WASHINGTON — AARP Chief Executive Officer Jo Ann Jenkins released the following statement in response to the death of legendary TV creator Norman Lear:

“AARP is heartbroken by the news of Norman Lear’s passing, and we extend our sympathies to his family. He was well known for his groundbreaking and prolific career, providing countless hours of entertainment to us all. At 97, he broke the record as the oldest Emmy nominee ever, then broke it again by winning at 98. AARP would in particular like to recognize and express our gratitude for how Lear was a champion for honest and real representation of aging throughout his work. In 2009, Lear received AARP’s Andrus Award, the Association’s highest honor presented to distinguished individuals who lead positive social change and whose work and achievements reflect AARP’s vision of a society in which everyone ages with dignity and purpose. Lear was also AARP's 2018 TV for Grownups Career Achievement Award honoree, and nobody in history made TV grow up faster than he did. He proved that aging is no obstacle to creativity, and he made us feel that we're all in the family, no matter how old we get. And through trailblazing positive and broad representation of aging in Hollywood, he helped inspire and provide opportunities for all of us to thrive at any age.”

Norman Lear, a six-time Emmy winner, shaped the trajectory of television, spearheading a new kind of socially relevant programming that forever changed the medium. Throughout his distinguished career, Lear was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, recognized as a Kennedy Center Honoree, and presented with the National Medal of Arts and the Peabody Lifetime Achievement Award. His groundbreaking sitcoms All in the Family, Maude and The Jeffersons tackled once-taboo topics. Lear continued to innovate late in his career with a comedy series, a multi-generational reboot hit on Netflix, One Day at a Time.  

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About AARP

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.