Norman Lear reinvented the modern television comedy. He moved away from the “traditional” family presented on series like “Ozzie & Harriet,” offering more authentic blended and extended families on shows like “All in the Family” and “Maude.” As the man behind influential titles like “The Jeffersons,” “Sanford and Son” and “Good Times,” Lear told Black stories with dignity, humor and authenticity — something that wasn’t common on American television at the time.
On Wednesday, Lear died of natural causes at the age of 101. His groundbreaking work combined honest discussions about race, gender, sex and politics, with his signature unapologetically candid humor. You can trace the roots of series like “Black-ish” back to George Jefferson and Fred Sanford. There’d be no “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” without “Good Times.”
On Lear’s sitcoms, Black families weren’t presented as sad, broken homes. Life may not have been filled with success for the Evans, but they always had love. Nothing broke their spirit. George and Louise Jefferson “moved on up to the east side” but they never forgot their Blackness. George celebrated it with pride.
Nowadays, these seem like standard procedure for any sitcom, but in the 1970s it was a major shift in the way Black stories were presented. Lear’s influence on today’s top comedians and writers is unmatched and his passing led to an immediate outpouring of love and recognition from Hollywood’s biggest names.
“Abbott Elementary” creator/star Quinta Brunson honored the legend on X, writing, “My Goat. What a life. Rest well, Norman Lear.”
“This is such sad news to wake up to. What a titan of this industry. And he was always so lovely when I got to spend time in his presence. I know 101 is a LONG life, but still…this one hurts,” posted “Frog & Toad” star Yvette Nicole Brown.
Playwright Jeremy O. Harris showed gratitude for Lear’s impact, writing on X, “Without the goat who do we have left? Thank you for everything you taught us about ourselves and the lessons your children of the pen (like @quintabrunson Michael Schur & others) will hopefully be able to keep teaching us for many years to come. RIP”
“You were always so kind and curious with new writers and it’s one of the great honors of my life to have gotten to know you even a bit,” Harris added. “Your whole family was full of gems and that’s bc you were a crown jewel.”
Filmmaker Tyler Perry saluted his hero on Instagram, remembering the advice Lear gave him when they met. He also expressed his admiration for the legend’s example as a storyteller.
“I shared with him that he taught me to dream a bigger dream by his example,” Perry wrote. “He was 100 years old at the time, but sharp as ever. Full of wisdom and great advice, and I took it all in. Just before I left, I asked, ‘At 100 years old what are you looking forward to?’ Without any hesitation he said, ‘Tomorrow.’ It was such a simple but powerful lesson to live your life fully one day at a time. And ‘One Day at a Time’ just happened to be the name of one of his many hit TV shows along with ‘Maude,’ ‘All in The Family,’ ‘Good Times,’ Sanford and Son’ and so many other incredible shows.
“I’m so glad that I had the chance to say to him, thanks to his vision and his work, he gave me many ‘tomorrows’ to look forward to. So today, sadly, I say goodbye and I salute a veteran. One who asked me to help put together a moment for him to say thank you to the surviving Redtail Tuskegee Airmen, he wanted to thank them for the escorts they provided him and others during World War II, which I did with Robin Roberts on ‘GMA.’”
“It felt good to be able to do something for him. A hero and someone who inspired me to try and bring as much laughter to the world as he brought to the little boy that I was.You sir are truly one of one! I’m so glad we were on the planet at the same time. Thank you for your example. Rest in peace my dear friend, I thank God for you. My prayers are with your family. Travel well, Mr. Norman Lear.”
Lear changed television; in the process, he changed hearts, minds and lives. The stories he told gave generations of Black Americans a chance to see themselves in proud, unforgettable, game-changing characters. He’s a giant who truly left his mark on the world.