ACTOR · BORN 1929 · DIED 2021
Ed Asner
- Born
- 15 November 1929
- Died
- 29 August 2021
- Known for
- Up (2009), The Animal (2001), Spider-Man (1994), Hard Rain (1998)
25 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Ed Asner (15 November 1929 – 29 August 2021) was an actor best known for Up, The Animal and Spider-Man.
Ed Asner over the years
25 Interesting Facts About Ed Asner
Interesting Facts (8)
- #001
- #002
Asner played the character Lou Grant in four different series, a rare achievement in television history. The character first appeared in The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970), then continued in Rhoda (1974) and Lou Grant (1977). He finally played the same character in Roseanne (1988). This continuity reflected the deep bond Asner formed with the character and the way audiences identified him with the role.
Ed Asner: Cat, in the officeImage: Wikimedia Commons · CBS Television, Public domain - #003
- #004
Ed Asner was a member of the Compass Players, the precursor to the famous Second City of Chicago. This troupe played an important role in the development of improvisational theatre. Asner's experience there helped him develop his comedic ability and command of the stage.
Ed Asner: behind the scenesImage: Wikimedia Commons · Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain - #005
Ed Asner passed away on August 29, 2021, at the age of 91. Only three months before his death, his Mary Tyler Moore Show co-star Gavin MacLeod had also died, on May 29, 2021, at the age of 90. MacLeod was the second-to-last cast member of the series to die; Asner followed him as the last surviving member of the original cast. These two losses were a source of great sorrow for fans of the series.
- #006
Ed Asner announced the news of actor Steve Ihnat's sudden death at the Emmy Awards ceremony. Ihnat had died in Cannes, France. Asner's making the announcement was a moment that showed his standing and trustworthiness in the industry.
Ed Asner: a sceneImage: Wikimedia Commons · SAMHSA, Public domain - #007
- #008
Ed Asner mentored Linda Kelsey and Daryl Anderson in his acting career and became close friends with them. Kelsey shared the lead with Asner on Lou Grant (1977), while Anderson was an actor he worked with on various projects. Asner's mentoring role showed his willingness to pass on his experience to younger generations.
Ed Asner: Lou Grant, in the officeImage: Wikimedia Commons · CBS Television, Public domain
Characters & Cast (2)
- #009
Ed Asner is best known to the public for his role as Lou Grant in The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970). The character was so beloved that he was given the lead in a spin-off bearing his name, Lou Grant (1977). Asner's performances in these two productions allowed him to create one of the most memorable characters in television history.
- #010
Linda Kelsey, Ed Asner's future co-star on Lou Grant (1977), had appeared as a guest actor in the episode 'A New Sue Ann' (1974) of The Mary Tyler Moore Show before starring alongside Asner in that series. In the episode, Asner was playing the character Lou Grant. The coincidence foreshadowed how the two actors' paths would later cross.
Deeper Meaning (1)
Career & Awards (7)
- #012
Asner was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family. This religious and cultural background influenced the development of his identity and the shaping of his worldview. Although he played characters of different faiths throughout his acting career, his Jewish identity always remained an important part of him.
- #013
Ed Asner played Santa Claus at least eight times over his career. These roles included productions such as Elf (2003), The Ellen Show (2001), Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999), The Story of Santa Claus (1996), A StoryBots Christmas (2017) and Santa Stole Our Dog: A Merry Doggone Christmas! (2017). He also brought Santa Claus to life in episodes of Regular Show (2010) and Highway to Heaven (1984). This recurring role contributed to his identification with a warm and affectionate screen persona.
- #014
Ed Asner was the first person in television history to win an acting Emmy in three different categories: Comedy, Drama and Limited Series/TV Movie. Cloris Leachman and Uzo Aduba later achieved the same feat. Asner's triple success demonstrated his skill at moving between genres and his range of characters.
- #015
Ed Asner appeared as a guest actor in both the original Hawaii Five-O (1968) and its remake Hawaii Five-0 (2010). Being part of the same franchise in two different eras showed the length of his career and his durability in television. His roles in these two productions allowed him to reach audiences across different generations.
- #016
- #017
Ed Asner won a Voice Arts Award in 2017. He earned the award for his performance in the scripted Western podcast 'Powder Burns' (Apple Podcasts). In the production he played an aging cowboy battling Alzheimer's disease. The show was the work of writer/producer David A. Gregory and once again proved Asner's talent in voice acting.
- #018
Ed Asner and Uzo Aduba are the only two actors to win Emmys in both the Drama and Comedy categories for playing the same character. Asner achieved this with the character Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) (Comedy) and Lou Grant (1977) (Drama). Aduba, as Crazy Eyes on Orange Is the New Black (2013), won Emmys in the Comedy category in 2014 and in the Drama category in 2015 after the series moved from Comedy to Drama. This unique achievement demonstrated the versatility of both actors.
Life & Family (7)
- #019
Asner was the parent of a child with autism spectrum disorder and also the grandfather of an autistic grandchild. This personal experience raised his awareness of autism and shaped his advocacy work in the field. The situation in his family also informed his social sensitivity and the importance he placed on the rights of people with disabilities.
- #020
After the death of his Mary Tyler Moore Show co-star Gavin MacLeod on May 29, 2021, Ed Asner shared an emotional farewell message on Twitter. In it he called MacLeod 'my brother, my partner in crime and my comedy conspirator,' adding, 'I'll see you soon Gavin. Tell the group I'll see them soon. Betty! It's just you and me now.' Only three months after this touching post, on August 29, 2021, Asner also passed away.
- #021
A longtime political activist, Ed Asner blamed CBS after Lou Grant (1977) was cancelled. Asner claimed that his public criticism of United States intervention in Central America led to the show's cancellation. The episode showed that he was not afraid to state his political views openly and that he was willing to risk his career for the values he believed in.
- #022
Ed Asner also delivered memorable voice performances in animation. In Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994) he voiced Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson. He then voiced Peter Parker's uncle Ben Parker in The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008); Ben Parker's death is a turning point in Spider-Man's journey to becoming a superhero. These two important characters demonstrated Asner's talent and range in voice acting.
- #023
Ed Asner was a longtime supporter of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a member of the Black Panther Party and a radical activist. Abu-Jamal had been controversially convicted of killing a police officer. Asner believed in Abu-Jamal's innocence and opposed the death penalty. This stance revealed his sensitivity to human rights and justice.
- #024
Ed Asner was the last surviving original cast member of The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970). Other actors from the series, such as Gavin MacLeod, Mary Tyler Moore and Betty White, had died before him. Asner's death meant that the main cast of this legendary series was entirely gone, a great loss for its fans.
- #025
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Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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