12 Facts About Frances Lear

Frances Lear was an American activist, magazine publisher, editor and writer.

Frances Lear was adopted at 14 months by Aline and Herbert Loeb from Larchmont, New York, who changed her name from Evelyn to Frances.

Frances Lear's mother remarried and when Frances was 12, her stepfather began molesting her, according to her autobiography.

Frances Lear attended the Mary A Burnham School for Girls in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Frances Lear was married and divorced twice at a young age, first to Arnold Weiss and secondly to Morton Kaufman.

Frances Lear became an activist for the women's movement, civil rights and mental health.

Frances Lear later worked with the National Organization for Women on behalf of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Frances Lear used $25 million of the settlement to start Lear's, a magazine targeting women over 45.

Frances Lear was Advertising Age Editor of the Year in 1989.

Frances Lear is acknowledged to be the inspiration for the character Maude Findlay on the sitcom Maude.

Norman Frances Lear gave some support to this suggestion, including in his 1998 Emmy Legends interview.

Frances Lear published an autobiography in 1992, The Second Seduction, and at the time of her death had written another book, Frances Lear's Guide to Work and Family in the 21st Century.