Norman Milton Lear was born to mother, Jeanette (Seicol) and father, Herman Lear. Norman Lear is a world war veteran,actor,writer,producer,director, and creator of such legendary sitcoms like All In The Family,Good Times,Sanford And Son,The Jeffersons,Maude,and also, apart of many other sitcoms, which defined and revolutionized American television. Norman Lear was born in a Jewish home to Russian parents. Lear often described his father as a "biggot" and was someone who was into "get rich quick schemes" his father was a salesman/entrepreneur. Herman Lear was the all-time inspiration to soon in Norman's career creating the character,Archie Bunker. And Jeanette Seicol was the inspiration for the character,Edith Bunker. Norman Milton Lear was the victim of depression and he saw his family as he described it go "belly-up" in depression. Norman Lear was inspired to be a press-agent by his uncle Jack, who anytime visited the family always flipped Norman Lear a quarter. Norman Lear wanted to be the person who could flip someone a quarter. Norman Lear at this time never really thought of becoming a big Hollywood writer. Norman Lear won an one year-scholarship to Emerson College in a national high-school writing contest, he went off to Emerson College with all tuition paid by the government for one year. Norman Lear figured he had struck a gold-mine, being a victim of the depression this was the only way he could get into college. Norman Lear attended Emerson College but dropped out when news struck that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. At that point Norman stated all chaos broke lose, and along with many others Norman decided to enroll in the United States Army. Norman was nineteen. Norman Lear in the army was a radio operator. Lear was discharged in 1945. Norman Lear stated that he later evolved into a different human being, and was not as hateful toward Germans after his discharge. Norman Lear eventually after the army landed a press agent job paying forty dollars a week. Lear due to hard-times was not being paid well and decided to pursue another career. In 1954,Lear was a writer for the CBS sitcom, Honestly,Celeste! This series however was cancelled after eight episodes. Lear then became the producer of NBC's The Martha Raye Show, after the director Nat Hiken left the series. In 1959, Lear created his first television series and it was on the NBC network, starring Henry Fonda called The Deputy. Lear created this series along side Roland Kibbee. The show ran for two successful seasons, and ended in 1961. Norman Lear then started his comedic writing career in 1967. Norman Lear wrote and produced the 1967 film, Divorce American Style and directed the film, Cold Turkey starring Dick Van Dyke. All In The Family came about when Norman Lear read a British column on a show called, "Til Death,Do Us Part" about a father and a son-in-law who fought constantly about everything politically. As soon as he read that, he immediately knew it was just like him and his father's relationship. Lear based on this idea tried to sell as many descried a "blue" collar sitcom to the ABC network, two pilots were filmed and both were rejected. A third pilot was filmed and CBS picked up the show and it premiered on January 12,1971 to disappointing ratings. Each pilot being shot by different entertainers than the original, only Caroll O' Connor and Jean Stapleton remained as the original cast as different people played the brother-in-law and daughter. Lear only after being accepted by CBS put Sally Struthers and Rob Reiner in the sitcom. When it was aired on television for the first time, a big warning appeared on the screen stating, none of the content being presented should be taken seriously and only should be seen for the purpose of hilarity. Norman Lear stated that this sitcom became successful later on, because people new Archie Bunker, to many people Archie Bunker was their own father. What came next for Norman Lear was the successful sitcom Sanford And Son along with creator Bud Yorkin in 1972. This sitcom was inspired by British sit-com, Steptoe and Son. Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson played the main roles. In All In The Family a guest-star named Bea Arthur appeared in an episode and the first spin-off was formed from All In The Family called Maude in 1972. Ratings soared through the roof, and much more quicker than All In The Family. A memorable episode from Maude which struck a degree of controversy was the abortion episode. A spin-off came from Maude called Good Times from the maid character played by Esther Rolle (Florida Evans). Good Times premiered in 1974, dealt with controversial issues such as poverty,crime,welfare, but most of all depicted life in a low income housing area for African-Americans. It was created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans. This series featured entertainers John Amos,Ester Rolle,Bern Nadette Stanis,Jimmie Walker,Ralph Carter Ja'net Dubois and many others. However it wasn't the only sitcom to depict life for African Americans, what later followed in 1975 was, The Jeffersons which was a spin-off from All In The Family. Many people hadn't realized that African American's could actually move away from the ghetto and become successful like George and Louise did. To many people across America it was seen as hilarious comedic genius, no other show ever called someone a "honky" or slammed doors in people's faces and still showed controversial issues to a phenomenal degree. In several episodes the show dealt with drugs , violence, and racism. The characters George and Louise Jefferson were created by Eric Monte. All In The Family because of the several spin-offs it made possible received multiple Emmy award s. Good Times ran for five successful season and ended in 1979 with multiple Golden Globe nominations. Maude ran for six season ending in 1978 and received multiple Emmy and Golden Globe wins and nominations. Sanford and Son ended in 1977 with a Golden Globe win and several Emmy nominations. All In The Family ended it's long run in 1979 with nine successful seasons. What came next for Norman Lear was a spin-off of the show called, Archie Bunker's Place with Caroll O' Connor and Danielle Brisebois, this show was especially memorable as Edith Bunker was killed off, due to Jean Stapleton wanting to leave the show to pursue her acting career further. Norman Lear stated killing off Edith Bunker was one of the toughest decisions he had to make throughout his entertainment career. The show, Archie Bunker's Place ended in 1983, and this would be his last successful television show. Norman Lear attempted to make a comeback in 1990 with various shows all of which were cancelled. Shows such as Sunday Dinner, The Power That Be, and 704 Hauser which featured former co-star of Good Times, John Amos.

In 1959 Lear produced a pilot for a situation comedy called "Band of Gold" in which James Franciscus and Suzanne Pleshette played a different couple each week. The program was considered too "experimental" and was never broadcast.Long a renowned supporter of liberal political causes, he changed his party registration to Republican in 1980 and endorsed John Anderson for President, after calling the administration of Jimmy Carter a "complete disaster."Supposedly based Archie Bunker, at least in part, on his own father. The elder Lear was a salesman and, by all accounts, a vulgar, reactionary bigot who was constantly railing against women and minorities. He consistantly referred to Afro-Americans as "schwartzes," a Yiddish-American term with racially perjoritive connotations, and once called young Norman "the laziest white kid I ever knew."In 1980, he founded a public interest group "People For The American Way" which is a liberal group.Is a brother of the Phi Alpha Tau fraternity based out of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.Acted as a consultant for Trey Parker and Matt Shone's South Park. He assisted on Cancelled and I'm A Little Bit Country.He was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1999 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.Godfather to actress Katey Sagal.A veteran of World War II who flew missions over Italy.First cousin of David Susskind .