PBS: Lance Loud - A death in An American Family

Before there was reality TV there was An American Family on PBS. Two documentary film makers thought there was an important story taken place in the American family in the late sixties and early seventies and managed to convince the Loud family in California to film them for over six months. The family was sure that this would show them as an example of the all-American triumph of family values. They were wrong.

By the time the show aired the parents were divorced and their eldest son had come out as gay on national television. This was at a time when homosexuality was a topic never mentioned.

PBS has just aired the final chapter in the American Family story. Lance Loud, with terminal hepatitis C in a hospice, decided to let the crew back to film his final days.

LA Weekly: Loud and Proud

Earlier stories about Lance.

Rob Sheiffele (television producer): Last summer I took him to a hospital, and the nurse was running through her list of questions as she admitted him. She asked him if he had any religious beliefs, and he replied, "Baked goods." The nurse said "What?" And he said, "Yes, baked goods. When I got off drugs, I didn't turn to God, I turned to baked goods." The nurse immediately loved him.

LATimes Obit.

Can a Documentary Be Made of Real Life is a look at the media reception.