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Edward Asner Biography

Birth Name:
Yitzak Edward Asner
Birth Place:
Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Profession
Actor

Fast Facts

  • Was directed by Mike Nichols in college productions at the University of Chicago; began acting professionally with the Chicago Playwright's Theatre Company following his discharge from the U
  • S
  • Army Signal Corps in 1953
  • Made his TV debut in the dramatic anthology Studio One in 1957
  • Was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1981 to 1985
  • San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom is his wife Cindy's nephew; TV personality Jules Asner is his former daughter-in-law
  • Well-known for his political activism
  • Was inducted into the TV Academy Hall of Fame in 1996; received a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2001
  • As of 2012, holds the record for male performer with most Emmy wins (seven total, five for the character of Lou Grant)
  • Incidentally, The Mary Tyler Moore Show costar Cloris Leachman holds the record for female performer
  • Was the first actor ever to receive both Comedy and Drama Emmys for the same character

Awards

  • 2007Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 1992Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1982Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1982Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1981Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1981Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1980Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1980Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: winner
  • 1979Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1979Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1978Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: winner
  • 1978Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1977Emmy-Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1977Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 1976Emmy-Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1975Emmy-Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1975Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: nominated
  • 1974Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 1973Emmy-Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Comedy: nominated
  • 1973Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 1972Golden Globe-Actor in a Supporting Role - Series or Television Movie: winner
  • 1971Emmy-Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Comedy: winner

Relationships