 2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Special (Live): nominated