12 of His Most Memorable Roles
As the most decorated male performer in the history of the Primetime Emmy Awards, Ed Asner is a TV legend. With seven Emmy awards under his belt, Asner has appeared in television classics from The Mary Tyler Moore Show to Rich Man, Poor Man to Lou Grant. In addition to his work as an actor, Asner also served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1981-85.
Asner died Sunday at age 91. In honor of Asner’s successfully long career and lasting impact on television (which he recently discussed with The Hollywood Reporter in his final interview), THR takes a look at the actor’s most memorable roles throughout the years.
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'The Mary Tyler Moore Show'
Image Credit: CBS/Photofest As one of the most acclaimed television programs in sitcom history, The Mary Tyler Moore Show changed the landscape of entertainment with television’s very first unmarried, independent and working female protagonist. On the show, Ed Asner starred as Lou Grant, a performance that earned him three Emmy Awards as a supporting actor. The role also led to Asner’s own spinoff show, titled Lou Grant.
'Hawaii Five-0'
Image Credit: CBS/Photofest The actor originally had a cameo in an episode of the first series in 1975 ("Wooden Model of a Rat"), in which he portrayed August March, a world-class smuggler. In 2012, Asner reprised his role on CBS' reboot of the police drama. This time, March is a reformed criminal after spending 30 years in prison.
'Rich Man, Poor Man'
Image Credit: ABC/Photofest Asner appeared in two episodes of ABC's Rich Man, Poor Man, a television miniseries based on the 1969 novel of the same name. On the show, Asner played Axel Jordache, father to Rudolph (Peter Strauss) and Tom (Nick Nolte). For his performance, the actor won an Emmy Award in 1976 for outstanding lead actor for a single appearance in a drama or comedy series.
'Lou Grant'
Image Credit: CBS/Photofest Due to the immense popularity of his character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Asner was granted his own spinoff series named after the character of Lou Grant himself, following his life as an editor of fictional newspaper The Los Angeles Tribune. Asner went on to win two more Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Lou during the show's run.
'Roots'
Image Credit: ABC/Photofest Asner appeared in three episodes of ABC's award-winning miniseries Roots as Captain Thomas Davies. For his performance, the TV legend won yet another Emmy, in the category of outstanding single performance by a supporting actor in a comedy or drama series. Roots follows the family line of creator Alex Haley, from the enslavement of his ancestor Kunta Kinte to the post-Civil War liberation of Kinte's lineage. The miniseries garnered widespread success and was one of the most-watched television series of its time.
'Off the Rack'
Image Credit: ABC/Photofest Asner starred as Sam Waltman in ABC TV series Off the Rack, alongside Eileen Brennan, Pamela Brull, Dennis Haysbert, Sandy Simpson and Claudia Wells. Following the world of the Los Angeles garment industry, the series was cancelled after its debut season.
'Elf'
Image Credit: New Line Cinema/Photofest In Jon Favreau's beloved holiday film Elf, Asner plays Santa Claus — a character he played many times — alongside Will Ferrell, James Caan and Zooey Deschanel. When the world seems to be losing faith in Santa's existence, Buddy the Elf (Ferrell) helps Asner spread holiday cheer among the skeptics of New York City.
'Up'
Image Credit: Buena Vista Pictures/Photofest In Academy Award-winning Pixar animated film Up, Asner voiced the elderly Carl Fredricksen, who embarks on an adventure through the sky alongside Russell (Jordan Nagai), a young Wilderness Explorer. Up received widespread critical acclaim for its touching and emotional message.
'Born Yesterday'
Image Credit: Photofest Written by Garson Kanin, Born Yesterday is a Broadway comedy following a corrupt businessman whose dealings are undermined when he brings his showgirl mistress along with him to Washington D.C. In the 1989 Broadway revival, Asner returned to his roots of onstage performing as the lead role of Harry Brock alongside Madeline Kahn.
'Criminal Minds'
Image Credit: Robert Voets/CBS Asner guest starred in the 10th season of hit crime drama Criminal Minds in the episode A Place at the Table. The TV legend portrayed Roy Brooks, father-in-law to Hotch (Thomas Gibson). While mourning the loss of his daughter, Roy also happens to be struggling with Alzheimer's disease. Throughout the episode, Hotch attempts to make peace with the ailing man.
'Curb Your Enthusiasm'
Image Credit: HBO/Photofest Asner made a cameo in an episode of Larry David's hit black comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm, as the wealthy father of Barry Weiner. In the episode, The Acupuncturist, Weiner, a struggling writer, convinces Larry to give him a $5,000 loan, as Weiner's father is close to death. Larry manages to convince Asner to write his son out of the will, but the man dies before he can make the change.
Asner's cameo joins the long list of stars who have guest starred on Curb Your Enthusiasm over the years, including the likes of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers and Martin Scorsese.
'El Dorado'
Image Credit: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures/Photofest Directed by Howard Hawks, El Dorado follows a noble gunfighter (John Wayne) who helps an old friend (Robert Mitchum) save a local rancher family from being forced out of their land. In the Western film, Asner portrays Bart Jason, the rival rancher hoping to take the family's land and steal their water.
El Dorado was a critical success of its time and still continues to be, with a 100 percent rating on film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
