Norman Lear, the legendary television producer who transformed the TV landscape with groundbreaking shows like “All in the Family” and “The Facts of Life,” has passed away at 101. Lear died of natural causes at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by family.
Lear’s sitcoms weren’t just ratings giants; they were also trailblazers, tackling pressing social issues such as racism, homosexuality, and war. His first major hit, “All in the Family,” aired on CBS from 1971 to 1979 and earned Lear four Emmys. The show, starring Jean Stapleton, Sally Struthers, Carroll O’Connor, and Rob Reiner, followed the life of Archie Bunker, a working-class man with bigoted views that were often his own comedic downfall.
Following “All in the Family,” “Archie Bunker’s Place” continued the story from 1979 to 1983. Lear’s other successes included “Sanford and Son,” which ran on NBC from 1972 to 1977 and featured Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson as a father-son duo running a junk shop in South Central Los Angeles.
“Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” a satirical soap opera starring Louise Lasser, aired for two seasons beginning in 1976. The show humorously depicted the tumultuous life of an Ohio housewife.
“Maude,” a spinoff from “All in the Family,” aired on CBS from 1972 to 1978. The show starred Bea Arthur as Maude Findlay, a liberal woman living with her fourth husband and adult daughter in New York.
“Good Times,” another spinoff of “Maude,” aired from 1974 to 1979 on CBS. It starred Jimmie Walker, John Amos, and Esther Rolle and was notable for featuring the first African American two-parent family as its central characters.
“One Day at a Time,” which ran from 1975 to 1984 on CBS, focused on a single mother, played by Bonnie Franklin, raising her two teenage daughters. The show was rebooted in 2017 with a new cast, including Rita Moreno and Justina Machado, and ran until 2020.
“The Jeffersons,” one of the longest-running sitcoms with an all-African American cast, aired from 1975 to 1985 on CBS. Starring Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford, it followed the Jeffersons as they moved from Queens to Manhattan thanks to their successful business.
“The Facts of Life,” an NBC series that ran from 1979 to 1988, starred Charlotte Rae as Edna Garrett, a housemother at an all-girls boarding school.
“Silver Spoons,” which aired from 1982 to 1987, featured Joel Higgins and Ricky Schroder in a story about a father reconnecting with his son.
“227,” airing on NBC from 1985 to 1990, starred Marla Gibbs, who had also appeared in “The Jeffersons.” The show focused on a Washington, D.C., housewife and her family.
Norman Lear’s shows not only entertained millions but also sparked conversations about important societal issues, leaving a lasting legacy in television history.