Jennifer Aniston mourns TV legend Norman Lear's death a month after Matthew Perry died: 'The kindest and gentlest man'

Jennifer Aniston said, 'His shows shaped my childhood and getting to know him was one of my greatest honours, he made such a difference'
PUBLISHED DEC 7, 2023
Jennifer Aniston faces another heartbreak with the passing of TV legend Norman Lear just a month after Matthew Perry's death (Normanlear/IMDB, Getty images)
Jennifer Aniston faces another heartbreak with the passing of TV legend Norman Lear just a month after Matthew Perry's death (Normanlear/IMDB, Getty images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Just months after enduring the loss of her 'Friends' co-star Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston faces another heartbreak with the death of TV legend Norman Lear.

The celebrated creator of iconic shows like 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons' breathed his last at the age of 101.

Taking to Instagram, the 54-year-old actress shared an emotional tribute to Lear, expressing the profound impact he had on her life and the world of television.

Jennifer Aniston pays tribute to Norman Lear amid ongoing grief

(Instagram/Jennifer Aniston)
Aniston urged others to take a page from Lear's playbook as a way of honoring his extraordinary life (Instagram/Jennifer Aniston)

In her Instagram post, Aniston shared two pictures capturing heartfelt moments with Norman Lear. Describing Lear as "the kindest and gentlest man," she reflected on the invaluable lessons he brought into her life.

“Norman Lear💔,” Aniston’s post read.

Aniston acknowledged the role Lear played in shaping her childhood through his groundbreaking shows. She emphasized his ability to navigate and discuss challenging political topics during turbulent times, offering a source of laughter and learning.

“His shows shaped my childhood and getting to know him was one of my greatest honours. 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. 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."

Jennifer Aniston with Norman Lear. Credit: Instagram/Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston with Norman Lear (Instagram/Jennifer Aniston)

“Our greatest source of healing."

Aniston went on to describe Lear as “the kindest and gentlest man. When you were in his presence, you were the only one in the room,” she wrote.

“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 honouring his life. An extraordinary life. Rest in peace Norman."

Aniston shared personal insights into Lear's character, describing him as someone who made everyone feel valued and heard. She emphasized his genuine interest in understanding diverse perspectives, promoting dialogue, and finding common ground.

According to his official website, Lear died on Tuesday at his Los Angeles home.

Jennifer Aniston reflects on recent loss of Matthew Perry

Screening of the NBC Original Movie
Aniston shared the sentiment of the cast being a 'chosen family that fundamentally altered their paths (Ron Davis/Getty Images)

Just a little over a month after the shocking death of Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston finds herself grappling with another profound loss – this time, with the passing of TV legend Norman Lear.

Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on 'Friends', was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home, and the cause of death is yet to be officially confirmed.

In a heartfelt tribute to Perry, Aniston took to Instagram to share her emotions. The post included a series of pictures, featuring a recent text exchange between her and Perry, along with a clip from the final episode of Friends where their characters, Chandler and Rachel, bid farewell to each other.

Expressing the profound impact of Perry's loss, Aniston described the experience as an "insane wave of emotions" that she had never encountered before.

She acknowledged the universal nature of loss, whether in terms of life or love, emphasizing the importance of fully embracing grief to appreciate the moments of joy and gratitude that come from deep connections.

“Oh boy this one has cut deep,” she wrote.

“Having to say goodbye to our Matty has been an insane wave of emotions that I’ve never experienced before. We all experience loss at some point in our lives. Loss of life or loss of love. Being able to really SIT in this grief allows you to feel the moments of joy and gratitude for having loved someone that deep. And we loved him deeply. He was such a part of our DNA.We were always the six of us," she added.

She concluded, "This was a chosen family that forever changed the course of who we were and what our path was going to be."

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