Edward Asner is best known for his comedic and dramatic crossover as the gruff but soft-hearted journalist Lou Grant, the role he originated on the landmark TV comedy “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and continued in the newspaper-set drama “Lou Grant,” which earned him five Emmy® Awards and three Golden Globe® Awards. Asner received two more Emmy® and Golden Globe® Awards for the legendary TV mini-series “Rich Man, Poor Man” and “Roots.” He starred as Carl Fredricksen in Pixar's 2009 hit “Up,” which won Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Score at the 67th Annual Golden Globe® Awards as well as receiving Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score at the 82nd Academy Awards.
Asner’s most recent credits include starring in the indie feature “Boonville Redemption,” opposite Diane Ladd, and “Citizens United, the Movie,” along with guest staring roles on the CBS sitcom “Mom,” starring Allison Janney, ABC Family’s “Chasing Life,” with Marion Ross, the TBS primetime series “Men At Work” and the CBS sitcom “The Crazy Ones,” starring Robin Williams. He also starred in the Lifetime telefilm “Christmas On The Bayou,” opposite Markie Post, and in the Disney feature “The Games Maker,” opposite Joseph Fiennes and Tom Cavanagh.
Asner has guest starred on numerous TV shows, including a three show arc on the A&E series “The Glades,” a reprised role on the CBS primetime series “Hawaii Five-O,” starring Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan, TV Land’s “Hot In Cleveland,” starring Betty White, ABC’s “The Middle,” starring Patricia Heaton, and USA Network’s “Royal Pains,” playing Henry Winkler’s father. He also starred opposite Carol Kane in the indie feature film “Should've Been Romeo,” a slice of life drama starring Paul Ben Victor, the indie feature “Let Go,” a dramedy written and directed by Brian Jet, in which he portrays an ex-con on parole, opposite David Denman, Jack Carter and Garrett Morris, and “Elephant Sighs,” directed by Ed Simpson. Asner was featured in the comedy “Not Another B Movie,” directed by John Wesley Norton, and starred opposite Mark Rydell in the short film “Good Men,” directed by Brian Connor. He also portrayed Warren Buffet in the critically acclaimed HBO telefilm drama “Too Big To Fail,” directed by Curtis Hanson and starring William Hurt, Paul Giamatti, James Woods, Topher Grace and Tony Shalhoub. Additionally, Asner starred, alongside Melissa Peterman and Patrick Fabian, in the CMT primetime sitcom series “Working Class,” portraying Hank Krasny, the local butcher.
In the Fall of 2013, Asner returned to Broadway, starring opposite Paul Rudd, Michael Shannon and Kate Arrington, in the comedy drama Grace, written by Craig Wright and directed by Dexter Bullard. Asner has been touring the country as Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the critically acclaimed one-man show FDR for over 4 years.
One of the most honored actors in the history of television, Asner has been the recipient of seven Emmy® Awards and five Golden Globe® awards. He has served as National President of the Screen Actors Guild for two terms and was inducted into the TV Academy Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2000, Asner received the Ralph Morgan Award from the Screen Actors Guild, presented periodically for distinguished service to the Guild's Hollywood membership. In March 2002, he was again honored by The Guild as the 38th recipient of the prestigious Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment, presented annually to the actor who fosters the highest ideals of the profession. In 2012, Asner was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Garden State Film Festival and also received the 2nd Annual Betty White Award for Actors and Others for Animals.
In addition to his professional versatility, Asner has consistently served and committed himself to the rights of the working performer and advocated for human rights, world peace, environmental preservation and political freedom. Passionate and well informed, Asner is a frequent speaker on labor issues and an ally for the acting industry's older artists. Throughout his career, Asner has received many honors, including the Anne Frank Human Rights Award, The Eugene Debs Award, Organized Labor Publications Humanitarian Award, ACLU's Worker’s Rights Committee Award and the National Emergency Civil Liberties Award.
With over 100 TV credits, including starring roles in the series “Off the Rack,” “The Bronx Zoo” and “Thunder Alley,” Asner has made notable appearances on such shows as “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “ER,” “Arliss,” “The Practice” and “Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip.” In addition to numerous commercials and books on tape, Asner has lent his voice to popular cartoon shows, including “The Simpsons,” “Spiderman” and “Boondocks.” His many screen credits further include “They Call Me Mister Tibbs!,” “Fort Apache the Bronx,” “JFK,” the European production of “Giovanni XXIII,” the highest rated television mini-series in the history of Italian TV, and the box office holiday hit “Elf,” starring Will Farrell and James Caan. Appearing in several Hallmark movies, Asner was nominated for an Emmy® for the Hallmark Original Movie “The Christmas Card.” He also received an Emmy® nomination for his outstanding guest appearance on “CSI:NY.”
