Norman Lear made history Saturday at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, where a number of primetime Emmys were handed out ahead of next weekend’s ceremony.
Lear, 97, became the oldest person ever to win an Emmy as one of the producers of Live In Front Of A Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons.’
The ABC special, co-produced by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, picked up the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live). The win marked Lear’s fifth career Emmy, according to the Television Academy.
Asked backstage about his historic win, Lear told reporters he’s not concerned about age.
“I don’t think about it a lot,” he said jokingly, according to TheWrap. “I like waking up in the morning.”
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The Creative Arts Emmys honor artistic and technical achievement in a variety of television genres, guest performances, animation, reality and documentary categories.
This year the awards are being handed out over September 14 and 15. Sunday’s ceremony will feature an In Living Color cast reunion with Keenen Ivory Wayans, Shawn Wayans, David Alan Grier and Tommy Davidson set to appear.
A list of the winners can be found on the Emmys website. FXX will air the show on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, the day before the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards.
Live In Front Of A Studio Audience aired in May. Lear, who created ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons,’ hosted and executive produced the program along with Kimmel. The 90-minute special was based on original scripts from the two sitcoms.
The all-star cast included Jamie Foxx, Wanda Sykes, Will Ferrell, Kerry Washington, Jackée Harry, Woody Harrelson, Marisa Tomei, Ellie Kemper, Ike Barinholtz, Anthony Anderson and Sean Hayes.
Among the unexpected moments, Marla Gibbs reprised her role as the Jeffersons’ maid Florence Johnston, 44 years after the original series debuted in 1975.
