“FDR would have approved,” said show business legend Ed Asner, as he joined the Gala Host Committee of the 1st Annual Endeavor Awards given to honor and celebrate the heroes of Public Benefit Aviation.
Welcoming Asner, Endeavor Awards Host Committee Chair, Mark Wolper, President and Executive Producer of The Wolper Organization at Warner Bros., said, “The Endeavor Awards Gala will recognize the substantial contributions by aviation to the public good. These awards acknowledge the extraordinary generosity of volunteer pilots across the country who give the gift of flight each year to thousands of children and adults who require treatment at faraway medical centers.”
“I’m pleased to join the Endeavor Awards Gala Host Committee, honoring Public Benefit Aviation and its free gifts of flight to medical treatment for thousands of grateful people in need.”
Asner, winner of Golden Globe and Emmy awards as the famous face of Lou Grant, has been playing someone even more recognizable in his one-man play, “FDR.” Asner, a history buff, has toured the country for nearly four years as the former president, whom he calls a personal hero.
“We certainly know Franklin D. Roosevelt’s signature achievement in leading America out of the Great Depression of the 1930’s,” said Asner. “What most of us do not know is that FDR created the Civil Aeronautics Administration, providing for safe public aviation in this country.”
Other Endeavor Awards Host Committee members include Oscar-winning director, Robert Zemeckis; acrobatic airshow flyer, Sean Tucker; Endeavour Astronaut Scott Parazynski; flying legend Clay Lacy; Dr. Peter Diamandis, Chairman and CEO of XPRIZE; and Alan Dias, Executive Director of Angel Flight West.
About Ed Asner:
Versatile, committed, eloquent and talented are all adjectives that describe actor/activist 7-Time Emmy Award winner, Edward Asner who starred as Carl Fredricksen in Pixar’s 2009 box-office-hit UP!, which won Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Score -Motion Picture, at the 67th Annual Golden Globe® Awards as well as receiving The Outstanding Animated Film Award at the 82nd Oscars.
Most recently, Asner completed a guest star role on the CBS sitcom The Crazy Ones with Robin Williams and just completed starring opposite Joseph Fiennes and Tom Cavanagh in the Disney feature The Games Maker for release in 2014 and also starred opposite Markie Post in the Lifetime telefilm Papa Noel which airs in December.
Asner returned to Broadway in the Fall of 2013 starring in the comedy drama Grace opposite Paul Rudd, Michael Shannon and Kate Arrington written by Craig Wright and directed by Dexter Bullard.
Asner has also been touring the country as Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the critically acclaimed one-man showFDR for nearly 4 years.
Asner also has guest starred in numerous series including a three show arc on the A&E series The Glades, and completed multiple guest star appearances on the CBS primetime series Hawaii Five-O starring Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan where he reprised his role from 25 years ago; and also did a guest spots on TV Land’s Hot In Cleveland with Betty White and the ABC series The Middle starring Patricia Heaton and went on to guest star as Henry Winkler’s father on USA Network’s Royal Pains.
Asner also starred opposite Carol Kane in the upcoming indie feature film Should’ve Been Romeo, a slice of life drama also starring Paul Ben Victor, that just premiered at The Newport Film Festival and is touring festivals across the country. Asner also starred in the indie feature Let Go, a comedy drama in which he portrays an ex-con on parole opposite David Denman, Jack Carter, Garrett Morris directed by Brian Jet who wrote the film, and Elephant Sighs directed by Ed Simpson. He was also featured in the comedy Not Another B Movie directed by John Wesley Norton.
Asner starred in the short film Good Men opposite Mark Rydell (On Golden Pond) directed by Brian Connors and is also touring festivals across the country.
Asner also portrayed Warren Buffet in the critically acclaimed HBO telefilm drama Too Big To Fail starring William Hurt, Paul Giamatti, James Woods, Topher Grace and Tony Shalhoub and directed by Curtis Hanson.
Asner also starred in the CMT primetime sitcom series Working Class as Hank Krasny, the local butcher also starring Melissa Peterman and Patrick Fabian.
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 TV news room comedy The Mary Tyler Moore Show and continued in the newspaper-set drama Lou Grant, which earned him five Emmys and three Golden Globe Awards. Asner received two more Emmy and Golden Globe Awards for the mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man and Roots. His prolific and much honored acting career demonstrates a consummate ability to transcend the line between comedy and drama.
One of the most honored actors in the history of television; Edward Asner has been the recipient of seven Emmy Awards and 16 nominations, as well as five Golden Globe Awards and served as National President of the Screen Actors Guild for two terms. He was inducted into the TV Academy Hall of Fame in 1996. Asner received the Ralph Morgan Award from the Screen Actors Guild in 2000, presented periodically for distinguished service to the Guild’s Hollywood membership. In March 2002, he was again honored by The Guild as the 38th recipient of the prestigious Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment, presented annually to an actor who fosters the highest ideals of the profession.
In 2012, Asner was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Garden State Film Festival, and also honored and received the 2nd Annual Betty White Award for Actors and Others for Animals. In addition to his professional versatility, Asner has consistently served and committed himself to the rights of the working performer in addition to advocating for human rights, world peace, environmental preservation and political freedom. A passionate and informed spokesperson for the causes he supports, Asner is a frequent speaker on labor issues and a particular ally for the acting industry’s older artists. Some of the many honors he has received throughout his career include the Anne Frank Human Rights Award, The Eugene Debs Award, Organized Labor Publications Humanitarian Award, ACLU’s Worker’s Right’s Committee Award and the National Emergency Civil Liberties Award.
Asner has more than 100 TV credits, which include starring in the series Off the Rack, The Bronx Zoo and Thunder Alley. Numerous guest appearances include roles in Curb Your Enthusiasm, ER, Arliss, The Practice and a recurring role on Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip. Besides commercials and numerous books on tape, he has lent his voice to popular cartoon shows such as The Simpsons, Spiderman and Boondocks. Asner’s dozens of motion pictures include They Call Me Mister Tibbs!, Fort Apache the Bronx, JFK, and the European production of Giovanni XXIII – the highest rated television mini-series in the history of Italian TV as well as the box office hit, Elf with Will Farrell and James Caan. Asner has done several Hallmark movies and was nominated for another Emmy for The Christmas Card in addition to his Emmy nominated guest appearance on CSI/NY.
About The Endeavor Awards:
The Endeavor Awards is an annual event honoring the pilots, individuals and support organizations, corporations and government agencies most responsible for providing Public Benefit Aviation. The inaugural Endeavor Awards event will be held on May 4, 2014 at the Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Pavilion in the California Science Center.
About Public Benefit Aviation:
Using their own time and general aviation aircraft, pilot volunteers from the many Public Benefit Aviation organizations help hundreds of people each month, providing health, compassion, and community service.
Note: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt established the Civil Aeronautics Administration, with responsibility for Air Traffic Control, airman and aircraft certification, safety enforcement, and airway development.
About Angel Flight West:
Angel Flight West (AFW) is a 30-year-old organization of volunteer private pilots offering the gift of flight to thousands of stricken children and adults. Along with its commercial airline partners, AFW provides non-emergency air transportation without cost to qualified passengers. Missions flown by AFW include private pilots volunteering their time and donating all expenses to provide access to treatment at faraway medical centers; transporting blood to critically ill patients; flying special needs kids to summer camps; and many more humanitarian missions.