Ed Asner

Ed Asner – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Discover the extraordinary life of Ed Asner, from his early years in Kansas City to Emmy-recording achievements, iconic roles like Lou Grant and Carl Fredricksen, his activism, and his enduring legacy. Explore his biography, famous quotes, and the lessons his journey offers today.

Introduction

Ed Asner (November 15, 1929 – August 29, 2021) was one of the most celebrated and versatile American actors of his generation. He became a household name through his portrayal of Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–77) and its dramatic spin-off Lou Grant (1977–82), making him one of the very few actors to win Emmy Awards for the same character in both a comedy and a drama.

Beyond that signature role, Asner’s career spanned stage, film, television, and voice acting. He voiced the aging widower Carl Fredricksen in the beloved Pixar film Up (2009), among many other roles.

But Asner was more than just a performer. He was a staunch activist, union leader, and outspoken citizen. His voice offstage was often as loud as his voice on. This article delves into his life, his works, and the words he left behind.

Early Life and Family

Edward “Ed” Asner was born on November 15, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri. His parents, Morris David Asner and Elizabeth “Lizzie” (née Seliger), were Jewish immigrants. Morris ran a junkyard and second-hand store; Lizzie was a homemaker.

He was the youngest of five children, and the family was raised in an Orthodox Jewish home. Ed was given the Hebrew name Yitzhak, though he later adopted Eddie / Ed as his public name.

He grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, and attended Wyandotte High School.

Youth and Education

After high school, Asner enrolled at the University of Chicago, where he initially studied journalism. However, one of his professors cautioned him about the financial viability of journalism, which led him to explore drama instead.

During his time at Chicago, he participated in theater—famously taking the role of Thomas Becket in a campus production of Murder in the Cathedral.

He ultimately dropped out of school and worked a series of odd jobs: in a steel mill, as a door-to-door salesman, and on an assembly line at General Motors.

In 1951, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served from 1951 to 1953, assigned to the Signal Corps. During his service, he participated in touring military theater productions across Europe.

After military service, he briefly returned to Chicago, but soon moved to New York to pursue acting.

Career and Achievements

Early Work (1955–1969)

In New York, Asner worked in Off-Broadway and theater productions. He was an early member of theater initiatives, including involvement with the Playwrights Theatre Company and associations with successors of the Compass Players.

He made his Broadway debut in Face of a Hero alongside Jack Lemmon in 1960.

On television, he steadily built his résumé with guest appearances on shows such as Studio One, The Outer Limits, The Virginian, Route 66, Mr. Novak, Gunsmoke, The Fugitive, and Mission: Impossible.

In 1962, he made his film debut in the Elvis Presley movie Kid Galahad.

Breakthrough: Lou Grant & Emmy Dominance (1970–1982)

The role that defined Ed Asner’s career was Lou Grant, first introduced in The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–77). On the sitcom, Lou Grant was the gruff but caring news director under whom Mary Richards worked.

In 1977, the character was spun off into a drama series also titled Lou Grant (1977–82), in which Grant served as a newspaper city editor dealing with real issues such as politics, social justice, and ethics in journalism.

Remarkably, Asner won Emmy Awards for Lou Grant in both formats:

• On Mary Tyler Moore, he won Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy series (3 Emmys)

• On Lou Grant, he won Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama series (2 Emmys)

He remains the most honored male performer in the history of the Primetime Emmys, with a total of seven Emmy Awards.

During the same era, Asner also earned acclaim in television miniseries:

• Rich Man, Poor Man (1976) earned him an Emmy (for his role as Axel Jordache)

• Roots (1977) also earned him an Emmy for his portrayal of Captain Davies.

He was also a multiple Golden Globe winner (five wins) and a Hollywood Walk of Fame honoree.

Later Career & Voice Work (1983–2021)

After Lou Grant, Asner continued to take on both on-screen and voice roles.

Voice Acting Highlights:

• He voiced J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994–98).

• He voiced Hudson in Gargoyles (1994–97).

• He voiced Ed Wuncler Sr. in The Boondocks (2005–14).

• His most universally beloved voice role was Carl Fredricksen in Pixar’s Up (2009). His performance earned widespread praise for the emotional depth he brought to an animated character.

He also appeared in many TV series: The Good Wife, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Practice, Cobra Kai, Dead to Me, and others.

In his later years, he performed a one-man show portraying Franklin D. Roosevelt, and toured with The Soap Myth, a powerful reading about the Holocaust.

In 2001, the Screen Actors Guild honored him with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Over his career he accumulated more than 360 screen credits.

Historical Milestones & Context

• First actor to win Emmy in both comedy and drama for same role (Lou Grant).

• His dedication to Lou Grant, a show tackling complex social issues, reflected a shift in American television toward more serious, politically conscious programming.

• Asner served two terms as President of the Screen Actors Guild (1981–85), a period during which he was outspoken about political issues including U.S. intervention in Central America.

• He believed his political activism played a role in the cancellation of Lou Grant in 1982, which was then one of the highest-rated dramas on CBS.

• He was active in many social and political causes, from healthcare reform and free speech to environmental issues and support for disadvantaged populations.

His career thus intersected with significant shifts in television, union politics, and cultural discourse in America.

Legacy and Influence

Ed Asner left a multifaceted legacy:

• Trailblazing in television performance
  His Lou Grant success proved that one actor could embody both comedic and dramatic depth, inspiring future generations to see the potential of genre crossing in performance.

• Voice acting pioneer
  His work in animation (especially Up) demonstrated how mature, emotionally resonant storytelling could exist in animated form, expanding the boundaries of what animation could deliver.

• Activist and voice for the voiceless
  Asner’s public stances — even controversial ones — embraced the idea that an artist has a responsibility beyond the stage or screen. He served on boards of nonprofits, spoke out for social causes, and founded the Ed Asner Family Center to support special needs individuals.

• Model of longevity and reinvention
  He continued working into his 80s and 90s, taking on new challenges, touring, and performing, never settling into complacency.

• Cultural touchstone
  Many fans today know him best as the voice of Carl in Up—a character whose story of love, loss, and adventure resonates across generations.

Personality and Talents

Asner was often described as gruff, commanding, and uncompromising, yet he also had warmth, wit, and deep compassion.

His distinctive husky voice, expressive face, and sturdy presence gave him gravitas.

He embraced complex and morally ambiguous characters, navigating nuance rather than caricature.

Off stage, he was outspoken, often controversial, and unafraid to speak his mind — qualities that sometimes alienated but also endeared him to many.

He also deeply valued learning, engagement with the arts, and staying active — values visible in many of his later career choices.

Famous Quotes of Ed Asner

Here are some memorable quotes from Ed Asner:

“The treasure shouldn’t do the hunting, and you’re a treasure.”
“Raising kids is part joy and part guerrilla warfare.”
“Never stand still. Only stand still enough to learn, and once you stop learning in that stance, move off. Always keep yourself engaged …”
“We all moan … about the loss of the quality of life through the destruction of our ecology … and yet every one of us … contributes daily to that destruction.”
“There are genuinely sufficient resources in the world to ensure that no one, nowhere, at no time, should go hungry.”
“I got some news for you. One, there is no Jesus. Two, there is no God. Three, mind your own business and everything works out.”

These reflect his humor, his convictions, and his willingness to provoke thought.

Lessons from Ed Asner

1. Don’t box yourself in
   Asner refused to be typecast. Whether comedy, drama, voice work, stage, or activism, he kept pushing boundaries.

2. Stay active and curious
   Even late in life, he embraced new challenges: solo shows, touring plays, voice roles, and new media projects.

3. Use your platform
   He believed that artists could and should engage with society, speak truth, and support causes.

4. Embrace complexity
   His characters were rarely caricatures. He sought nuance, moral tension, and truth over easy answers.

5. Persistence pays
   His decades-long career was built on steady work, resilience, and reinvention — not fleeting stardom.

Conclusion

Ed Asner’s life is a testament to the power of artistic integrity, fearless engagement, and lifelong creativity. From humble beginnings in Kansas City to commanding television sets, animating hearts, and speaking out for justice, he lived a life of purpose and passion.

His legacy is not only in the roles he played — Lou Grant, Carl Fredricksen, and many others — but in the example he set: that an artist can be both bold and thoughtful, outspoken and empathetic.

Explore his films, his interviews, his quotes — and let his journey inspire your own path in creativity, activism, and life.