Famed television producer Norman Lear, whose wildly successful sitcoms dominated network ratings in the 1970s, died Tuesday, December 5, his family announced on his website. He was 101.

Beginning with "All in the Family" in 1971, Lear's shows tackled fraught topics that no one had yet dared touch, including bigotry, misogyny, abortion, premarital sex and homosexuality.

"All in the Family" was the most popular comedy series on television after its first season, and it consistently shows up on polls listing the best shows of all time. It spurred a series of similarly popular and political spinoffs, including "Sanford and Son," "Maude," "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times."

"The audiences themselves taught me that you can get some wonderful laughs on the surface with funny performers and good jokes," he wrote in his 2014 memoir. "But if you want them laughing from the belly, you stand a better chance if you can get them caring first."

Lear, top right, joins Jerry Lewis and others for a rehearsal of "The Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Show" in 1951. From left are Kingman T. Moore, Lewis, Ed Simmons, Lear and Ernie Glucksman. Lear was a writer for the show.
Lear, top right, joins Jerry Lewis and others for a rehearsal of "The Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Show" in 1951. From left are Kingman T. Moore, Lewis, Ed Simmons, Lear and Ernie Glucksman. Lear was a writer for the show.
Robert Kradin/AP
Lear, at center in the dark blazer, talks with Carroll O'Connor on the set of "All in the Family" in 1971. That year, it won a Primetime Emmy for outstanding new series.
Lear, at center in the dark blazer, talks with Carroll O'Connor on the set of "All in the Family" in 1971. That year, it won a Primetime Emmy for outstanding new series.
CBS/Getty Images
Lear accepts an Emmy from Eve Arden in 1971. "All in the Family" was named best comedy series.
Lear accepts an Emmy from Eve Arden in 1971. "All in the Family" was named best comedy series.
Courtesy Everett Collection
President Jimmy Carter greets Lear and cast members from "All in the Family" as they visit the White House in 1978.
President Jimmy Carter greets Lear and cast members from "All in the Family" as they visit the White House in 1978.
Harvey Georges/AP
Lear, right, oversees an episode of "The Baxters" in 1979.
Lear, right, oversees an episode of "The Baxters" in 1979.
Gene Trindl/TV Guide/Courtesy Everett Collection
Lear dances with his second wife, Frances, at an event in Beverly Hills, California, in 1979. They were married from 1956-1986.
Lear dances with his second wife, Frances, at an event in Beverly Hills, California, in 1979. They were married from 1956-1986.
Aloma Ichinose/WWD/Penske Media/Getty Images
Lear cuts a cake with the cast of "The Jeffersons" as they celebrated their 200th episode in 1983. From left are Marla Gibbs, Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, Lear, Ned Wertimer, Berlinda Tolbert, Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover.
Lear cuts a cake with the cast of "The Jeffersons" as they celebrated their 200th episode in 1983. From left are Marla Gibbs, Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, Lear, Ned Wertimer, Berlinda Tolbert, Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover.
CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection
Lear relaxes at his home in Los Angeles in 1984.
Lear relaxes at his home in Los Angeles in 1984.
Bob Riha Jr/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Lear, second from left, was one of the first inductees into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. With him, from left, are Milton Berle, Janet Murrow, Robert Sarnoff, Lucille Ball, William S. Paley and Bob Fosse.
Lear, second from left, was one of the first inductees into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. With him, from left, are Milton Berle, Janet Murrow, Robert Sarnoff, Lucille Ball, William S. Paley and Bob Fosse.
Courtesy Everett Collection
Lear and his third wife, Lyn, attend a Spirit of Liberty Awards Dinner Gala in 1994. They were married until his death.
Lear and his third wife, Lyn, attend a Spirit of Liberty Awards Dinner Gala in 1994. They were married until his death.
Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images
President Bill Clinton awards Lear with a National Medal of the Arts as first lady Hillary Clinton looks on in 1999.
President Bill Clinton awards Lear with a National Medal of the Arts as first lady Hillary Clinton looks on in 1999.
Reuters
Lear sits at a conference room table in his Beverly Hills office in 2002. Behind him is a copy of an early draft of the Declaration of Independence. He was sponsoring a traveling exhibit about the original document.
Lear sits at a conference room table in his Beverly Hills office in 2002. Behind him is a copy of an early draft of the Declaration of Independence. He was sponsoring a traveling exhibit about the original document.
Bob Chamberlin/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
Rob Reiner, left, presents Lear with the Producers Guild Achievement Award in Television in 2006. Reiner was one of the stars of "All in the Family."
Rob Reiner, left, presents Lear with the Producers Guild Achievement Award in Television in 2006. Reiner was one of the stars of "All in the Family."
Vince Bucci/Getty Images
Lear poses for a photo in 2007.
Lear poses for a photo in 2007.
Tim Rue/Corbis/Getty Images
Lear supports striking writers at a rally in Los Angeles in 2007.
Lear supports striking writers at a rally in Los Angeles in 2007.
Reed Saxon/AP
Lear, left, and Alan Alda won Special Founders Awards at the International Emmys in 2012.
Lear, left, and Alan Alda won Special Founders Awards at the International Emmys in 2012.
Robin Marchant/Getty Images
Lear holds his 2014 memoir, "Even <em>This</em> I Get to Experience."
Lear holds his 2014 memoir, "Even This I Get to Experience."
Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc/Corbis/Getty Images
From left, Lear, Bob Saget, Mel Brooks and John Stamos attend the Los Angeles premiere of the documentary "Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You" in 2016.
From left, Lear, Bob Saget, Mel Brooks and John Stamos attend the Los Angeles premiere of the documentary "Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You" in 2016.
Vivien Killilea/WireImage/Getty Images
Everyone wears Lear's signature bucket hat while promoting the rebooted sitcom "One Day at a Time" in 2017.
Everyone wears Lear's signature bucket hat while promoting the rebooted sitcom "One Day at a Time" in 2017.
Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
Lear and Carol Burnett present an award at the Primetime Emmys in 2017.
Lear and Carol Burnett present an award at the Primetime Emmys in 2017.
Phil McCarten/Invision/AP
Lear and other recipients of Kennedy Center Honors pose for a group photo in 2017. With Lear in the front row are Carmen de Lavallade, left, and Gloria Estefan. Behind him are LL Cool J, left, and Lionel Richie.
Lear and other recipients of Kennedy Center Honors pose for a group photo in 2017. With Lear in the front row are Carmen de Lavallade, left, and Gloria Estefan. Behind him are LL Cool J, left, and Lionel Richie.
Ron Sachs/Pool/Getty Images
Lear and Rita Moreno appear on the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards in 2018.
Lear and Rita Moreno appear on the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards in 2018.
Trae Patton/NBC/Getty Images
Lear looks at a statue of him that was unveiled at Emerson College in Boston in 2018. He attended the school before dropping out to join the military in 1942.
Lear looks at a statue of him that was unveiled at Emerson College in Boston in 2018. He attended the school before dropping out to join the military in 1942.
Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald/Getty Images
In 2019, talk show host Jimmy Kimmel presented a live prime-time event that paid tribute to Lear's classic shows "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons."
In 2019, talk show host Jimmy Kimmel presented a live prime-time event that paid tribute to Lear's classic shows "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons."
Eric McCandless/Getty Images
From left, Jordan Peele, Lear, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jackie Chan and Steve Coogan pose with awards they won at the Brittania Awards in 2019.
From left, Jordan Peele, Lear, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jackie Chan and Steve Coogan pose with awards they won at the Brittania Awards in 2019.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Lear is embraced by Jane Fonda as they participate in one of her Fire Drill Fridays, a weekly climate protest, in 2020.
Lear is embraced by Jane Fonda as they participate in one of her Fire Drill Fridays, a weekly climate protest, in 2020.
Rachel Luna/Getty Images
Lear attends the TV special "Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter" in 2022.
Lear attends the TV special "Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter" in 2022.
Christopher Willard/ABC/Getty Images