Chuck Lorre
| Chuck Lorre | |
|---|---|
Lorre in September 2011
|
|
| Born |
Charles Michael Levine October 18, 1952 Bethpage, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer, producer, composer |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Net worth |
 $600 million (2011)
|
| Spouse(s) |
Paula Smith (m. 1979; div. 1992) Karen Witter (m. 2001; div. 2010) |
| Children | 4 |
| Website | chucklorre |
Chuck Lorre (/lɒri/; born Charles Michael Levine; October 18, 1952) is an American television writer, producer and composer. He has created a number of successful sitcoms such as Grace Under Fire, Cybill, Dharma & Greg, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly, and Mom. He also served as an executive producer of Roseanne.
Lorre was born in Bethpage, New York, the son of a Jewish family. His father, Robert (died 1976), opened a luncheonette but struggled, causing financial problems for the family.
After graduating from high school, Lorre attended State University of New York at Potsdam, dropping out after two years to pursue a career as a songwriter. During his two years at college he "majored in rock 'n' roll and pot and minored in LSD". He also admits to drinking heavily in his past, telling EW that he "led a dissolute youth until 47". He now is in recovery.
He changed his surname from Levine to Lorre at age 26, explaining in 2004:
The reason I changed my name was simple. My mother, never a fan of my father's family, had an unfortunate habit of using Levine as a stinging insult. When displeased with me, she would often say/shriek, "You know what you are? You're a Levine! A no good, rotten Levine!" So, for as far back as I can remember, every time I heard my last name I would experience acute feelings of low self-esteem. My first wife was the one who suggested I change my name to remedy the situation. In fact, it was she who came up with the name Lorre, complete with the fancy spelling. I thought it sounded great. Chuck Lorre. Finally a name that did not make me squirm. It didn't occur to me that in England my new name translated into Chuck Truck. But most interestingly, I had completely forgotten that when I was around eight years old my father's business began to fail, forcing my mother to find work in a clothing store called... Lorie's. Pretty creepy, huh? Did I abandon my father's name only to unconsciously name myself after a place associated with my mother's abandonment of me? Or, even creepier, did my ex-wife somehow know all this and propose the name Lorre just to screw with me? Hmmm... I was a no good, rotten husband so I certainly had it coming.
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Wikipedia