Posted by Tony from ? (167.88.192.30) on Friday, October 04, 2002 at 2:13PM :
on Democracy NOW!
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NEWS HEADLINES
Story: SEVEN-TIME EMMY AWARD WINNER AND FORMER
SCREEN ACTOR'S GUILD PRESIDENT ED ASNER TALKS
ABOUT HIS LIFE OF POLITICAL ACTIVISM AND HIS
OPPOSITION TO WAR
On Sunday thousands will gather in New York City, San Francisco, Los
Angeles, Chicago, Seattle and over a dozen cities to oppose an invasion of
Iraq and take the "Not In Our Name" Pledge.
Seven-time Emmy award winning actor Ed Asner, is one of them. Born in
Kansas City in 1929, he started his performance career as an announcer
for his high school radio station. He then moved from stage work in the
fifties to television in the '60s. He won several Emmys for portraying the
character of Mary Tyler Moore's boss Lou Grant in the "Mary Tyler
Moore Show" (1970-1977) and a crusading newspaperman for the
spin-off series "Lou Grant" (1977-1982).
While "Lou Grant" was in production, Asner was twice elected the head of
the Screen Actor's Guild, a position that he frequently used as a forum for
his political opinions notably his opposition to US involvement in Central
America. When Asner suggested that each guild member contribute
toward opposing the country's foreign policy, he clashed with Charlton
Heston, who seized Asner's office from him in a highly publicized power
play. Though no tangible proof has ever been offered, it was Asner's belief
that Lou Grant was canceled in 1982 due to his political beliefs and not
because of dwindling ratings. Asner is outspoken in his opposition to the
Bush Administration and its so-called "war on terror."
-- Tony
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