Ed Asner

Edward Asner (born November 15, 1929 in Kansas City, Kansas) is an American actor best known for his Emmy-winning role as Lou Grant on the Mary Tyler Moore show, and later continued as a separate spinoff series.

A vocal leftist, Asner served two terms as president of the Screen Actors Guild, where he controversially opposed U.S. policy in Central America until he was ousted and succeeded by Charlton Heston. He has also been active in a variety of other causes, such as the movement to free Mumia Abu-Jamal, and is a prominent member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Asner serves as the spokesman for 2004 Racism Watch.