I hoped (and sort of believed) that Norman Lear would live forever.
Norman was a national treasure. A truly great man in a time when they are increasingly hard to find. A great philanthropist. A great innovator. A great visionary. A great father. A great veteran. A great American. He had my back, and America’s back. He was always there for us. All of us.
One of the true honors of my life was being able to call Norman a mentor, and a friend. If you were lucky enough to call Norman a friend, too, you know what I mean.
Norman Lear was also a patriot, often in ways most people never saw, or maybe didn’t understand.
There’s no person I’ve met in my life that I was more excited for my kids to meet. And with his mix of kindness, wisdom and toughness, he set an example for everyone he ever interacted with.
Norman Lear was also a patriot, often in ways most people never saw, or maybe didn’t understand. Patriotism isn’t always popular in Hollywood. But Norman loved the country he served as a young man in World War II enough to challenge it, and to fight to make it better. He once bought a copy of the Declaration of Independence to use as a tool to get young people to vote. He was a guardian of democracy.
A humble and kind elder, he led by example. An early and longtime IAVA board member, donor and adviser, Norman was a passionate supporter of his fellow veterans. He was especially supportive of my generation of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, at a time when many people were unable or unwilling to publicly back us because they were afraid to criticize the war or be associated with its warriors. He issued a call to action for all of Hollywood to stand with veterans, donate to our charities, and most of all, to create films and shows that focused on our issues (like PTSD) and included characters that were young veterans themselves. His remake of “One Day at a Time” was case in point. And a generation in entertainment has followed.
I was honored to know…
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