Valerie Bertinelli is mourning the loss of a man who helped shaped the career she has today.
On Wednesday, news broke that legendary TV writer and producer Norman Lear died on December 5 at the age of 101. While reports didn't share the official cause of death, an official announcement on Instagram revealed that Norman passed away surrounded by loved ones.
"It is with profound sadness and love that we announce the passing of Norman Lear, our beloved husband, father, and grandfather," read the caption alongside a black-and-white photo. "Norman passed away peacefully on December 5, 2023, surrounded by his family as we told stories and sang songs until the very end."
The message continued: "Norman lived a life in awe of the world around him. He marveled at his cup of coffee every morning, the shape of the tree outside his window, and the sounds of beautiful music. But it was people—those he just met and those he knew for decades—who kept his mind and heart forever young. As we celebrate his legacy and reflect on the next chapter of life without him, we would like to thank everyone for all the love and support."
Because Norman was famous for creating shows like All in the Family, The Jeffersons and Good Times, many celebrities flooded the comments section to share condolences after hearing the news. Among those who responded was actress Valerie, who portrayed Barbara Cooper on the original version of One Day at a Time from 1975-1984.
"💔," she heartbreakingly wrote. She further emphasized her sadness for Norman's death by posting a selfie of the twosome on her Instagram story, and another on her grid with the caption, "He meant the world to me 💔."
At the time of Norman's death, he had personally worked on over 100 TV shows throughout his career. He later received recognition at the 2017 Kennedy Center Honors for his contribution to television, along with the Golden Globe Carol Burnett Award in 2021.
Our thoughts are with Norman's family at this time.
As the entertainment and news associate editor for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
