Norman Lear turns 100, and celebrates by singing 'That's Amore'

Iconic TV producer and writer Norman Lear rang in his 100th birthday by singing "That's Amore." Lear was all smiles as he shared video on Instagram. He sung Dean Martin's song, containing the famous line "When the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie, that's Amore," while his daughter captured it on video. Lear's energy was infectious as he opened up about what keeps him going: "God, the miracle of being alive with everything that's become available to us and me turning 100," he said. He added that life is all about living in the moment and urged everyone to live in the moment and have a zest for life. "Treasure it, use it with love," he said.

Lear was one of the brilliant minds behind many groundbreaking television series and movies such as "All in the Family," "Maude," "The Jeffersons" and "Sanford and Son" among others. He was known for pushing the boundaries and addressing social and political issues in his work including topics such as racism, abortion, mental health and sexuality. Lear had a unique talent of making the targets of his jokes laugh at themselves and confront their own prejudices and beliefs, said Rich West, a professor of family communication at Emerson College who has taught a course on Lear’s career. West believes the significance of these topics is as relevant as ever. “That’s why I believe he’s an icon. It’s not because of what he wrote, but because his themes are sustained today. And we have conversations today about the same things that he was writing about in the 1970s,” said West, reported The Washington Post. Lear earned six Emmys for his work over the years. He was also inducted into the Emmys Awards hall of fame in 1984. He also became the oldest person to win an Emmy Award at age 97 in 2019 for "Live in Front."

Lear spent his birthday with his family in Vermont, reported PEOPLE. As much as he's loved his job, for Lear, it's always been about his family and living in the moment. "Truth to tell, certainly I've done nothing more important than father a child," says Lear. "Nothing more delicious than becoming a grandfather of a child as a result of having fathered a child. I don't know that there's anything more romantic in living than all of that," he said, adding that he couldn't be more grateful.

ABC is all set to honor the iconic man on September 22 with a “star-studded” special titled, “Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter.” When asked what life means to Lear, he responded, "The meaning of life can be expressed in one word: tomorrow." Lear was always politically active, especially through his work. He founded a nonprofit "People for the American Way" to challenge the agenda of the Moral Majority and it became a political action committee. He also founded "Declare Yourself," a campaign to urge young people to vote in 2014. He has always maintained that the thing America needs most is caring individuals who will stand up for their rights. “America has never been in more need of its solid, caring citizens,” said Lear. “At 100, we are a long way from the America, I believe, I was born into. I don’t want to wake up in the morning without hope so I have the faith that enough caring, sensible Americans are fully dedicated to the rights the Constitution guarantees us all and will find their way.”