Edgerton Center to Welcome Ed Asner, 9/14

The Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts at Sacred Heart University presents ED ASNER - a Live Interview On Stage in its 2014-2015 American Legend Series at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts on the Campus of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut on Sunday, September 14 (2014) at 3pm.

Acknowledged as is one of the most honored actors in the history of television, Ed Asner's appearance will be in the style of an 'Actors Studio' presentation hosted by Jerry Goehring, Executive Director of The Edgerton Center. In addition to video clips of his career, the afternoon will feature a talkback with Mr. Asner answering questions from the audience.

Asner is returning to Connecticut after a special appearance three years ago in support of efforts to restore the American Shakespeare Theatre, where he was a member of the cast in one of the theatre's early seasons. Asner recalled working with legends of that time, including producer-director John Houseman and such young performers as Nancy Marchand and Sada Thompson, who along with Asner would go on to become top stage and television performers.

Asner is best known for his comedic and dramatic crossover as the gruff but soft-hearted journalist Lou Grant, the role he originated on the landmark television newsroom comedy "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Lou Grant's story continued in the newspaper-set drama "Lou Grant," which earned Asner five Emmys and three Golden Globe Awards...making him one of the few television actors to portray the same leading character in both a comedy and a drama. He received two additional Emmy and Golden Globe Awards for the mini-series "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Roots." In addition, he voiced Carl Fredricksen in the Disney Pixar animated film "Up," for which he received great critical praise for the role, with one critic actually suggesting "They should create a new category for this year's Academy Award for Best Vocal Acting in an Animated Film and name Asneras the first recipient."

Asner has 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 Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.

He has also appeared in such shows as "Royal Pains," "Hot in Cleveland," "Hawaii Five-0" and "Law & Order: SVU," among others.

Asner's most recent Broadway appearance (2012) was in Craig Wright's Grace, co-starring with Paul Rudd, Kate Arrington and Michael Shannon.

As a parent and a grandparent of an autistic child, Asner is deeply involved with the nonprofit organization Autism Speaks. He also serves on the advisory board of a suburban Chicago firm that employs persons with autistic spectrum disorders.

A passionate and informed spokesperson for several causes, Asner is a frequent speaker on labor issues and an ally for some of the acting industry's older artists. He has also provided voice-over narration for many documentaries and films of social activism.