He’s known as the ‘King of Sitcoms’, but did you know the man who created hits such as "The Big Bang Theory," "Two And a Half Men" and "Mom" spent two years as a student at SUNY Potsdam?

More than 50 years later, Chuck Lorre returned to the North Country for a discussion on his life and career.

What You Need To Know

  • Longtime TV producer Chuck Lorre returned to SUNY Potsdam, where he spent two years as a student

  • Lorre took part in a discussion where he spoke about his life and career

  • Lorre also presented the school with a check for $1 million for education and opportunity for students

Before Lorre ever made it to Hollywood, he spent two years in the North Country, from 1970-72, as a student at SUNY Potsdam.

“It's a gift, what's available at a school like this,” Lorre said.

About 700 people were in Hosmer Hall recently to take part in Lorre's return to Potsdam for a discussion on his life and career.

“A community that protects its students and looks after them, that's a gift,” Lorre said his message was. “So don't waste it.”

It’s advice he gave to students at the discussion, based on the fact Lorre didn’t finish school himself. He left Potsdam after just two years. He did not graduate.

“This is an opportunity to maybe make amends for that one,” he said.

Defying the odds, Lorre made it in the genre of TV comedy.

“I just think it's part of the human condition to laugh at our frailties and our flaws,” Lorre said explaining comedy’s place today amid many prestige dramas and reality shows.

He was telling the story of a fan in an autograph line who so excited to meet Jim Parsons — best known as Sheldon in "The Big Bang Theory" — that she was in tears.

“I remember thinking 'nobody cries when they see Charlie Sheen,' " he joked, before quipping “There was a time later on where I did,” referring to his well-known feud with Sheen, the former "Two and a Half Men" star.

Lorre also brings the humor to post-credits vanity cards he writes, a paragraph or so, that appear for a few seconds after every episode he produces. He's mentioned Potsdam a few times in them, but as for his shows, he'd like to think — subconsciously — that Potsdam played a small role in those, too.

“One of the things you learn, if you're lucky enough to survive a little bit, is nothing is wasted, not even your poor decisions,” he added.

With that in mind, Lorre had a big finale for this event.

“This won't work at the bank,” he joked as he handed the SUNY Potsdam president a check, “but this is $1 million check for the school.”

The check is meant to enrich student education and opportunity. Lorre’s Family Foundation, which funds organizations in education, arts and health, will work with Potsdam’s foundation to finalize details of the gift and how the money will be used.