Edward Asner (born November 15, 1929 in Kansas City, Kansas) is an American actor best known for his Emmy-winning role as Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and later continued in a spinoff series, Lou Grant.
Asner has also had an extensive career in voice over work for animated projects. He provided the voices for J. Jonah Jameson on the 1990's Spider-Man series, Hudson on Gargoyles, Master Vrook from the Star Wars video game Knights of the Old Republic, Roland Daggett on Batman: The Animated Series, and Cosgrove on Freakazoid.
A vocal leftist, Asner served two terms as president of the Screen Actors Guild, where he controversially opposed U.S. policy in Central America until he was ousted and succeeded by Charlton Heston. He has also been active in a variety of other causes, such as the movement to free Mumia Abu-Jamal, and is a prominent member of the Democratic Socialists of America. His political position may also have motivated him to play the voice of the pig-like villain Hoggish Greedly on the pro-environmental animated series Captain Planet and the Planeteers. [1]
Asner served as the spokesman for 2004 Racism Watch. In April 2004, he wrote an open letter to "peace and justice leaders" encouraging them to demand "full 9-11 truth" through an organization called the "9-11 Visibility Project."
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Last updated: 10-29-2005 02:13:46
