This year, renowned television producer Norman Lear celebrated his 100th birthday with a special ABC program for his followers. In this article, we examine the screenwriter’s net worth.
Born into a Jewish family in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1922, the television star celebrated his 100th birthday on July 27 of this year. Now, over two months later, his ABC spectacular Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter has been released.
The special, which was released on September 22 at 9:00 p.m. PT, has left fans feeling nostalgic and heartbroken.
Early Life of Norman Lear
Norman Lear was born into a Jewish family in New Haven, Connecticut in 1922. His mother’s name was Jeanette, and his father was a traveling salesman named Hyman.
Claire, his only sibling, was his younger sister. Lear was nine years old when he encountered an anti-Semitic Catholic radio priest, Father Charles Coughlin when he was tinkering with a radio.
Lear’s father was incarcerated for selling bogus bonds, and he met anti-Semitic Catholic radio priest, Father Charles Coughlin, while he was tinkering with The first encounter inspired the creation of Archie Bunker, while the second incident inspired Lear’s lifetime commitment to campaigning.
Lear graduated from Weaver High School in Hartford, Connecticut in 1940, and then attended Emerson College in Boston. However, in 1942 he dropped out to join the United States Army Air Forces. As a radio operator and gunner serving in the Mediterranean theatre, he flew 52 combat flights and was awarded the Air Medal.
Lear worked in public relations after the war and finally relocated to Los Angeles, California, where his cousin Elaine resided. Lear sold home furnishings door-to-door alongside Elaine’s husband, the aspiring comic writer Ed Simmons.
Throughout the 1950s, the duo created comic skits for, among others, Rowan and Martin and Martin and Lewis. In 1953, Norman and Ed earned a record-breaking $52,000 per episode (equivalent to $500,000 in current terms) to write for three Martin and Lewis comedy specials.
Lear was hired as a writer for the new CBS sitcom “Honestly, Celeste!” in 1954, but the show was canceled shortly thereafter. Lear also became the producer of the short-lived sitcom “The Martha Raye Show” and contributed some opening monologues to “The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show” during this time. In 1959, Lear created his first television series, the Western starring Henry Fonda titled “The Deputy.”
Television throughout the 1970s
After writing and producing “Divorce American Style” in 1967 and directing “Cold Turkey” in 1971, Lear pitched ABC a proposal for a sitcom about a blue-collar family.
Following two pilot episodes, the network rejected the show; after a third pilot, CBS picked up the show, “All in the Family.” Although the show launched in 1971 to low ratings, it went on to win several Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series.
During summer reruns, the show’s ratings increased, and by the next season, it had blossomed. From 1972 until 1977, “All in the Family” was the highest-rated television program. After its conclusion in 1979, the show was succeeded by “Archie Bunker’s Place.”
Throughout the 1970s, Lear produced a number of further hit sitcoms. Among them was “All in the Family” spinoffs “Maude” and “The Jeffersons” on CBS. The latter was one of the longest-running sitcoms in American television history, airing from 1975 through 1985. Lear also produced “Good Times,” a sequel to “Maude,” as well as “One Day at a Time.”
In 1976, he created the cult classic “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” which the networks initially thought too contentious. In addition to these shows, Lear co-founded the successful independent television production business T.A.T. Communications with talent agent Jerry Perenchio in the 1970s.
Career During the 1980s
In 1981, Lear began presenting a 14-month revival of the iconic 1940s game program “Quiz Kids.” The next year, he produced “I Love Liberty,” a television spectacular intended to counter right-wing parties.
Lear founded the media company Act III Communications in 1986, which produced various films, including “The Sure Thing,” “Stand By Me,” and “The Princess Bride” by Rob Reiner.
Career During the 1990s and After
Lear returned to television production in the 1990s with the comedy “Sunday Dinner,” “The Powers That Be,” and “704 Hauser,” but none of the programs were successful.
In 1997, Lear co-produced the Saturday morning animated children’s television “Channel Umptee-3” with Jim George. Even though it received positive reviews, it was terminated after one season due to low ratings.
In his senior years, Lear continued to contribute to the media. In 2017, he executive-produced the Netflix revival of his television series “One Day at a Time.” In the same year, he began a podcast titled “Everything with Norman Lear.”
Sale of Embassy Pictures and Coca-Cola
Lear and Jerry Perenchio acquired Avco Embassy Pictures in 1982. In 1985, they sold the studio to Columbia Pictures for $485 million in Coca-Cola shares. Inflation-adjusted, each Norman and Lear received the equivalent of $600 million before taxes from the sale.
The films The Sure Thing, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, and Fried Green Tomatoes were produced by Act III Communications, which Norman Lear formed in 1986.
Net Worth of Norman Lear
American television writer and producer Norman Lear has a net worth of $200 million according to celebritynetworth.com. Some of the most popular 1970s sitcoms were created by Norman Lear, including “All in the Family,” “Sanford and Son,” “One Day at a Time,” and “Good Times.”
Moreover, he is a well-known political activist who has made substantial financial contributions to progressive causes and politicians. Lear established People for the American Way in 1980 to resist the agenda of conservative Christians.
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Personal Life of Norman Lear
In 1999, he received the National Medal of Arts from President Bill Clinton. In 2001, he paid $8,1,000,000 for one of the first copies of the United States Declaration of Independence. In 1981, political activist Norman Lear founded People For the American Way.
He supports First Amendment rights and founded the nonpartisan campaigns Declare Yourself and BornAgainAmerican.org in 2004 and 2009, respectively. Lear is recognized for providing numerous African Americans with television professional chances. In 2017, Lear was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors.
He is a three-time married father of six children. His first marriage lasted from 1944 to 1956 to Charlotte Rosen. 1956 through 1986 was the length of his second marriage to Frances Loeb. Since 1987, he has been married to Lyn Davis.