Ed Asner, Primetime Emmy-Winning ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show’ Star, Dead at 91, family announced Sunday.
The following written content by Latifah Muhammad
Ed Asner, the seven-time Primetime Emmy winning actor best known for his role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, has died. He was 91.
Asner’s family confirmed his death on his Twitter account on Sunday.
“We are sorry to say that our beloved patriarch passed away this morning peacefully. Words cannot express the sadness we feel. With a kiss on your head- Goodnight dad. We love you,” the tweet read.
Asner, a former president of the Screen Actors Guild who enjoyed a career of more than 60 years, was born in Kansas City, Missouri on Nov. 15, 1929. Asner grew up in Kansas City, Kansas and attended Wyandotte High School, followed by the University of Chicago. He also worked on the assembly line at General Motors, in addition to serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. prior to becoming an actor. Asner went on to join the Chicago Theater company in addition to making guest appearances with the Compass Players and the coveted Second City. After moving to New York City, he eventually scored his first Broadway gig.
Asher made his TV debut in the 1957 Emmy winning TV series Studio One in Hollywood in 1957. From there, Asner debuted on Broadway debut in the 1960 production of Face of a Hero alongside Jack Lemmon. His early acting credits including appearing on The Outer Limits, The Alfred Hitchock Hour, The Eleventh Hour, The Fugitive, Gunsmoke, and The Untouchables, before he scored the coveted multi-Emmy winning role as Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which debuted in 1970.
Created by Allan Buns and James L. Brooks, The Mary Tyler Moore Show followed protagonist, Mary Tyler Moore, through her career as an associate producer on a fictional Minnesota TV station. Asner portrayed Moore’s boss, Lou Grant. The all-star cast also featured, Valerie Harper, Gavin MacLeod, Betty White, and Cloris Leachman. Read more from ET.
