Ed Asner

November 15, 2024

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Yitzhak Edward Asner, or simply Ed Asner, was born on November 15, and he is a legendary voice as well as an incredible actor. He, for decades, gave us beautiful characters — funny, sad, and flawed heroes. Whatever Asner was asked to do, he acted phenomenally. Whether it was lending his voice to incredible documentaries or creating characters as endearing as the one he played in the Pixar film “Up,” Asner left a trajectory of triumphs and works that will live on in our hearts and the history of film and television. He will always be remembered as an actor who embodied every role in this industry.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Yitzhak Edward Asner

Birth date:

November 15, 1929

Death date:

August 29, 2021 (age 91)

Zodiac Sign:

Scorpio

Height:

5' 7"

Relationship Status:

Divorced

Net Worth:

$10 million

Background

Yitzhak Edward Asner, or simply Ed Asner, was born on November 15, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri. He then moved to the state of Kansas, where he grew up with his parents, Lizzie Seliger and Morris David Asner. His parents were Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Europe to America in the early 20th century. Asner shared his childhood with four other siblings. He attended Wyandotte High School in his area and soon moved away to continue his studies. He later enrolled at the University of Chicago and got into one of the collegiate productions. In his first role, he played Thomas Becket in the play “Murder in Cathedral.” Unfortunately, this student stint did not last long. Asner dropped out of school and held odd jobs for a few years until he had to join the military.

The U.S. Army Signal Corps was the branch Asner joined and participated in from 1951 to 1953. When Asner returned to America, he became involved in theater in Chicago and New York, opening companies and acting as the years went by until his T.V. debut on the show “Studio One” (1957). During this time, Asner did many small T.V. jobs until he was hired to join “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” in 1970. From this role, which won him several awards and accolades, Asner began to work in more significant television roles. In addition, he had a great career in voice acting, getting involved in sagas such as “Spiderman” and “Star Wars.” However, his most notable role in the world of voice acting is undoubtedly his work in the Pixar film “Up” (2009). Asner continued to lend his voice to different film projects, acting for T.V., film, and theater. His latest work was the role of Claude in “Muppets Haunted Mansion,” a Halloween special. The perfect icing on the cake in a career filled with comedy, Drama, documentaries, and any challenge thrown at the legendary Asner.

Asner fathered twins and three other children. He was married twice, with both marriages ending in divorce years later. He first married Nancy Lou Sykes. This marriage began in 1959 and ended in 1988. Nancy is the mother of all his children. It wasn’t until 1998 that Asner remarried producer Cindy Gilmore. After nine years, they decided to separate in 2007, but it wasn’t until 2014 that Asner filed for divorce.

Career timeline

1967

The Student Years

Asner begins studying Drama and gives his first performances in college.

1953

The Years Serving in the Army

Asner joins part of a military branch handling communication and information systems stationed in different parts of Europe.

1957

His T.V. Debut

Asner debuts the show “Studio One,” which creates new job opportunities for him.

1962

The Movie Debut

Asner appears in "Kid Galahad" but does not feature in the credits — however, it becomes an excellent opportunity for the young actor.

2009

He Appears in Pixar's "Up"

Asner plays the unforgettable Carl Fredericksen in the beautifully animated film, gaining praise from critics and audiences.

Why We Love Ed Asner

He was Involved in doing good
Asner was a grandfather and father of autistic children. This closeness to this neurodivergence made him get involved with organizations dedicated to helping and informing people regarding this neurological range.
He was the voice of information
Asner was involved in sharing information about uncomfortable topics in some social circles. He not only did this in politics but was also the voice of "Behind the fear," a documentary about the inconsistencies of H.I.V. and AIDS denialism.
The Ed Asner Family Center
Asner’s children followed their father's example. They dedicated a lot of time and money to creating this center to support young people by providing them with art spaces and other counseling services. Asner was always a philanthropist who helped dozens of different causes and organizations.

5 Surprising Facts

He was the baby brother
Asner was the youngest of five siblings — Ben, Eve, Esther, and Labe, and was probably the most spoiled.
His Hebrew name
He was named Yitzhak and grew up in a family where his religious beliefs were fundamental.
He got advice from a teacher
While at Chicago University, a teacher warned him about the little money that awaited him — these words motivated him to consider new paths in his life.
He worked in a steel mill
This was the work with which Asner supported the years he studied Drama.
His relationship with Elvis Presley
The legendary singer is, in a way, the symbolic godfather of Asner's career as they both participated in the Kansas City native's first film — however, it seems that in this work, Asner took a bit of lingering from Presley.

Ed Asner FAQs

What is Ed Asner's most iconic role?

Lou Grant, the journalist in the M.T.M. Enterprises-produced series “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” is undoubtedly one of Asner’s most significant roles.