My Interrview With Ed Asner, Who Died Today at 91
Sad news about the death of Ed Asner at the age of 91. He appeared several times at The Kate in Old Saybrook., at Hartford Stage and for a benefit for the American Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford. This piece in The Hartford Courant was from an appearance in 2007
By FRANK RIZZO
Edward Asner is famous for his crust, cynicism and character, so famous that there's even a "Does This Impress Ed Asner?" segment on "The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno."
Asner has a long list of credits in which others can be impressed. He has seven Emmy Awards: three for his role as the tough-yet-tender TV news director Lou Grant in the "Mary Tyler Moore Show," two more for the hourlong show based on that character (transplanted to a big city newspaper), and two for his miniseries work in "Roots" and "Rich Man, Poor Man."
Impressing Asner lately is Emilie Beck's new play, "Number of People," in which Asner will star Saturday in a staged reading as part of Hartford Stage's "Brand:NEW" play reading festival which begins tonight.
The following is an edited telephone interview with the actor, who turns 78 this month, from his Los Angeles home.
Asner: We've done business before, no?
I interviewed you in Boston 18 years ago, when you were doing the Broadway-bound revival of "Born Yesterday" [which also starred Madeline Kahn].
A: We got a great reception in Boston, and then we went down to New York and got our asses kicked - mine especially - all over the place. You've got to think twice about putting your ass on the line to be barbarized like that. The rewards aren't worth it. Oh, God, that was 18 years ago.
Q: We were both so young. I had hair.
A: I had health.
Q: How are you feeling now?
A: I've had numerous hip operations. It's amazing to me that I had to be the one to find out how inadequate bone surgeons are. I have a weakened left leg from five operations, and I need a hip and knee replacement. What I can attest is that I've had three bad doctors. It's a crap shoot, I'll tell you.