Ed Asner Net Worth - Pulptastic

What was Ed Asner’s Net Worth?

Ed Asner, an American actor, had a net worth of $10 million at the time of his death in 2021. He was best known for his role as Lou Grant on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and for his roles in various television shows and films. Asner was the most Emmy-honored television actor in history with seven total wins out of 17 nominations, five of which were for his role as Lou Grant.

In later years, Asner was recognized for his voice acting in the Pixar movie “Up” and for his role in “Elf.” He was also heavily involved in political causes and served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1981 to 1985. Asner passed away on August 29, 2021, at the age of 91.

Early Life and Career

Ed Asner, born Yitzhak Edward Asner on November 15th, 1929 in Kansas City, Missouri, was the child of Jewish immigrants from Russia. His father owned a scrap metal business and his mother was a homemaker. Asner began developing his performing and speaking skills while working at his high school’s radio station. He continued to act and perform in college at the University of Chicago, where he appeared in several of the school’s theatrical productions.

After college, Asner briefly worked on an assembly line for Ford Motors before being drafted to serve in the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. While in the Army Signal Corps, he traveled around Europe and performed in plays with other military personnel.

Early Career and Breakthrough

Upon returning from service, Ed Asner co-founded The Playwrights Theatre Club and later moved to New York City to pursue acting. He took roles in off-Broadway plays and minor television appearances before landing major roles in popular television shows. Asner gained recognition for his role as Lou Grant in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” which received critical acclaim and won multiple awards. His character was popular enough to earn a spin-off series, “Lou Grant,” which was also successful and earned Asner multiple Emmys.

Film Career

Asner is known for his role as Santa Claus in the 2003 film “Elf.” He also appeared in the 2011 independent comedy “Not Another B Movie” and played Warren Buffet in the 2011 HBO drama “Too Big To Fail.” In 2019, Asner was cast in Netflix’s dark comedy “Dead to Me” alongside Christina Applegate.

Awards

Asner’s impressive career has earned him numerous awards, including seven Primetime Emmy Awards and five Golden Globe Awards. He is the only actor to have won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for portraying the same character.

Asner’s Career as a Voice Actor

Ed Asner has worked as a voice actor for many years in addition to his screen and theatre acting. He made his debut as a lead voice actor in 1987 in LA Classic Theatre Works’ radio version of Sinclair Lewis’ novel “Babbit.” He has voiced over seventy different characters in his career, including characters in popular animated TV series such as “Captain Planet and the Planeteers,” “Spider Man,” and “Gargoyles.” His performance in “Spider Man” earned him an Emmy nomination in 1992. Asner also had a longtime role on the adult animated series “The Boondocks,” which ran from 2005 to 2014 and was subject to controversy throughout its run.

Asner’s most notable voice acting role is that of the old man character in Pixar’s award-winning film “Up” in 2009. His performance was widely praised by critics.

Ed Asner’s Career and Political Activism

Ed Asner served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild for two terms and played a prominent role in SAG strikes. He was a member of the leftwing political group, The Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee, and a vocal supporter of democratic causes and candidates including Barack Obama. Asner has won seventeen Emmy nominations and seven wins, making him the most Emmy-honored television actor in history. He has won five Golden Globes and been nominated for seven.

In 2004, he signed a petition calling for an investigation into the 9/11 Attacks and potential US government interference. Asner was known for having somewhat conspiratorial views. He worked with Director Nicole Zwiren for four years to produce a documentary film on HIV denialism called “Behind the Fear.” It was released in 2016 starring him as narrator and covers the US government’s failures during the 1980s HIV epidemic. Asner was inducted into the Emmy Hall of Fame in 1996.