Served in the Air Force during WWII

Worked in public relations

Joined the NBC show "Ford Star Review" as a staff writer

First screenwriting credit, "Scared Stiff"

Produced the NBC series, "The Martha Raye Show"; also wrote and directed several episodes

Created first series, the half-hour NBC western starring Henry Fonda, "The Deputy"

Founded Tandem Productions with Bud Yorkin

First TV pilot as producer, "Band of Gold" (CBS)

Produced "The Andy Williams Show" (NBC)

Produced first film (with Yorkin), "Come Blow Your Horn"; also scripted

Wrote and produced, "Divorce American Style"; earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay

Feature directing debut "Cold Turkey" starred Dick Van Dyke

Created the popular sitcom, "All in the Family" (CBS); also produced and wrote several episodes

Co-created and co-executive produced, "Sanford and Son" (NBC)

Created and co-executive produced, "Maude" (CBS); a spin-off sitcom from "All in the Family"

Ended partnership with Yorkin and went on to form TAT Communications

Created "The Jeffersons" (CBS), another spin-off series from "All in the Family"

Executive produced the CBS sitcom, "One Day at a Time"

Produced the soap opera parody, "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" (syndicated)

Created the CBS series, "All's Fair"

Co-created (with Alex Haley) and co-executive produced, "Palmerstown USA" (CBS)

With partner Jerry Perenchio purchased Embassy Films; re-named company Embassy Communications

Produced the ABC variety special, "I Love Liberty"

Produced the short-lived ABC sitcom, "a.k.a. Pablo"

Financed Rob Reiner's mockumentary, "This is Spinal Tap"

Sold Embassy Communications to Columbia Pictures (then owned by the Coca-Cola Company); founded Act III Communications (with Tom McGrath)

Financed Rob Reiner's second film, "Stand by Me"; produced by Lear's Act III Communications

Produced Rob Reiner's "The Princess Bride"

Returned to series TV as creator and executive producer of "Sunday Dinner" (CBS)

Produced the film, "Fried Green Tomatoes"

Created and produced, "The Powers That Be" (NBC)

Created and produced the short-lived CBS sitcom, "704 Hauser Street"

Produced (with Rob Reiner) a filmed, dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall in Philadelphia

Voiced Benjamin Franklin in an episode of "South Park" (Comedy Central)

Executive produced, "Pete Seeger: The Power of Song" about the folk artist