Norman Lear's cause of death revealed two weeks after his demise

The cause of death for Norman Lear has been determined.

A death certificate obtained by TMZ nearly two weeks after the award-winning American television writer, film producer, and activist died at the age of 101 indicates that Lear died from cardiopulmonary arrest.

Congestive heart failure was also listed as an underlying cause of death on the death certificate.
On December 6, his representatives confirmed his death. His representatives said in a news release that the Hollywood legend died one day earlier, on Tuesday, December 5, at his home in Los Angeles.

The announcement was also made on Lear's official Instagram account, alongside a black-and-white photograph of the television legend smiling. According to the post, Lear died "surrounded by his family as we told stories and sang songs until the very end."

"Norman lived a life in awe of the world around him. He marvelled 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," the caption read. "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."

Lear's television legacies include the creation of All in the Family, which addressed controversial social and political issues at the time. Maude, Good Times, Sanford and Son, and Fernwood 2 Night are among Lear's other notable shows.

Lyn Lear, Lear's wife, paid tribute to her late husband at the 2023 Sentinel Awards, where he was being honored, following his death. Lyn, 76, did not attend the event but sent a statement to be read by Marty Kaplan, the Norman Lear Center's founding director.



"I would have been there tonight if not for the passing of our beloved Norman," she went on to say. "He was so proud of The Lear Center and Hollywood Health and Society's work." And he would not have wanted us all to be sad. He'd want us to celebrate the important shows you're honoring tonight, and he'd want us to laugh the most."

The late producer was also remembered by the Hollywood community, with tributes pouring in from stars such as All in the Family actor Rob Reiner, Jane Fonda, George Clooney, who starred in Lear's The Facts of Life, and Jesse Williams.