Friends, colleagues and family members fondly remembered actor, activist and former SAG President Ed Asner at an emotional ceremony at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles on April 7.
The program featured heartfelt tributes by members of Asner’s family, actors Mike Farrell and SAG-AFTRA National Board member Frances Fisher, and others. Recording artist Jackson Browne gave a special performance. SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and radio personality Nick Geber provided the welcome remarks.
“Ed Asner was an integral part of our union’s history, not just as a former president, but as an artist who stood on the front lines for fairness and equality alongside his peers,” said Crabtree-Ireland. “He did this for the past 40 years, always steadfast, always determined.”
Asner, who passed away August 29, 2021, at the age of 91, served two terms as president and went on to serve as a National Board member of both SAG and SAG-AFTRA periodically from 1985 until his death. In 2001, he received the SAG Life Achievement Award.
Onscreen, Asner created one of the most memorable roles in television history — the gruff but loveable newsman Lou Grant on two hit television series for CBS: the comedy The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1970–1977 and the drama Lou Grant from 1977–1982. His five Emmy Awards for that role, plus two additional Emmys, set a record for the most Emmys ever awarded to a male TV actor.
Photo: SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland speaks at Ed Asner’s Celebration of Life held at Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles on April 7. Photo by Michael Tran/AFP.
This item was original featured in the SAG-AFTRA magazine spring 2022 issue.