- Title: Actor Ed Asner, star of 'Mary Tyler Moore,' 'Lou Grant' dies at age 91 - family
- Date: 29th August 2021
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** ACTOR ED ASNER ON RED CARPET WITH SON MATTHEW ASNER ASNER SPEAKING ABOUT FILM TO REPORTERS NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) ASNER TALKING TO THE MEDIA WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ED ASNER ON RED CARPET LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 9, 2016) (REUTERS) ACTOR EDWARD ASNER WITH ACTRESS YVETTE RACHELLE
- Embargoed: 12th September 2021 23:36
- Keywords: Ed Asner Lou Grant Mary Tyler Moore Show actor
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA & NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA & NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: United States
- Reuters ID: LVA001ESC2FRH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Ed Asner, who played a gruff newsman for laughs and for drama in the classic TV series "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and its spinoff "Lou Grant" in the 1970s and 1980s and was honored with seven Emmy Awards, died on Sunday (August 29) at age 91, his family said.
Asner, whose diverse credits also included a key voice role in the acclaimed 2009 animated film "Up," died at his home surrounded by his family, his publicist told media outlets.
His family confirmed the death on the actor's Twitter feed, writing, "We are sorry to say that our beloved patriarch passed away this morning peacefully.
"Words cannot express the sadness we feel. With a kiss on your head- Goodnight dad. We love you," his family said.
Asner was known for his liberal politics and his stint as Screen Actors Guild president in the 1980s when he criticized U.S. involvement in Central America during the administration of a previous head of the actors' union, President Ronald Reagan. In a career of remarkable longevity, Asner acted into his 90s.
Asner was integral to the success of the situation comedy "Mary Tyler Moore," which ran on CBS from 1970 to 1977 and boasted one of the best assemblages of actors and writers in U.S. TV history.
Asner was not known as a comic actor before landing the "Mary Tyler Moore" role but demonstrated deft comic timing in working with a cast that included Ted Knight, Betty White, Valerie Harper, Gavin MacLeod, and Cloris Leachman.
The series ran for seven years and won the Emmy for outstanding comedy series three straight years starting in 1975. Asner won three Emmys for his work on the show.
"Mary Tyler Moore" spawned a number of spinoff series. After the show ended, Asner brought his Lou Grant character to a series of his own. Whereas "Mary Tyler Moore" was a fun sitcom, the new show, "Lou Grant," was a drama with Asner's character relocated to Los Angeles to become city editor of a daily newspaper.
As head of the actors' union from 1981 to 1985, Asner also clashed with conservative actor Charlton Heston.
Asner also won Emmys for his work in two miniseries - "Roots" in 1977 and "Rich Man, Poor Man" in 1976 - and his total of seven was more than any other male actor. He was nominated for an Emmy 20 times.
Later in his career, Asner became a successful voice actor for animated TV shows and films and played Santa Claus in several projects, including the 2003 Will Ferrell comedy "Elf."
In the sentimental 2009 animated film "Up," Asner provided the voice for the main character, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen, who after the death of his beloved wife ties balloons to his house and floats off to fulfill his fantasy of exploring South America, only to find he has a youthful stowaway.
Asner remained a busy actor into his 90s with appearances in such series as "Dead to Me" and "Cobra Kai."
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