At the age of 91, Ed Asner passed away on August 29. His career spanned 71 years, putting him in numerous big moments in entertainment, from foundational jobs like The Mary Tyler Moore Show to recent beloved projects like Up. As a result, countless celebrities are mourning the loss of Ed Asner.
Twitter is now flooded with tributes and memories revolving around the Lou Grant actor. He stayed working to the end, which has resulted in members of the Hollywood family from across generations having stories to tell about him.
Celebrities honor the way Ed Asner impacted their lives
Reading the tributes from celebrities honoring Ed Asner is rather like stepping through a time machine. Maureen McCormick of The Brady Bunch wrote that she is “heartbroken” over the death of her “sweet, kind and dear friend Ed. You made and will continue to make this world a better place.” She shared a two of them embracing and smiling at the camera.
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A great man…a great actor… a great life. Thank you Mr. Asner. #RIP 💔 pic.twitter.com/ncYOkODs3f
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) August 29, 2021
Mark Hamill of Star Wars fame also worked on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, where Asner himself left such a sizable impression as Lou Grant, also paid his respects to his former colleague. He called him a “great man” and a “great actor” who led a “great life” before thanking him and hoping that Asner might be able to rest peacefully.
Ed Asner was a fine man and a great actor. He was tough in the ways that count and suffered no fools. I acted with him just once and knew how lucky I was to do so. A hero. Rest in peace, Ed.
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) August 29, 2021
Those who might not recognize Asner by face – whether by makeup or a voice acting role – likely heard his voice over the years. First, he worked with actor and screenwriter Michael McKean on the 1999 stop-motion cartoon Snowden’s Christmas. To commemorate this, McKean took to social media and shared, “Ed Asner was a fine man and a great actor. He was tough in the ways that count and suffered no fools. I acted with him just once and knew how lucky I was to do so. A hero. Rest in peace, Ed.”
Still beloved across generations
Asner may have gotten his start in 1950, but he stayed relevant in the hearts of celebrities and viewers across generations. In 2018, he acted alongside Denis O’Hare in The Parting Glass, inspiring O’Hare to write, “One of the joys of my life was having Ed Asner as my Dad. He kindly said yes to doing my first screenplay. It was a crazy shoot and he showed up every day ready to go. He loved being an actor and I loved him.”
Devastated to hear this news. What a legend. What a beautiful human and special friend. I learned so much from him. My love and deepest condolences to the Asner family #RIP Dear Ed @TheOnlyEdAsner 💔 🙌🏼 https://t.co/5pfDJuMR2t
— William Zabka (@WilliamZabka) August 29, 2021
In May 2018, YouTube Red rekindled the rivalry between karate students Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence in Cobra Kai, a series that cast Asner as the gruff, uncaring stepfather to Lawrence, played once again by William Zabka. “Devastated to hear this news,” Zabka wrote on Twitter. “What a legend. What a beautiful human and special friend. I learned so much from him. My love and deepest condolences to the Asner family #RIP Dear Ed @TheOnlyEdAsner.”
He played one of the best characters in television history. I was honored that I got to work with him, a fellow Kansas Citian, on Modern Family. Rest In Peace, sir. https://t.co/oIt3veo6YP
— Eric Stonestreet (@ericstonestreet) August 29, 2021
In 2020, Asner performed on Modern Family as Herschel Braverman in the episode “Dead on Arrival.” Series co-star Eric Stonestreet took to Twitter to say of Asner, “He played one of the best characters in television history. I was honored that I got to work with him, a fellow Kansas Citian, on Modern Family. Rest In Peace, sir.” It is clear Asner lived an impactful career that touched the lives of countless celebrities and viewers alike in an unprecedented unifying experience.
