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 Asner, whose diverse credits
also included a key voice role in the acclaimed
2009 animated film "Up," died at his home
surrounded by his family, his publicist told
media outlets.
His family confirmed the death on the actor's
Twitter feed, writing, "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," his family said.
Asner was known for his liberal politics and his
stint as Screen Actors Guild president in the
1980s when he criticized U.S. involvement in
Central America during the administration of a
previous head of the actors' union, President
Ronald Reagan. In a career of remarkable
longevity, Asner acted into his 90s.
Asner was integral to the success of the
situation comedy "Mary Tyler Moore," which ran
on CBS from 1970 to 1977 and boasted one of the
best assemblages of actors and writers in U.S.
TV history.
Moore starred as Mary Richards, an associate
producer for a local TV news operation in
Minneapolis. The short, barrel-shaped Asner
played her brusque and irascible boss, Lou
Grant. In the first episode, Moore's character
interviews for a job with Asner's Grant but
objects to prying questions about her religion
and marital status.
"You know what, you've got spunk," Asner tells
Moore, who mistakenly takes it as a compliment.
"Well, yes," she replies. "I hate spunk," snaps
Asner, who hires her anyway.
Asner was not known as a comic actor before
landing the "Mary Tyler Moore" role but
demonstrated deft comic timing in working with a
cast that included Ted Knight, Betty White,
Valerie Harper, Gavin MacLeod and Cloris
Leachman.
"I didn't really put my toe into the water of
comedy until I went up to read for 'Mary Tyler
Moore.' I was afraid of it," Asner said in a
1995 Montreal radio interview. "Not that I
couldn't do an initial spark of humor but I
didn't know how to maintain it."
The series ran for seven years and won the Emmy
for outstanding comedy series three straight
years starting in 1975. Asner won three Emmys
for his work on the show.
"Mary Tyler Moore" spawned a number of spinoff
series. After the show ended, Asner brought his
Lou Grant character to a series of his own.
Whereas "Mary Tyler Moore" was a fun sitcom, the
new show, "Lou Grant," was a drama with Asner's
character relocated to Los Angeles to become
city editor of a daily newspaper.
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 CANCELLATION CONTROVERSY
The series ran from 1977 to 1982 as Asner became
the first actor to win an Emmy - two of them, in
fact - playing the same character in both a
comedy and a drama. Asner asserted that "Lou
Grant" was canceled by CBS due to his outspoken
political views, not due to ratings.
"I have no proof. But most insiders seem to
think that the show would not have been canceled
had it not been for the controversy that arose
over my stand on El Salvador," Asner said in an
interview for the Archive of American
Television.
As head of the actors' union from 1981 to 1985,
Asner also clashed with conservative actor
Charlton Heston.
Asner also won Emmys for his work in two
miniseries - "Roots" in 1977 and "Rich Man, Poor
Man" in 1976 - and his total of seven was more
than any other male actor. He was nominated for
an Emmy 20 times. Later in his
career, Asner became a successful voice actor
for animated TV shows and films and played Santa
Claus in several projects, including the 2003
Will Ferrell comedy "Elf."
In the sentimental 2009 animated film "Up,"
Asner provided the voice for the main character,
78-year-old Carl Fredricksen, who after the
death of his beloved wife ties balloons to his
house and floats off to fulfill his fantasy of
exploring South America, only to find he has a
youthful stowaway. The movie won an Oscar for
best animated film and a nomination for best
picture.
Asner remained a busy actor into his 90s with
appearances in such series as "Dead to Me" and
"Cobra Kai."
Asner, born in 1929, became a regular on
television and later the movies starting in the
1950s. Before their series began, he acted
alongside Moore in the Elvis Presley movie
"Change of Habit" (1969). Asner also appeared in
the film "They Call Me Mister Tibbs!" (1970)
with Sidney Poitier.
Asner also was instrumental in the 2017 creation
of the Ed Asner Family Center, founded by his
son and his daughter in law, to help children
with special needs and their families.
(Reporting and writing by Will Dunham;
Additional reporting by Rich McKay; Editing by
Bill Trott and Daniel Wallis)
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