Edward Asner was an American actor.

He is primarily known for his role as Lou Grant during the 1970s and early 1980s, on both The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off series Lou Grant, making him one of the few television actors to portray the same leading character in both a comedy and a drama.

Asner was acclaimed for his role in the ABC miniseries Roots, as Captain Davies, the morally conflicted captain of the Lord Ligonier, the slave ship that brought Kunta Kinte to America. That role earned Asner an Emmy Award, as did the similarly dark role of Axel Jordache in the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man.

He is also known for portraying Santa Claus in the comedy film Elf and its animated remake Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas.

He is the most honored male performer in the history of the Primetime Emmy Awards, having won seven.

Asner served two terms as president of the Screen Actors Guild.

Edward Asner was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1996.

Asner died August 29, 2021, in Los Angeles, California. He was 91.