Edward Asner (1929–2021)

Seven-time Emmy-winning television star Edward Asner, born November 15, 1929 in Kansas City, Missouri, died this past Sunday [August 29, 2021].

I considered Edward Asner one of the best actors in the history, thus far, of television. But, there was a lot to him in addition to being a terrifically skilled and talented actor.

Asner was a man with significant accomplishments.

He studied Journalism.

He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1951 to 1953.

He worked assembly for General Motors.

He not only became a very successful actor but was also the 21st president of the Screen Actors Guild between 1981 to 1985.

Asner is, of course, known for his iconic Lou Grant character—first with supporting series star Mary Tyler Moore on CBS’s groundbreaking comedy The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977) but also with parlaying the success of that pivotal role into the series lead on spinoff drama Lou Grant (1977–1982). For both series, Asner combined winning five Emmys, in 1971, 1972, 1975, 1978, and 1980. He won two more for the ABC miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man, in 1976, and Roots, in 1977.

Asner, when he was starring on Lou Grant and was also serving as SAG president, was embroiled in controversy. He was no fan of then-new U.S. president Ronald Reagan—who had also been president of the Screen Actors Guild—for Reagan being anti-union, yes, but for also because Asner opposed U.S. policy in Central America. This was considered the catalyst for the end of Lou Grant, in 1982, and after five seasons, despite its ratings (according to Wikipedia, it was in the Top 10 its final month) being healthy enough for renewal for a sixth season.

Prior to his death, Edward Asner was the last surviving original cast member of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. With some cast changes along the way (including 1974 and 1975 spinoffs for costars Valerie Harper, in Rhoda, and Cloris Leachman, in Phyllis), joining MTM in 1973 was Betty White. Now at age 99, and born January 17, 1922, in Oak Park, Illinois, the seven-time Emmy-winning White is now the last surviving cast member of not only NBC’s The Golden Girls (1985–1992) but also among the core main-cast regulars of Mary Tyler Moore. (Some may argue that point given John Amos, who left the series for the 1974 premiere of CBS’s Good Times, was on the first three seasons, and Lisa Gerritsen, who played Phyllis’s teen-daughter Bess during the first five seasons and with the entirety of that spinoff, are both alive at ages 81 and 64. But, their MTM appearances were more along the lines of recurring players.)

I found some interesting reading relating to the late Edward Asner. 

Here they are:

Asner Calls ‘Lou Grant’ Censored | By Eleanor Blau | New York Times | 05.18.1982

TV: ‘Lou Grant’ farewell | By Richard T. Jameson | Originally published in The Weekly | 07.07.1982

The following videos are: The Mary Tyler Moore Show “The Lou and Edie Story” (Season 04 Episode 04; 10.06.1973; an Emmy winner for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for Treva Silverman) with a profound script and performance by Edward Asner as Lou finds his marriage may be reaching its end; the actor discussing that episode; Lou Grant “Judge” (Season 01 Episode 09; 11.15.1977; with an Emmy-winning guest performance by Barnard Hughes) which has Lou determined to get an elderly judge off the bench; the actor discussing the 1982 cancellation of the series; and a video compilation of Edward Asner as a guest on David Letterman’s NBC and CBS late-night talk series.