Jennifer Aniston reflects on Norman Lear’s ‘huge impact on TV and humanity’ after his death at 101: ‘It was a gift to stand in your light’

Jennifer Aniston reflected on the legendary TV producer Norman Lear’s ‘huge impact’ following his death, at age 101, from natural causes on Tuesday.

‘His shows shaped my childhood and getting to know him was one of my greatest honors. He made such a difference – a huge impact on television and humanity,’ the 54-year-old Emmy winner – who boasts 45.1M Instagram followers – wrote on Wednesday.

‘He was able to tackle and discuss heated political conversations during difficult and charged times, and we were able to laugh and learn. I yearn for those days – when creativity was a learning tool and could inspire people to maybe think just a little bit differently, and of course to laugh – our greatest source of healing. He was the kindest and gentlest man. When you were in his presence, you were the only one in the room.

‘He made everyone feel this, even when someone believed differently than him. That’s what made life and people interesting to him, to have discussions and really take in how people felt and hear their point of view. He knew how to give voice to all sides, and somehow in the process bring people closer together. May we take a page from Norman’s playbook as a way of honoring his life – an extraordinary life. Rest in peace Norman, it was a gift to stand in your light.’

Jennifer Aniston reflected on the legendary TV producer Norman Lear’s ‘huge impact’ following his death, at age 101, from natural causes on Tuesday (pictured in 2021)

Jennifer only acted in one of the six-time Emmy winner’s projects in 2021 – the third Live in Front of a Studio Audience special recreating The Facts of Life episode ‘Kids Can Be Cruel,’ in which she played spoiled boarding school student Blair Warner.

Aniston also appeared (as herself) in James B. Merryman’s 2022 TV docu-special Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music & Laughter, which aired last year on ABC/Hulu.

Norman – who was awarded with the National Medal of Arts in 1999 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017 – is survived by his third wife Lyn Davis, six childen, and four grandchildren.

On April 30, Apple TV+ officially renewed the San Fernando Valley native’s The Morning Show for a fourth season.

Jennifer reportedly earned an eye-popping $2M per episode to executive produce and star as The Morning Show co-host Alexandra ‘Alex’ Levy in the 10-episode third season, which concluded November 8.

The ensemble newsroom drama – based on Brian Stelter’s 2013 book Top of the Morning – received zero nominations for the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards scheduled for January 15.

However, The Morning Show did score six nominations – the most of any TV show – for the 29th Critics’ Choice Awards, which airs January 14 on The CW.

Aniston will compete against her fellow producer and co-star Reese Witherspoon for the best actress in a drama series trophy – and one of them would have to beat out Sarah Snook, Keri Russell, Bella Ramsey, and Aunjanue Ellis.

The 54-year-old Emmy winner wrote on Wednesday: ‘His shows shaped my childhood and getting to know him was one of my greatest honors. He made such a difference – a huge impact on television and humanity. He was able to tackle and discuss heated political conversations during difficult and charged times, and we were able to laugh and learn’

Jennifer continued: ‘I yearn for those days – when creativity was a learning tool and could inspire people to maybe think just a little bit differently, and of course to laugh – our greatest source of healing. He was the kindest and gentlest man. When you were in his presence, you were the only one in the room. He made everyone feel this, even when someone believed differently than him’

Aniston concluded: ‘That’s what made life and people interesting to him, to have discussions and really take in how people felt and hear their point of view. He knew how to give voice to all sides, and somehow in the process bring people closer together. May we take a page from Norman’s playbook as a way of honoring his life – an extraordinary life. Rest in peace Norman, it was a gift to stand in your light’

The San Fernando Valley native only acted in one of the six-time Emmy winner’s projects in 2021 – the third Live in Front of a Studio Audience special recreating The Facts of Life episode ‘Kids Can Be Cruel,’ in which she played spoiled boarding school student Blair Warner

Jennifer also appeared (as herself) in James B. Merryman’s 2022 TV docu-special Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music & Laughter, which aired last year on ABC/Hulu

Norman – who was awarded with the National Medal of Arts in 1999 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017 – is survived by his third wife Lyn Davis, six childen, and four grandchildren

On April 30, Apple TV+ officially renewed Aniston’s The Morning Show for a fourth season

The ensemble newsroom drama received zero Emmy nominations this year, but it did score six nominations – the most of any TV show – for the 29th Critics’ Choice Awards, which airs January 14 on The CW

The Friends alum will compete against her fellow producer and co-star Reese Witherspoon (L) for the best actress in a drama series trophy – and one of them would have to beat out Sarah Snook, Keri Russell, Bella Ramsey, and Aunjanue Ellis

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