What Was Ed Asner's Net Worth?
Ed Asner, an esteemed American actor, had a net worth of $10 million at the time of his passing in 2021. Asner achieved fame with his iconic role as Lou Grant on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." He became the most Emmy-honored television actor in history, winning seven out of 17 nominations, five of which were for Lou Grant. Younger audiences may recognize him as the voice of Carl Fredricksen in Pixar's "Up" or as Santa Claus in "Elf." An active political advocate, Asner served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1981 to 1985. He passed away on August 29, 2021, aged 91.
Early Life
Born Yitzhak Edward Asner on November 15, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri, Ed was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family by his Russian immigrant parents. He honed his performing skills at his high school radio station and later attended the University of Chicago, where he acted in numerous theatrical productions. After dropping out, Asner worked at Ford Motors before being drafted into the Korean War, where he served in the Army Signal Corps and performed in military plays across Europe.
Television and Film Career
Post-war, Asner co-founded The Playwrights Theatre Club, which progressed into improvisational comedy—a genre that didn't appeal to him. He moved to New York City, taking up off-Broadway roles and slowly gaining television appearances. In 1961, he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue television more aggressively. His film debut was in the 1965 Elvis Presley movie "Kid Galahad." However, his major break came as Lou Grant in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" in 1970. The show was renowned for its portrayal of an independent woman focusing on her career, a novel concept at the time. Lou Grant's character, so beloved, garnered a spin-off series in 1977, transitioning to a more dramatic tone. The new show was critically acclaimed, earning 13 Emmys, and Asner made history for winning Emmys in both comedy and drama genres for the same role. He also starred in the acclaimed 1977 miniseries "Roots," for which he won another Emmy.
In film, Asner is celebrated for his role as Santa Claus in "Elf" (2003), and later had significant roles in the independent comedy "Not Another B Movie" (2011) and HBO's "Too Big to Fail" (2011). More recently, he appeared in Netflix's dark comedy "Dead to Me" (2019) alongside Christina Applegate.
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Voice Acting Career
Asner also had a prominent voice acting career, starting with his lead role in the LA Classic Theatre Works' 1987 radio adaptation of Sinclair Lewis' "Babbit." He voiced over seventy characters, appearing in animated series like "Captain Planet and the Planeteers" (1990-1995), Fox Kids Network's "Spider-Man" (1994-1998), and Walt Disney's "Gargoyles" (1994-1996). His role in "Spider-Man" even earned him an Emmy nomination. He also voiced characters in "The Boondocks" (2005-2014), which was known for its controversial themes. Asner's voice acting pinnacle was as Carl Fredricksen in Pixar's highly acclaimed film "Up" (2009).
Personal Life and Accolades
Ed married Nancy Lou Sykes in 1959, and they had three children before divorcing in 1988. He later had a son with Carol Jean Vogelman in 1987 and married producer Cindy Gilmore in 1998, who filed for divorce in 2007. Asner played a key role in Screen Actors Guild strikes and supported numerous democratic causes, including advocating for an investigation into the 9/11 attacks. He was part of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee and voiced opposition to US government policies on various topics, even producing a documentary on HIV denialism.
Asner's distinguished career earned him 17 Emmy nominations with seven wins, five Golden Globes out of 11 nominations, and an induction into the Emmy Hall of Fame in 1996. He passed away on August 29, 2021, and was laid to rest in Kansas City's Sheffield Cemetery.
