Norman Lear Biography (1922-)

Full name, Norman Milton Lear; born July 27, 1922, in New Haven, CT; son of Herman (in sales) and Jeanette (maiden name, Seicol) Lear; married second wife, Frances A. Loeb (an entrepreneur), December 7, 1956 (divorced); married LynDavis; children: (first marriage) Ellen Lear Reiss; (second marriage) Kate B. Lear LaPook, Maggie B.; (third marriage) Benjamin Davis. Education:Attended Emerson College, 1940-42. Addresses: Office-- Act IIIProductions, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90067. Career: Producer, director, television series creator, and screenwriter. Worked in public relations, 1945-49; freelance comedy writer, 1950-59; TandemProductions, founder (with Alan "Bud" Yorkin), 1959; American Civil LibertiesFoundation of Southern California, cofounder, president, 1973--; T.A.T. Communications, later known as Embassy Communications, founder, 1974; Act III Communications, founder, 1987; member of the board of directors for People for the American Way, Constitutional Rights Foundation, Helsinki Watch, Los Angeles Urban League, Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and National Women's Political Caucus; Museum of Television & Radio, trustee emeritus; previously worked as furniture salesman and as a sidewalk photographer specializing in baby pictures. Military service: U.S. Army Air Force, 1942-45, became technical sergeant; received Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters. Member: Writers Guild of America, Screen Producers Guild (executive board member, 1968), Directors Guild of America, Producers Guild of America, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Caucus of Producers, Writers, and Directors. Awards, Honors: Named one of the top ten motion picture producers of the year by the Motion Picture Exhibitors, 1963, 1967, and 1968; Academy Award nomination (with Robert Kaufman), best story andscreenplay written directly for the screen, and Writers Guild Award nomination, best written American comedy, both 1968, for Divorce American Style; honorary H.H.D. from Emerson College, 1968; Emmy Awards, outstanding new series, 1971, and outstanding series--comedy (with John Rich), 1971-73, Emmy Award nominations, outstanding writing achievement in comedy, 1971-72, outstanding comedy series (with John Rich), 1974, and outstanding comedy series (with others), 1976, and Peabody Award, 1977, all for All in the Family; Showman of the Year Awards, Publicists Guild, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977; Showman of the Year Award, Association of Business Managers, 1972; Broadcaster of the Year Award, International Radio and Television Society, 1973; Man of the Year Award, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Hollywood chapter), 1973; Emmy Award nominations (with Rod Parker), outstanding comedy series and outstanding new series, 1973, for Maude; Humanitarian Award, National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1976; Emmy Awardnomination, outstanding program and individual achievement, 1976, for MaryHartman, Mary Hartman; Mark Twain Award, International Platform Association, 1977; Valentine Davies Award, Writers Guild of America, 1977; Showman ofthe Year Award, Publicists Guild, 1977; William O. Douglas Public Counsel Award, 1981; First Amendment Lectureship Award, Ford Hall Forum, 1981; Gold Medal, International Radio and Television Society, 1981; Distinguished AmericanAward, 1984; Television Academy Hall of Fame, inductee, 1984; Special Award,Young Artist Awards, outstanding contribution to youth through television: The Michael Landon Award, 1984; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding drama, 1984,for Heartsounds; Mass Media Award, American Jewish Committee Institute of Human Relations, 1986; International Award of the Year, National Association of Television Program Executives, 1987; American Comedy Award, LifetimeAchievement Award, 1987; Wise Owl Award (with Jon Avnet, Jordan Kerner, and Andrew Meyer), television and theatrical film fiction, from the Retirement Research Foundation, 1992, for Fried Green Tomatoes; Laurel Award for TVWriting Achievement, Writers Guild of America, 1993; Lucy Award, Women in Film Lucy Awards, 1999; Career Achievement Award, Television Critics AssociationAwards, 1999. Addresses: Office: Act III Productions, 1999 Avenue ofthe Stars, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90067.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Producer, director, television series creator, screenwriter
Birth Details
July 27, 1922
New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Famous Works

User Contributions:

Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic:


forum