Stars are paying tribute following the death of Norman Lear at the age of 101.
The iconic TV sitcom and movie producer, who created shows such as “All in the Family,” “Maude” and “The Jeffersons” died at his home in Los Angeles of natural causes Tuesday.
“All in the Family” star Rob Reiner reacted to the news of his
“second father,” writing: “I loved Norman Lear with all my heart… Sending my love to Lyn and the whole Lear family.”
Jimmy Kimmel, for his part, noted that he “used situation comedy to shine a light on prejudice, intolerance, and inequality.”
“He created families that mirrored ours, showing us a world in which Archie Bunker and Michael Stivic could learn to not only co-exist, but to love one another. Even at 101, Norman cared as much about the future, our children, and planet or as anyone I have ever known,” the late-night host went on.
“It is obviously silly to want more time with a person who outlived a whole century but losing Norman Lear, even at 101 years old, feels unfair. His bravery, integrity and unmatched moral compass were equaled by his kindness, empathy, and wit,” he added. “He was a great American, a hero in every way and so funny, smart, and lovely man you almost couldn’t believe it. The privilege of working alongside Norman and the opportunity he gave me and my wife to get to know him and his beautiful family has been among the great honors and pleasures of my life. We were all very lucky to have him.”
The pair worked on “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” together, a re-creation of classic episodes from “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons.”
John Leguizamo, for his part, chimed in on social media: “R.i.p. Norman Lear. A master of story telling and a healer through his shows! He is what all of showbiz should be aspiring to.”
Actor John Cusack also posted a tribute on X, revealing that Reiner and Lear gave him his first shot in Hollywood when he was 16.
“[They] treated me like a son,” he wrote. “Looked after me in such a kind loving way, that only in retrospect could I fully appreciate what great caring humans.”
He added: “Norman made you feel like a better human being every time you had the pleasure of being in his company.”
Comedian Wanda Sykes, for her part, posted: “Farewell to the incomparable Norman Lear, a trailblazer who challenged norms and shifted the paradigm through the laughter and lessons you’ve shared. It was an honor to be a small part of your impact and to witness it in my lifetime. To a legacy and life well-lived, thank you.”
Filmmaker Albert Brooks scribed: “The greatest of the greats. R.I.P. Norman Lear. You were loved.”
While “Sex and the City” alum Mario Cantone wrote “Rest in Peace Norman Lear. Nobody did it better,” Jane Lynch simply noted: “How lucky are we? How lucky are we to have crossed timelines with Norman Lear?”
Melissa Rivers also took to X. “Norman Lear changed the way we watched and laughed at sitcoms. He left an indelible mark on Television, and on America. Rest in peace,” she shared.
New York City mayor Eric Adams even spoke out. “Norman Lear redefined American television and gave a platform to so many creators who had been shut out,” the politician wrote.
“He told universal stories of working class struggles. He used his art form and his voice to fight against injustice. We’ve lost a giant today.”
Throughout Lear’s successful career, he scored 17 Emmy nominations and won six.
The entertainer’s other accolades included being honored at the 2017 Kennedy Center honors and receiving the Carol Burnett Award for achievement in television at the 2021 Golden Globes.
Just before his 100th birthday in 2022, Lear reflected on his 60-plus-year career, saying he still wasn’t about to slow down.
“I think the big secret is never forgetting to wake up in the morning. It starts with getting out of bed,” Lear told Variety at the time. “But there isn’t a day when there aren’t stories to tell — exciting, relevant and of-the-moment stories.”
A private service for Lear will be held by his immediate family at a later date.
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