Norman Lear turns 100; new tribute to TV icon will air this fall on ABC
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
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Norman Lear: What you need to know Norman Lear was born on July 27, 1922, in New Haven, CT. (NCD)
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Norman Lear celebrated his 100th birthday on Wednesday with his family in Vermont, and ABC will honor the beginning of his second century with a primetime television special.
Lear, the producer and creative genius behind such iconic shows as “All in the Family,” “Maude,” “Sanford and Son,” “One Day at a Time,” “The Facts of Life,” “Good Times” and “The Jeffersons,” will be featured in “Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter” on Sept. 22 at 9 p.m. EDT, Variety reported.
The two-hour special will honor Lear’s life and his work as a producer, activist and philanthropist, according to the magazine. The list of celebrity guests and musical performances will be announced at a later date, according to ABC.
“I think the big secret is never forgetting to wake up in the morning. It starts with getting out of bed,” Lear says. “But there isn’t a day when there aren’t stories to tell — exciting, relevant and of the moment stories.”https://t.co/YMYGf68qpj
“Norman’s illustrious career is revered by so many, and we are honored to be celebrating his legacy with this special night of entertainment,” Craig Erwich, president, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, said in a statement. “We have been lucky to work with Norman on a number of projects over the years, and it’s only fitting that his centennial birthday is marked by the biggest names in Hollywood raising a glass to toast, and perhaps gently roast, the television icon.”
The special will air 10 days after the 74th Emmy Awards. Lear is already the oldest Emmy nominee and winner, People reported.
Lear broke his own record as the oldest person to receive a nomination -- earning two for 2021′s “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: ‘The Facts of Life’ and ‘Diff’rent Strokes’” at age 99, USA Today reported.
“I’ve never chosen anything to do that I didn’t wish to do,” Lear, who was born July 27, 1922, in New Haven, Connecticut, said in statement. “My awards and accolades mean a great deal to me, but they don’t mean as much as the drive to the studio today. I still explode with joy, excitement, interest and utter delight every time.”
In 2019, Lear won his sixth Emmy Award for “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ And ‘The Jeffersons.’” He has been nominated 16 times for the award and has one honorary award.
His latest nomination comes for his third “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” show, according to People.
“I cannot believe a century has passed,” Lear told USA Today. “I’d rather believe a new century starts. How exciting is that?”
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Photos: Norman Lear through the years Here are some photos of producer Norman Lear through the years. (Bob Riha Jr/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 1971: An off-camera moment with cast of "All in the Family" in 1971. Pictured are Jean Stapleton as Edith Bunker; Carroll O'Connor as Archie Bunker; show creator Norman Lear; Rob Reiner as Michael Stivic; Sally Struthers as Gloria Bunker Stivic; and Mike Evans as Lionel Jefferson. (CBS via Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 1984: Milton Berle, Lucille Ball, former CBS chairman William S. Paley and producer Norman Lear smile for photographers as they are inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame on Jan. 21, 1984, in Hollywood, California. (Bettmann Archive via Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 1990: Television writer Norman Lear and actor Alec Baldwin attend the People for the American Way's sixth annual "Spirit of Liberty" Award Salute to Norman Lear on November 18, 1990, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 1999: US President Bill Clinton along with first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton award playwright Norman Lear (left) with the 1999 National Medal of Arts and Humanities Award on September 29, 1999, at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. (STEPHEN JAFFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2001: Norman Lear, television producer and owner of a copy of the first printing of the Declaration of Independence, speaks at the 2001 Liberty Medal ceremonies July 4, 2001, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. (William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2002: Producer Norman Lear and his family attend the film premiere of "The Santa Clause 2" at the El Capitan Theatre on October 27, 2002, in Hollywood, California. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2003: Writer-producer Norman Lear and actress Drew Barrymore speak at a youth voter campaign kick off at George Washington University November 13, 2003, in Washington, D.C. (Stephen J. Boitano/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2005: Actor David Schwimmer and producer Norman Lear attend the Rape Foundation's Annual Brunch at the home of Ron Burkle on October 2, 2005, in Beverly Hills, California. (Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2006: Director Rob Reiner (left) kisses producer Norman Lear as he presents him the Producers Guild Achievement Award in Television award onstage during the 2006 Producers Guild awards held at the Universal Hilton on January 22, 2006, in Universal City, California. (Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2008: Actor Ted Danson (left) and producer Norman Lear attend Oceana's 2008 Partners Award Gala held at a private residence on October 18, 2008, in Pacific Palisades, California. (Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2009: Norman Lear (left) and Sir Richard Branson are shown seated at a table at the 20th Anniversary Environmental Media Awards at the Paramount lot October 25, 2009, in Los Angeles. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2011: Actor Robert Downey Jr. (left) and writer Norman Lear arrive at the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" held at the Regency Village Theatre on December 6, 2011, in Westwood, California. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2012: Producer Norman Lear and Lyn Lear arrive at LACMA 2012 Art + Film Gala at LACMA on October 27, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2013: Producer Norman Lear and philanthropist Lyn Lear attend the Walt Disney Concet Hall's 10th Anniversary Gala at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on September 30, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2014: Writer/producer Norman Lear (left) and actress Marla Maples celebrate the world premiere of "Farmed and Dangerous," a Chipotle/Piro production, at DGA Theater on February 11, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Chipotle Mexican Grill)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2015: Actress Anne Hathaway (left) and writer Norman Lear attend the 15th annual AFI Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on January 9, 2015, in Beverly Hills, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for AFI)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2016: Actors Cuba Gooding Jr. (left), Garry Marshall, Norman Lear and John Stamos attend 2016 TV Land Icon Awards at The Barker Hanger on April 10, 2016, in Santa Monica, California. (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for TV Land)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2017: The five recipients of the 40th annual Kennedy Center Honors pose for a group photo following a dinner hosted by United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in their honor at the U.S. Department of State on December 2, 2017, in Washington, D.C. From left to right, back row: LL Cool J and Lionel Richie Front row, left to right: Carmen de Lavallade, Norman Lear and Gloria Estefan. (Ron Sachs - Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2018: Honoree Norman Lear (left) and Bob Saget attend the AARP TV For Grownups Honors at Sunset Tower on July 24, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2019: Norman Lear and Marisa Tomei speak onstage during the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 22, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2020: Jane Fonda and Norman Lear participate in Jane Fonda's Fire Drill Friday at Los Angeles City Hall on February 7, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Rachel Luna/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2021: Norman Lear and Marla Gibbs attend the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony honoring Marla Gibbs on July 20, 2021, in Hollywood, California. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Photos: Norman Lear through the years 2022: Jimmy Kimmel, Jim Burrows, Allison Tolman, Norman Lear and Brent Miller attend the special screening and Disney FYC of "Live in Front of a Studio Audience" at El Capitan Theatre on June 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Araya Doheny/Getty Images)
