Norman Lear. What a loss to all of us. Norman flew bombing raids in World War II and was escorted by the Tuskegee Airmen, who never lost a flight. We first met at a People for the American Way event. When he learned that my father had been in the Air Force, we became friends.
I have always wanted to produce movies, and Norman took me seriously and introduced me to people in Hollywood who could be of assistance. I remember when I tried out for Jeopardy! in Los Angeles and Norman invited me to his home for a fundraiser for Ted Kennedy, who was actually in the room. If memory serves me well, we were all watching television when some Republican candidate kept berating Ted Kennedy. Everyone laughed because Ted Kennedy was there.
I remember having lunch at Spago with my friend Susan Baronoff. I heard someone saying “Eva Eva Eva.” I turned, and there was Norman Lear. I was completely blown away.
In addition to being an entertainment genius, he also cared deeply about our country. When the Moral Majority, precursors to MAGA, were prominent in our country, he founded People for the American Way. I read that he spent millions of dollars buying a copy of the Declaration of Independence and sent it on a tour around our country so people would understand our history. I remember being allies with People for the American way when we successfully blocked the confirmation of Robert Bork to the United States Supreme Court.
When I received an award from Northwestern University in LA, I asked Norman to introduce me. He came. Someone noticed that he did not wear his trademark hat, which they interpreted as a sign of respect. I was touched.
Several months ago, I saw a PBS special on the return of some of the Tuskegee Airmen to sites in Italy. I thought of Norman and reached out. Norman called me as I was on my way to get a pedicure and he said by coincidence,, he had just gotten the first pedicure of his life. We had a wonderful conversation. He told me that he would like me to work with him on some projects. I was very uncool, and think I shrieked with pleasure. The writers’ strike happened and we had to wait to work together.
Just last week I reached out to him because I would like to make a film called “It’s a Wonderful Life 2025.” I can’t go into more detail about this movie because I don’t want to put the tax-exempt status of EJS at risk. His assistant said that he couldn’t talk to me until after the first of the year because his family was in town and his daughter was getting married in December. I then heard the news that he had died at age 101.
It has been delightful and nostalgic and sad to read all of the tributes and obituaries to him. There were many things about his life that I did not know.
Everyone who knew him seemed to love him. I loved him very much. I am choking up as I think about him. When I look at pictures of him with his little hat, I just think of what a genius he was and also what a very, very kind soul he was.
We will not see the likes of him anytime soon.
Rest in power my dear friend.
-Eva
Photo Credit: TED Conference CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED
More on Norman Lear:
- Remembering Norman Lear, Whose Legacy Is Even More Important to Protect at This Fragile Point in American History | Variety https://bit.ly/3RaO6mF
- Rob Reiner Remembers Norman Lear: We’ve Lost ‘a Real Champion of America’ | The New York Times https://bit.ly/3uS5iWv
- Norman Lear Showed Us the Reality of Abortion | Rolling Stone https://bit.ly/3t7u0l4
- Norman Lear’s secret to longevity? Always being curious about others. | The Washington Post https://bit.ly/3t9MUrz