In Memoriam: A look back at our only interview with Ed Asner, who was promoting the Pixar Animation Studios / Disney’s “UP” in 2009.
Video Content: Ed Asner (2009)
As part of a brief press junket in San Francisco, SIDEWALKS host Maaika Westen had the honor to interview actor Ed Asner, as they talk about his career and his voice role as Carl Fredricksen in “UP” at the Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, CA.
Mini-Biography:
Born on November 15, 1929 in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, Ed Asner is best known for playing Lou Grant on the CBS classic comedy “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and again on his own spinoff show, CBS drama series “Lou Grant.” As a series star, he was in the NBC drama “The Bronx Zoo,” CMT comedy “Working Class,” and the ABC sitcoms “Off the Rack” and “Thunder Alley.” He used his voice for many animated projects, such as “Captain Planet and the Planeteers,” “Gargoyles,” “Spider-Man,” and “The New Adventures of Zorro.” Asner also appeared on many popular TV shows as a guest star, including “ER,” “The X-Files,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Hawaii Five-0” (original series and reboot), “The Good Wife,” “Modern Family,” reboot “MacGyver,” “The Good Wife,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Cobra Kai,” and “Grace & Frankie.” Asner has been in feature films, too, with such titles as “El Dorado,” “O’Hara’s Wife,” ” JFK,” “Hard Rain,” “Elf,” “UP,” and “Faith, Hope & Love.” Asner won a record breaking seven Emmy® Awards: three for “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” two for spin-off “Lou Grant,” and one each on the miniseries “Rich Man, Poor Man” and “Roots.” He was the 21st President of the Screen Actors Guild between November 3, 1981 – June 20, 1985. Mr. Asner passed away on August 29, 2021 at age 91.
Interview Credits:
Recorded: May 8, 2009
Host / Producer: Maaika Westen
Editor: Richard R. Lee
Special Thanks To: Disney/ Pixar, and Terry Hines and Associates