Jimmy Kimmel Pays Tribute to Norman Lear by Sharing Explicit-Filled Letter From TV Icon
![See Jimmy Kimmel Pay Tribute to Norman Lear: 'I Loved Him Dearly'](https://www.rollingstone.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-rollingstone-2022/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif)
Jimmy Kimmel paid tribute to Norman Lear Thursday on his late-night show, hours after the legendary television producer died at the age of 101.
Kimmel, who in recent years hosted one-night-only live revivals of Lear-produced shows like All in the Family and The Jeffersons, recorded his tribute prior to his audience entering the studio.
In the tribute, Kimmel called Lear “a giant in the world in television” and “one of the most important and impressive people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.”
“He changed situation comedy in the best way possible,” Kimmel continued. “He taught so much about so many serious things, and always making us laugh when he did it, and everyone works in and even watches television owes him a great debt, especially me… I loved him dearly.”
The host then shared a thank you note that Lear wrote him after Kimmel gifted him a shirt that said “Norman Fucking Lear” on it.
“I can’t fucking believe this fucking sweatshirt,” Kimmel read. “It’s something I’ve always wanted more than I can fucking tell, you guys are fucking best, and I wish you the dearest, sweetest, greatest, fucking holiday season in the history of fucking holiday seasons. Signed, Norman F. Lear… his middle name was Milton.”
Earlier in the day, Kimmel also took to social media to remember Lear with a lengthy tribute.
“It is obviously silly to want more time with a person who outlived a whole century but losing Norman Lear, even at 101 years old, feels unfair. His bravery, integrity and unmatched moral compass were equaled by his kindness, empathy, and wit,” Kimmel wrote.
“More than anyone before him, Norman used situation comedy to shine a light on prejudice, intolerance, and inequality. He created families that mirrored ours, showing us a world in which Archie Bunker and Michael Stivic could learn to not only co-exist, but to love one another.”