Ed Asner
Actor, Activist
Previously Aired On: September 12, 2006 - Listen to this Show!
Edward “Ed” 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. He is also internationally known as the slaver Captain Davies, from the mini-series Roots, who kidnapped Kunta Kinte into bondage.
A vocal leftist, Asner served two terms as president of the Screen Actors Guild, in which capacity he opposed US policy in Central America. 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 and the voice for the sinister Ed Wuncler in The Boondocks (TV series).
He has signed the 911 Truth Statement calling for new investigations of disturbing questions about the 9/11 events, including the failure of US intelligence to act on warnings of upcoming attacks, the breakdown of military air defense, and the nature of the investigations. Asner has also reviewed 9/11 literature and videos, including a recent review for the film 9/11 Guilt: The Proof is in Your Hands. Recently, Asner recorded a PSA in support of Congressman John Conyers’ House Resolution 635 - an investigation of President Bush’s administration.
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.” Recently he has appeared in a recurring segment, on Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show, entitled “Does this impress Ed Asner?”.
