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Edward Asner Biography

Birth Name:Edward Asner

Birth Place:Kansas City, Missouri, United States

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Producer

Fast Facts

  • Served two terms as the president of the Screen Actors Guild
  • Inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 1996
  • After leaving the military, he pursued acting by joining the Playwrights Theatre Company in Chicago
  • Quote: "Raising kids is part joy and part guerrilla warfare․"
  • In opposition to the merger between the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, he filed a lawsuit against SAG President Ken Howard in 2012
  • A political activists, he often lends his voice for narrations of documentaries and films that advocate for social reforms
  • Frequently portrays characters who are in a position of power
  • As the parent of a child with autism, he is involved with the organization Autism Speaks
  • The first actor to win an Emmy award for portraying the same character, "Lou Grant," in both a comedy and a drama series
  • Before becoming an actor, he worked on the assembly line for General Motors

Awards

  • 1971Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Comedy: winner
  • 1972Golden Globe-Best Supporting Actor - Television: winner
  • 1972Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Comedy: winner
  • 1973Golden Globe-Best Supporting Actor - Television: nominated
  • 1973Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Comedy: nominated
  • 1974Golden Globe-Best Supporting Actor - Television: nominated
  • 1974Primetime Emmy-Best Supporting Actor in Comedy: nominated
  • 1975Golden Globe-Best TV Actor - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1975Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1976Golden Globe-Best Supporting Actor - Television: winner
  • 1976Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series: winner
  • 1976Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1977Golden Globe-Best Supporting Actor - Television: winner
  • 1977Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series: winner
  • 1977Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1978Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama: winner
  • 1978Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1979Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1979Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1980Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama: winner
  • 1980Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1981Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1981Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1982Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1982Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1984ACE-Actor in a Dramatic or Theatrical Program: nominated
  • 1989ACE-Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 1991Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: nominated
  • 1992Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1996Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program: nominated
  • 2004Groundbreaking Show-: winner
  • 2007Camie-Director: winner
  • 2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie: nominated
  • 2009OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2009Scream Award-Best Fantasy Actor: nominated
  • 2010Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program: nominated
  • 2010VES Award-Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture: winner
  • 2012BTVA Special/DVD Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short: winner
  • 2013New Media Film Festival Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2017Gold Lion Award-Gold Lion Award: winner
  • 2017Golden Palm Award-Best Picture: winner
  • 2017Canadian Screen Award-Best Performance in a Guest Role, Dramatic Series: winner
  • 2017Award of Merit-Documentary Feature: winner
  • 2017LAFA December Award-Best Documentary Feature: winner
  • 2017Silver Palm Award-Documentary: winner
  • 2017Best Documentary-Documentaries: nominated
  • 2017UK Film Festival Award-Best Feature Documentary: winner
  • 2018Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's, Preschool Children's or Educational and Informational Program: nominated
  • 2019Lifetime Achievement Award-: winner
  • 2021Faith in Film Best Ensemble Cast in a Feature-Best Faith Cast: winner
  • 2021OFTA TV Hall of Fame-Character: winner