NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Frank E. Campbell will present an evening with show business historian, entertainment journalist, and author Tripp Whetsell to discuss his critically acclaimed biography Norman Lear: His Life & Times. The event will be moderated by New York Times bestselling author and writing professor Susan Shapiro, followed by a book signing. The first 50 guests will receive a complimentary copy of the book.

Norman Lear: His Life & Times is the first in-depth biography of the pioneering television producer and social activist whose groundbreaking shows, including All in the Family, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons, One Day at a Time, and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, reshaped American television and gave underrepresented communities an authentic voice in prime time. At the peak of his career, Lear's shows drew as many as 120 million viewers weekly, making him one of television's first behind-the-scenes celebrities.

"Norman Lear's sitcoms literally helped raise me and he was a personal hero of mine," said Whetsell. "Getting to write this book has been true labor of love and I am very honored to do this event at Frank E. Campbell."

Whetsell, a media studies professor at Emerson College, has written extensively for Vulture, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, VanityFair.com, The Wall Street Journal, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter. He was the only journalist to interview Lear exclusively for the 40th anniversary retrospective of All in the Family and teaches the only college-level course dedicated to Lear at Emerson College. Norman Lear: His Life & Times is Whetsell's fourth book.

"Our recently renovated historic spaces allow us to host enriching cultural events like author readings, book signings, and community gatherings," said President William Villanova. "We are reimagining what a funeral chapel can mean to our neighborhood."

Event Details:

About Frank E. Campbell The Funeral Chapel
Founded in 1898, Frank E. Campbell, has been the leading provider of funeral and memorial services in Manhattan for over 125 Years. The Chapel's $20 million renovation has transformed its historic spaces into versatile venues for author readings, jazz concerts, and community events that draw hundreds of New Yorkers. President William Villanova describes the transformation as "reimagining what a funeral chapel can mean to its neighborhood." Frank E. Campbell has earned the trust of countless families during their most difficult times, providing personalized and meaningful tributes. For more information about Frank E. Campbell The Funeral Chapel, please visit www.frankecampbell.com.

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SOURCE Frank E. Campbell