The Conversation (0)
Liam O'Dell
Aug 30, 2021
Ed Asner, best known for voicing the adventuring widower Carl Fredricksen in the acclaimed 2009 animation Up, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning – his family have confirmed.
The 91-year-old actor also appeared on The Mary Tylor Moore Show and in 2003, played the role of Santa Claus in the Christmas comedy Elf, starring Will Ferrell.
Writing on Asner’s official Twitter account, his family said: “We are sorry to say that our beloved patriarch passed away this morning peacefully. Words cannot express the sadness we feel.
“With a kiss on your head – goodnight dad. We love you.”
In a statement shared by Pixar on Instagram, and reposted by Disney, the animation company wrote: “Ed was our real life Carl Fredricksen: a veneer of a grouch over an incredibly loving and kind human being. Russell, Dug and all of us at Pixar will miss him terribly.
“Ed loved voicing Carl, and our time working with him will remain some of our most beloved memories. His adventure was ours for a moment in time.”
Celebrities and fans alike also paid tribute to Asner online:
Sending love to The great Ed Asner’s family. An icon because he was such a beautiful, funny and totally honest acto… https://t.co/sNncBTihWm— Ben Stiller (@Ben Stiller) 1630293151
Making my 1st film, Roger & Me, I was broke so I wrote to some famous people to ask for help. Only one responded: E… https://t.co/wRH4joYoBM— Michael Moore (@Michael Moore) 1630264789
Ed Asner was a great friend of The Muppets. Few have ever been as funny, talented, and kind as he was. We will miss him dearly.— The Muppets (@The Muppets) 1630267531
Darn it. He was the best of us. TRULY a great man. Please support the Ed Asner Family Center and Ed’s legacy of go… https://t.co/P2icXWjEF7— Clancy Brown (@Clancy Brown) 1630266066
I had the honor to witness Ed’s generosity and compassion first hand. He was one of a kind and will be sorely misse… https://t.co/TGlnz00WmG— Wanda Sykes (@Wanda Sykes) 1630277012
Finally got a chance to work with the great Ed Asner when he played Granny Goodness on Justice League Action. Crazy… https://t.co/sV9rWkVufA— Kevin Conroy (@Kevin Conroy) 1630284487
@TheOnlyEdAsner Sending love and solidarity, thank you for your service to the working class, Ed https://t.co/g55u2mUQT5— Brett "Solidarity 2022" Banditelli (@Brett "Solidarity 2022" Banditelli) 1630260015
@TheOnlyEdAsner No no no no. 😭😢🥺 Please. This hurts. 💔 This is hurting me but thanks for the adventure, Ed. I prom… https://t.co/gFYbglRWyu— Lauren De Maio (@Lauren De Maio) 1630259462
@TheOnlyEdAsner I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of Ed Asner. My thoughts are with both friends and family at th… https://t.co/CQBzTv7wIu— Lorrie Leaver (@Lorrie Leaver) 1630261295
@TheOnlyEdAsner A good man. "There are genuinely sufficient resources in the world to ensure that no one, nowhere,… https://t.co/Xti5vjsv98— Frank Amari (@Frank Amari) 1630259805
@TheOnlyEdAsner Met him after "Grace" - we didn't ask for a pic, he suggested it. He was so sweet, and had the soft… https://t.co/ThPLZmWGZd— Li'l Kris (@Li'l Kris) 1630260735
@TheOnlyEdAsner Love you Ed. Rest in peace. You were my favorite justice warrior. ❤️ https://t.co/5Yn7HSUwCg— Lydia Cornell (@Lydia Cornell) 1630263887
More information about the Ed Asner Family Center, which supports neurodivergent individuals, can be found on its official website.