DLNews Entertainment:

Norman Lear, the legendary TV sitcom and movie producer best known for combining humor with social commentary to become network rating king in the 1970s, died Tuesday at home in Los Angeles at 101, according to an announcement posted on his website by his family.

All in the Family and Sanford and Son, two of his greatest hits, revolutionized television depictions of family dynamics. Both focused on race relations and changing roles for women in the workplace - subjects previously taboo in other sitcoms at that time.

Lear was responsible for producing such hit shows as Maude, Good Times, and The Jeffersons; successful movies include Blow Your Horn and Divorce American Style; as well as founding various political and philanthropic activist organizations, including People for the American Way to advocate core First Amendment freedoms and Business Enterprise Trust which recognizes businesses with integrity leadership vision and social purpose.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1922, The Showman dropped out of Emerson College to serve in World War II before returning home and working in public relations upon his return. Following that experience, he relocated to Los Angeles. He struggled for some time, selling furniture door to door and taking baby pictures before finally breaking through and writing material for nightclub comedians like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

Bud Yorkin and Lear started at NBC writing "All in the Family," a hugely successful suburban family series. From there, they went on to write other popular TV sitcoms, including The Facts of Life and Silver Spoons, before turning their hand to film producing; This Is Spinal Tap was among his productions, as were cult classics The Princess Bride and Fried Green Tomatoes.

Lear shared his delight over seeing his long-running shows revived on networks, yet joked that they still needed to address hot-button issues head-on.

Lear was married three times, leaving behind his third wife Lyn and four of their five children: Ellen, Kate, and Maggie from his first marriage and Benjamin, Brianna, and Madelaine from his second; all are alive and kicking, as well as six grandchildren. He pledged to stay busy until his final days, producing projects such as Netflix's 2017 One Day at a Time reboot and receiving numerous awards - most recently becoming a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2017. Also, Norman Lear was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1984.

 Aside from his work in TV and film, he was also an outspoken liberal activist fighting for civil rights, gay and lesbian equality, and other causes he sincerely believed in. His influence can still be felt today among many young artists he inspired - we will all miss him greatly.