Norman Lear Celebrates Life And Legacy At 97, Eyes Turning 100

Listen, folks, we’re talking about a true legend here—Norman Lear. This summer, the TV trailblazer turned 97, and guess what? He’s already setting his sights on turning 100. That’s right, 100! Now, if that doesn’t inspire you to keep living life to the fullest, I don’t know what will.

At the 2019 Britannia Awards in Beverly Hills, Norman sat down with Closer Weekly and shared his thoughts on reaching this incredible milestone. “I’m focusing on 97, but I’m honing in on a hundred,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “I want to see your smile when you’re talking to me at a hundred.” Man, this guy knows how to keep it real and heartfelt at the same time.

How Does Norman Plan to Celebrate Turning 100?

Now, when it comes to celebrating such a monumental birthday, you might expect something extravagant, right? But Norman’s keeping it simple and sweet. “I’m going to have dinner with my daughter,” he revealed. Now, let me tell you, Norman’s got quite the family to choose from. He’s the proud father of five daughters—Brianna, Ellen, Kate, Madeline, and Maggie—and a son, Benjamin. So, who knows which lucky one gets the honor of dining with him on that special day? But one thing’s for sure, it’s gonna be a heartfelt moment for sure.

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Norman Lear Reflects on His Incredible Journey

Norman, who was honored with the Britannia Award for Excellence in Television at the star-studded event, described this phase of his life as “late.” But here’s the kicker—he said his “whole life has been a good story with Hollywood legends.” He sees this award not just as an achievement but as “another step along the way.” And you know what? He’s determined to enjoy and cherish every moment of it. This man knows how to live, folks.

Norman also shared some wisdom that resonates with all of us. “I’ve learned two little words we don’t pay enough attention to. Those are ‘over’ and ‘next,’” he explained. “When something is over, it’s over, and we’re on to the next. If there was a hammock in the middle of those two words, that would be the best definition I know of living in the moment.” Powerful, right? This is a guy who truly understands the importance of being present and embracing what’s ahead.

What’s Next for Norman Lear?

Now, you might think Norman’s ready to slow down, but nope, he’s still got big plans. He’s currently working on a TV documentary about the incredible Rita Moreno, titled Rita Moreno: The Girl Who Decided to Go for It. This project was likely inspired by his collaboration with Rita on the reboot of his iconic sitcom, One Day at a Time. Talk about keeping the creativity flowing!

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