Ed Asner Dead at 91: Photo Gallery of the Late Acting Legend, from ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show’ to Final Roles

by Joe Rutland
written by Joe Rutland
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What a vast career for actor Ed Asner, who died on Sunday at 91 years old. His face has appeared in TV, movies, and on stages.

We thought it would be a kind way to remember the illustrious career of Asner with a journey down memory lane.

‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’

In 1970, Ed Asner started playing TV newsroom boss Lou Grant on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”

Asner played Grant along the lines of a situation comedy, which Moore’s show actually followed that path.

The series ran for seven seasons between 1970-77.

Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards will be seen for the last time on March 19 as the delectable bachelor girl of Minneapolis WJM-TV, everybody’s favorite newsroom. After seven years of starring in the highly-rated series, Mary found the final day of shooting traumatic. Ted Knight as Ted Baxter, and Ed Asner, as Lou Grant, are shown with Moore in this scene from the March 19, 1977, show. (Photo courtesy Getty Images)

‘Lou Grant’

Upon completion of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” Ed Asner would take the Lou Grant character away from comedy. He flipped it toward a dramatic role, playing Grant in a newspaper newsroom setting from 1977-82.

Ed Asner talks on the phone over a cluttered desk in a still from the television program “Lou Grant” in1977. (Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

1980s

After Ed Asner finished playing in “Lou Grant” for five seasons, he continued to stay active on screen and on the stage.

From left, actors Ed Asner, George Wendt, and Fred Willard perform on stage during the Second City 25th Anniversary performance at the Vic Theater, Chicago, Ill., on Dec. 16, 1984. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

1990s

Ed Asner stayed busy but also didn’t forget his former castmates.

Ed Asner, Mary Tyler Moore, and Valerie Harper attend the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Gala on Oct. 10, 1991, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

Asner on stage in 2013

His career led Asner to continue taking on challenging roles. It didn’t matter whether it was on screen or on the stage.

Edward Asner performs “FDR” at the 28th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival on Oct. 23, 2013, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Photo by Larry Marano/WireImage/Getty Images)

One of Asner’s final public appearances

Earlier this year, Asner made one of his final public appearances.

Ed Asner attends a staged reading of the new play “Another Gin Game” at Theatre 40 at Beverly Hills High School on July 18, 2021, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by JB Lacroix/Getty Images)

On Sunday, a long, successful career and life for Ed Asner came to an end.

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