Editing Ed Asner (section)

==Career==
{{see also|Ed Asner filmography|List of awards and nominations received by Ed Asner}}

=== 1955–1969: Early work and television roles ===
[[File:Mary Tyler Moore cast 1970.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Cast of ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'' in 1970, with Asner in center rear]]
Following his military service, Asner helped found the Playwrights Theatre Company in Chicago, but left for [[New York City]] before members of that company regrouped as the [[Compass Players]] in the mid-1950s.<ref name=eb>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edward-Asner |title=Ed Asner |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica |date=November 11, 2019 |first=Naomi |last=Blumberg |access-date=December 3, 2019 }}</ref> He later made frequent guest appearances with the successor to Compass, [[The Second City]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.secondcity.com/people/other/ed-asner/#:~:text=After%20the%20war%2C%20Asner%20joined,developed%20into%20The%20Second%20City. |title=Ed Asner |website=The Second City |access-date=June 2, 2020}}</ref> In New York City, [[Off-Broadway]] roles included Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum in the revival of ''[[The Threepenny Opera|Threepenny Opera]]'' and in Otway's [[Venice Preserv'd]] in late 1955.<ref>Atkinson, Brooks. "Theatre: Otway Tragedy." New York Times, 13 December 1955, 54.</ref> Asner scored his first [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] role in ''Face of a Hero'' alongside [[Jack Lemmon]] in 1960, and began to make inroads as a television actor, having made his TV debut in 1957 on ''[[Westinghouse Studio One|Studio One]]''.<ref name=cnn /> In two notable performances on television, Asner played Detective Sgt. Thomas Siroleo in the 1963 episode of ''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'' titled "[[It Crawled Out of the Woodwork]]" and the reprehensible ex-premier Brynov in the 1965 ''[[Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV series)|Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea]]'' episode "The Exile". He made his film debut in 1962, in the [[Elvis Presley]] vehicle ''[[Kid Galahad]]''.<ref name="cnn" />

Before landing his role with [[The Mary Tyler Moore Show|Mary Tyler Moore]], Asner guest-starred in television series including four episodes of ''[[The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]'' starring [[Robert Stack]], the [[Television syndication|syndicated]] [[crime drama]] ''[[Decoy (TV series)|Decoy]]'', starring [[Beverly Garland]], two episodes of ''[[Naked City (TV series)|Naked City]]'' in 1961, and ''[[Route 66 (TV series)|Route 66]]'' in 1962 (the episode titled "Welcome to the Wedding") as Custody Officer Lincoln Peers. He was cast on [[Jack Lord]]'s [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] drama series ''[[Stoney Burke (TV series)|Stoney Burke]]'' and in the series finale of [[CBS]]'s ''[[The Reporter (TV series)|The Reporter]]'', starring [[Harry Guardino]]. He also appeared on ''[[Mr. Novak]]'', ''[[Ben Casey]]'', ''[[Gunsmoke]]'', ''[[Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series)|Mission: Impossible]]'', ''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'', ''[[The Fugitive (1963 TV series)|The Fugitive]]'', and ''[[The Invaders]]''. In 1963, Asner appeared as George Johnson on ''[[The Virginian (TV series)|The Virginian]]'' in the episode "Echo of Another Day".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-virginian-1963/episode-26-season-1/echo-of-another-day/100532/ |website=[[TV Guide]] |title=The Virginian Season 1 Episode 26: Echo of Another Day |access-date=December 3, 2019 }}</ref> In 1968 he was the villain Furman Crotty in the Wild Wild West episode "The Night of the Amnesiac".

=== 1970–1982: ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' and ''Lou Grant'' ===
[[File:Mary Tyler Moore cast 1977.jpg|thumb|left|Publicity photo of the cast of [[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]] in 1977. From left standing: [[Ted Knight]] (Ted Baxter), [[Gavin McLeod]] (Murray Slaughter), Ed Asner (Lou Grant). Seated: [[Betty White]] (Sue Ann Nivens), [[Georgia Engel]] (Georgette Baxter), [[Mary Tyler Moore]] (Mary Richards).]]
Asner was best known for his character [[Lou Grant]], who was first introduced on ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'' in 1970. In 1977, after Moore's series ended, Asner's character was given his own show, ''[[Lou Grant (TV series)|Lou Grant]]'' (1977–82). In contrast to the ''Mary Tyler Moore'' series, a thirty-minute award-winning comedy about television journalism, the ''Lou Grant'' series was an hour-long award-winning drama about newspaper journalism. For his role as Grant, Asner was one of only two actors to win an Emmy Award for a sitcom and a drama for the same role (the second being [[Uzo Aduba]]). In addition he made appearances as Lou Grant on two other shows: ''[[Rhoda]]'' and ''[[Roseanne]]''.<ref>{{cite web|first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/ad-asner-dead-lou-grant-mary-tyler-moore-1234823859/ |title=Ed Asner Dies: TV Icon Who Played Lou Grant Was 91|work=Deadline Hollywood |date=August 29, 2021 |access-date=August 29, 2021}}</ref> Other television series starring Asner in regular roles include ''[[Thunder Alley (TV series)|Thunder Alley]]'', ''[[The Bronx Zoo (TV series)|The Bronx Zoo]]'', and ''[[Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip]]''. He also starred in one episode of the [[Westerns on television|Western series]] ''[[Dead Man's Gun]]'' (1997), as well as portraying art smuggler August March in an episode of the original ''[[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]]'' (1975) and reprised the role in the ''[[Hawaii Five-0 (2010 TV series)|Hawaii Five-0]]'' (2012) remake.<ref>{{cite web|first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |url=https://deadline.com/2011/12/ed-asner-to-reprise-role-from-original-hawaii-five-0-in-the-series-cbs-reboot-202774/ |title=Ed Asner To Reprise Role From Original 'Hawaii Five-0' In The Series' CBS Reboot|work=Deadline Hollywood |date=December 8, 2011 |access-date=August 29, 2021}}</ref> He also appeared as a streetwise veteran police officer in an episode of the 1973 version of ''[[Police Story (1973 TV series)|Police Story]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/movies/2011/09/police_story_from_1973_finally.html|title='Police Story' from 1973 finally lands on DVD|first1=Chris|last1=Ball|date=September 16, 2011|website=The Plain Dealer}}</ref>

Asner was acclaimed for his role in the ABC miniseries ''[[Roots (1977 miniseries)|Roots]]'', as Captain Davies, the morally conflicted captain of the ''Lord Ligonier'', the slave ship that brought [[Kunta Kinte]] to America. The role earned Asner an [[Emmy Award]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/06/27/archives/a-saga-of-slavery-that-made-the-actors-weep-a-moving-saga-of.html |title=A Saga of Slavery That Made The Actors Weep|work=The New York Times |date=June 27, 1976 |access-date=August 29, 2021}}</ref> as did the similarly dark role of Axel Jordache in the miniseries ''[[Rich Man, Poor Man (miniseries)|Rich Man, Poor Man]]'' (1976). In contrast, he played [[Pope John XXIII|a former pontiff]] in the lead role of ''[[John XXIII: The Pope of Peace|Papa Giovanni: Ioannes XXIII]]'' (''Pope John XXIII'' 2002), an Italian television film for [[RAI]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.katolsk.no/nyheter/2002/02/11-0011 |title=Ed Asner Satisfied with John XXIII Portrayal in TV Series — Den katolske kirke |publisher=Katolsk.no |date=February 10, 2002 |access-date=August 29, 2021}}</ref>

=== 1983–2009: Established actor and voice work ===
[[File:Ed Asner - 1985.jpg|thumb|upright|Asner in 1985]]
Asner had an extensive [[voice acting]] career. In 1987, he played the eponymous character, George F. Babbitt, in the [[L.A. Theatre Works|L.A. Classic Theatre Works]]' radio theater production of [[Sinclair Lewis]]' novel ''[[Babbitt (novel)|Babbitt]]''. Asner won one [[Audie Award]] and was nominated for two [[Grammy Awards]] and an additional Audie for his audiobook work.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.audiopub.org/2000-audies-award | title=2000 audie-awards }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/ed-asner/92 |title=Ed Asner |website=Recording Academy Grammy Awards |access-date=April 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.audiopub.org/2020-audies | title=2020 audie-awards }}</ref> He also provided the voices for Joshua on ''Joshua and the Battle of Jericho'' (1986) for [[Hanna-Barbera]], [[J. Jonah Jameson]] on the 1990s animated television series ''[[Spider-Man: The Animated Series]]'' (1994–98); Hoggish Greedly on ''[[Captain Planet and the Planeteers]]'' (1990–95); [[Manhattan Clan#Hudson|Hudson]] on ''[[Gargoyles (TV series)|Gargoyles]]'' (1994–96); [[Jabba the Hutt]] on the [[Star Wars (radio)|radio version of ''Star Wars'']]; Master Vrook from ''[[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (video game)|Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic]]'' and its [[star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II The Sith Lords|sequel]]; Roland Daggett on ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'' (1992–94); Cosgrove on ''[[Freakazoid!]]''; Ed Wuncler on ''[[The Boondocks (TV series)|The Boondocks]]'' (2005–14);<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/stage/ed-asner-talks-acting-at-89-pursuing-the-truth-and-bringing-the-soap-myth-to-tampa-20190412/|title=Ed Asner talks acting at 89, pursuing the truth and bringing 'The Soap Myth' to Tampa|website=Tampa Bay Times|date=April 12, 2019}}</ref> and [[Granny Goodness]] in various [[DC Comics]] animated series. He also voiced Napoleon, Cornelia's younger sister's cat in the [[Disney]] show ''[[W.I.T.C.H. (TV series)|W.I.T.C.H.]]'', and Kid Potato, the Butcher's dad in the [[PBS Kids]] hit show ''[[WordGirl]]''. He was even nominated for a [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program]] but lost to [[Eartha Kitt]] for [[Nick Jr.]]'s ''[[Wonder Pets!]]''. Asner provided the voice of famed American orator [[Edward Everett]] in the 2017 documentary film ''The Gettysburg Address''.<ref>{{cite web|first=Rasha |last=Ali |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/12-actors-over-80-still-killing-hollywood-ed-173400829.html |title=12 Actors Over 80 Still Killing It in Hollywood, From Ed Asner to Morgan Freeman (Photos) |publisher=Yahoo! |date=June 1, 2017 |access-date=August 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Brandon |last=Choe |url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/ed-asner-career-photo-gallery-1234823964/ |title=Ed Asner's Career Television & Film Career: A Photo Gallery |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=August 29, 2021 |access-date=August 29, 2021}}</ref>

Asner provided the voice of the main protagonist Carl Fredricksen in the [[Academy Award]]-winning [[Pixar]] film ''[[Up (2009 film)|Up]]'' (2009). He received critical acclaim for the role, with one critic going so far as to suggest "They should create a new category for this year's Academy Award for Best Vocal Acting in an Animated Film and name Asner as the first recipient."<ref>{{cite web | title = Keith Cohen review of "Up" | publisher = Entertainment Spectrum | url = http://entertainmentspectrum.com/index/movies/926/up. | access-date = May 31, 2009 | archive-date = July 10, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110710193937/http://entertainmentspectrum.com/index/movies/926/up. | url-status = dead }}</ref> He appeared in the mid- to late-2000s decade in a recurring segment on ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]'', entitled "Does This Impress Ed Asner?"<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?pid=187427131 |newspaper=Deseret News |via=legacy.com |department=Obituaries |title=Jane Bucklin Petty |date=December 5, 2017 |quote=In 2006 at age 90, she appeared on the Jay Leno Show where she won the segment, 'Does This Impress Ed Asner?' }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090308022436/http://www.omaha.com/index.php/index.php?u_page=2620&u_sid=10524313 |archive-date=March 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |date=December 28, 2008 |newspaper=Omaha World-Herald |title=Iowa man appears on 'Tonight Show' |department=Entertainment News & Notes |url=http://www.omaha.com/index.php/index.php?u_page=2620&u_sid=10524313 |first1=Bob |last1=Fischbach |first2=Dane |last2=Stickney |quote=Fett ... took part in the 'Does This Impress Ed Asner?' segment.}}</ref> He was cast in a [[Country Music Television]] comedy pilot, ''Regular Joe''.<ref>{{cite web |last=DiNunno |first=Gina |url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Ed-Asner-Comedy-1019547.aspx|title=Ed Asner Signs On to CMT Comedy Pilot|work=TV Guide |date=June 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615001558/http://www.tvguide.com/News/Ed-Asner-Comedy-1019547.aspx |archive-date=June 15, 2010}}</ref>

In 2001, Asner was the recipient of the [[Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sagawards.org/previous-life-achievement-recipients/2001 |title=Edward Asner – 2001 Life Achievement Recipient – Screen Actors Guild Awards |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015185704/http://www.sagawards.org/previous-life-achievement-recipients/2001 |archive-date=October 15, 2008 }}</ref> Asner won more [[Emmy Awards]] for performing than any other male actor (seven, including five for the role of Lou Grant). In 1996, he was inducted into the [[Television Hall of Fame|Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.tv/awards/hall-fame/hall-fame-archives-honorees |title=Hall of Fame Archives: Inductees – Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=March 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218100226/http://www.emmys.tv/awards/hall-fame/hall-fame-archives-honorees |archive-date=December 18, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/hall-of-fame/honorees|title=Honorees|website=Television Academy}}</ref>

=== 2010–2021: Later roles ===
In July 2010, Asner completed recording sessions for ''Shattered Hopes: The True Story of the Amityville Murders''; a documentary on the 1974 DeFeo murders in Amityville, New York. Asner served as the narrator for the film, which covers a forensic analysis of the murders, the trial in which 23-year-old DeFeo son Ronald DeFeo Jr., was convicted of the killings, and the subsequent "haunting" story which is revealed to be a hoax.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shattereddocumentary.com/|title=Shattered Hopes: The True Story of the Amityville Murders|website=ShatteredDocumentary.com|access-date=November 24, 2017|archive-date=October 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019151018/http://www.shattereddocumentary.com/|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Also in 2010, Asner played the title role in ''FDR'', a stage production about the life of [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.windwoodtheatricals.com/html/fdr.html|title=Ed Asner as FDR|publisher=WindWood Theatricals|access-date=November 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122050358/http://www.windwoodtheatricals.com/html/fdr.html|archive-date=January 22, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> he subsequently continued to tour the play throughout the country. In January 2011, Asner took a supporting role on CMT's first original sitcom ''[[Working Class (TV series)|Working Class]]''. He made an appearance in the independent comedy feature ''[[Not Another B Movie]]'', and had a role as billionaire [[Warren Buffett]] in [[HBO]]'s economic drama ''[[Too Big to Fail (film)|Too Big to Fail]]'' (2011).<ref>{{cite web|first=Katya |last=Wachtel |date=May 13, 2011 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/too-big-too-fail-cast-2011-5 |title=Too Big to Fail: the Cast |work=Business Insider |access-date=August 29, 2021}}</ref> In 2013, he guest starred as Mr. Finger in ''[[The Crazy Ones]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/crazy-ones-ed-asner-1071497/ |title=Exclusive: Ed Asner Heads to The Crazy Ones |publisher=TV Guide |date= |access-date=August 30, 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Ed Asner 2015.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Asner at the 2015 [[Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration]] Awards]]
Asner also provided voice-over narration for many documentaries and films about social activism, including ''Tiger by the Tail'', a documentary film detailing the efforts of [[Eric Mann (civil rights organizer)|Eric Mann]] and the Campaign to keep [[General Motors]]' [[Van Nuys Assembly|Van Nuys assembly plant]] running.<ref>{{cite AV media | people=Goldman, Michael (Director) |year=1986 | title=Tiger by the Tail| medium=Motion picture | location=Los Angeles }}</ref> He also recorded for a public radio show and podcast, ''[[Playing On Air]]'', appearing in [[Warren Leight]]'s ''The Final Interrogation of Ceaucescu's Dog'' with [[Jesse Eisenberg]], and [[Mike Reiss]]'s ''New York Story.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://playingonair.org/2015/01/07/episode-12-a-dog-and-a-cat/|title=A Dog and a Cat: Two Short Plays|date=January 7, 2015|website=Playing On Air|access-date=August 4, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617082453/https://playingonair.org/2015/01/07/episode-12-a-dog-and-a-cat/|archive-date=June 17, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://playingonair.org/2014/12/08/ed-asner/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808174349/https://playingonair.org/2014/12/08/ed-asner/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 8, 2016|title=Ed Asner|date=December 8, 2014|website=Playing On Air|access-date=August 4, 2016}}</ref> Asner was the voice-over narrator for the 2016 documentary ''Behind the Fear: The Hidden Story of HIV'', directed by Nicole Zwiren, a controversial study on the [[AIDS]] debate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindthefear.com|title=Behind the Fear, the hidden story of HIV|website=BehindTheFear.com|access-date=November 24, 2017}}</ref> A 2014 documentary titled ''My Friend Ed,'' directed by Sharon Baker, focused on the actor's life and career. It won Best Short Documentary at the [[New York City Independent Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/new-jersey/article/Ed-Asner-More-Wrap-Up-2015-Garden-State-Film-Festival-20150326 |title=Ed Asner & More Wrap Up 2015 Garden State Film Festival |date=March 26, 2015 |website=BroadwayWorld |access-date=September 22, 2020 }}</ref> During interviews for a 2019 book on the history of Chicago theater, Asner told the author he preferred to be credited for his work as "Edward" rather than "Ed" because he felt the longer name held the page or screen better.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://chicagoreader.com/arts-culture/forever-ed-asner/ |title=Forever Ed Asner |date=September 8, 2021 |newspaper=[[Chicago Reader]] |first=Mark |last=Larson |access-date=May 11, 2022 }}</ref>

In 2018, Asner was cast in the [[Netflix]] dark comedy, ''[[Dead to Me (TV series)|Dead to Me]]'', which premiered on May 3, 2019. The series also stars [[Christina Applegate]], [[Linda Cardellini]], and [[James Marsden]]. Asner also had a recurring guest role in the 2018–present series ''[[Cobra Kai]]'', portraying [[Johnny Lawrence (character)|Johnny Lawrence]]'s step-father, Sid Weinberg, in seasons one and three.<ref name=cobrakai>{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/cobra-kai-legendary-ed-asner-remembered-series-creators-and-cast-1234823974/ |title='Cobra Kai': Ed Asner Remembered By Series Creators And Cast |date=August 29, 2021 |work=Deadline |first=Rosy |last=Codero |access-date=September 4, 2021}}</ref> A memorial tribute to Asner preceded the credits in Cobra Kai season 4, episode 1, "Let's Begin". In 2020 he guest starred in an episode of the eleventh and final season of ''[[Modern Family]]'' and in 2021 played himself in a sketch on ''[[Let's Be Real]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/08/29/emmy-winner-ed-asner-dies-lou-grant-elf-up/4138015001/ |title=Ed Asner dies: TV's Lou Grant, 'Elf,' 'Up' star, 91, won seven Emmys |work=USA Today |date= |access-date=August 30, 2021}}</ref> The 2019 feature documentary by Kurt Jacobsen and Warren Leming entitled ''Ed Asner: On Stage and Off'' premiered at the American Documentary Film Festival in Palm Springs, which Asner attended,<ref>{{cite web |title=Ed Asner Speaks in Palm Springs 2019 |work=Palm Springs Life |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVvHrhxreFo|access-date=September 8, 2021 |date=August 29, 2021 |via=YouTube }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |year=2019 |title=Ed Asner: On Stage and Off. A documentary Portrait |url=https://edasnerdocumentary.yolasite.com |access-date=September 8, 2021 |website=EdAsnerDocumentary |author=Cold Chicago Productions }}</ref> and since screened at a dozen more festivals, including a European premiere at the Oxford International Film Festival.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}} In 2013, he played Santa in ''Christmas on the Bayou''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://africa.businessinsider.com/10-actors-who-have-played-santa-claus-in-movies/221zbdt?op=1 |title=10 actors who have played Santa Claus in movies |date=December 19, 2018 |work=Business Insider: Africa |first=Zoë |last=Miller |access-date=October 8, 2021}}</ref>

Beginning in 2016, Asner took on the role of [[Holocaust survivor]] Milton Salesman in [[Jeff Cohen (playwright and theater director)|Jeff Cohen]]'s acclaimed play ''[[The Soap Myth]]'' in a reading at [[Lincoln Center]]'s Bruno Walter Theatre in New York City.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2016/05/02/soap-myth-reading-jeff-cohen-play-celebration-holocaust-remembrance-day |title=The Soap Myth: A reading of the Jeff Cohen play in celebration of Holocaust Remembrance Day |date=May 2, 2016 |website=[[New York Public Library]] |access-date=October 3, 2020 }}</ref> He subsequently toured for the next three years in "concert readings" of the play in more than a dozen cities across the United States.<ref>{{cite web|author=<!--Not stated-->|title=Ed Asner Sticks with THE SOAP MYTH for Tour|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/Ed-Asner-Sticks-with-THE-SOAP-MYTH-for-Tour-20190417|access-date=October 17, 2020|website=Broadway World|language=en}}</ref> In 2019, PBS flagship station [[WNET]] filmed the concert reading at New York's [[Center for Jewish History]] for their [[All Arts]] channel. The performance, which is available for free, world-wide live-streaming, co-stars [[Tovah Feldshuh]], [[Ned Eisenberg]], and Liba Vaynberg.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/video/the-soap-myth-xplvfu/ |title=The Soap Myth |date=January 26, 2020 |publisher=PBS |access-date=October 3, 2020 }}</ref>

In the week before his death, Asner told his frequent collaborators, [[Greg Palast]] and Leni Badpenny, that he soon would be doing three one-act plays.<ref name=Palast/>

=== 2021–present: Posthumous releases ===
Asner had completed several roles in a number of TV series and films at the time of his death in August 2021, including three of his final productions released posthumously on the [[Disney+]] streaming service. He returned to reprise his voice role as Carl Fredricksen from the [[Pixar]] film ''[[Up (2009 film)|Up]]'' in the Disney+ animated miniseries of shorts ''[[Dug Days]]'' (2021), which was the first to premiere, just three days after his death. Asner's cameo appearance as the Ghost of Claude in the Halloween special ''[[Muppets Haunted Mansion]]'' (2021) was posthumous, and he provided the voice of Grandpa Heffley in the Disney+ animated film adaptation ''[[Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2022 film)|Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules]]'' (2022), released over a year after his death. The final short film in the ''Dug Days'' series, ''[[Carl's Date]]'', which includes Asner's recorded voice-over performance as Carl Fredricksen, did not premiere on Disney+, but it was released separately in theaters along with the Pixar animated feature film ''[[Elemental (2023 film)|Elemental]]'' on June 16, 2023, nearly two years after his death and also served as the finale of the ''Up'' franchise. These were Asner's last acting works overall for Disney and were all dedicated to his memory.

Asner also appeared posthumously in ''Deadly Draw'' (2023), ''A Fargo Christmas Story'' (2023), and ''[[Altered Reality (film)|Altered Reality]]'' (2024). At least two other projects, which would include Asner's final film roles, have yet to announce release dates: ''Scarlett'' (a television drama film)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slenk |first=Austin |date=2021-09-18 |title=Ed Asner's Last Role Is in 'Muppets Haunted Mansion' Special |url=https://collider.com/ed-asner-final-role-muppets-haunted-mansion-special/ |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref> and ''Unplugged'' (an animated film).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://evanstonnow.com/filmmaker-plugs-into-evanston-to-produce-unplugged/ |title=Filmmaker plugs into Evanston to produce 'Unplugged' |date=December 30, 2021 |website=Evanston Now |first=Jeff |last=Hirsch |access-date=May 29, 2024}}</ref>