Producer Norman Lear Was a Father of 6 Kids: Meet the Late Television Icon’s Children 

Ellen Lear

Norman’s eldest daughter, Ellen, works as a sex therapist, according to the Los Angeles Times. Despite her father being one of the most decorated and celebrated television figures of all time, Ellen has lived a pretty private life. She posed for a rare Instagram photo with her father in August 2019. 

Kate Lear

Norman’s second-eldest daughter, Kate, married physician Jonathan LaPook. Her husband is often featured as a medical correspondent on CBS. Kate is a Broadway producer whose credits include Of Mice and Men and Catch Me If You Can.

Maggie Lear

Maggie went to school at New York University to pick up her master’s degree in social work. She is the President of The Frances Lear Foundation and works as a full-time activist, dedicated to social reform and criminal justice issues. 

Benjamin Lear

Ben is the only Lear child to follow in his father’s footsteps and venture into the world of television and movies. After studying music at New York University, he directed his first film called They Call Us Monsters in 2016. Though Ben was born decades after his father’s television dominance in the ‘70s, he is very aware of the impact that Norman had on the television industry.

“I knew he was a pretty big-time guy from very early on, but it had already been a whole generation since those shows were filling the airwaves,” the budding film director told the Los Angeles Times. “I knew the characters. I had seen scenes of them. I could feel his humor and perspective in them. But I hadn’t really dug in.”

Brianna Lear

Brianna went to school at the University of Southern California. She was initially interested in pursuing an entertainment career with her father’s encouragement. Though she went down a different career path, she was still thankful for all of Norman’s support. 

“Growing up, we always saw plays and musical theater. Part of our time together which is, you know, maybe healthy and unhealthy, is we watch a lot of movies together,” she said in a May 2018 interview with Good. “I definitely grew up as a child of the industry. My father and my mom both really wanted me to pursue a career in acting and singing most of my life. That’s what I thought I wanted to pursue.”

Madelaine Lear

Madelaine, much like Ellen, has stayed out of the spotlight. Not much is known about what career path on which she has decided. However, one thing that is for certain is that her father was nothing but proud of all six of his children.