ED ASNER is an American actor best known as gruff-but-lovable newsman Lou Grant, who debuted on the television sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

 

Synopsis

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 15, 1929, actor Ed Asner got his big break when he landed the part of gruff newsman Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. When that popular sitcom ended, Asner continued with the drama spin-off Lou Grant. He won Emmy Awards for both shows. Asner's voice also starred in many animated features, including Pixar's Up. He served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1981-85.

Early Life

Actor Ed Asner was born Edward David Asner on November 15, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri. For more than a decade, Asner delighted television audiences with his portrayal of the tough, grumbling, but ultimately lovable newsman Lou Grant. This award-winning actor started on his chosen career path in college, appearing in productions at the University of Chicago.

After serving in the U.S. Army's Signal Corps in the early 1950s, Asner moved to New York to pursue an acting career. While he landed a few stage roles and made some television appearances, his career didn't really take off until he landed a part on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-77). The situation comedy followed the life of Mary Richards—played by Mary Tyler Moore—a professional woman in her 30s working in TV news in Minneapolis. The show was groundbreaking for its time, showing an independent woman focused on her career. Asner played her boss, Lou Grant, a tough producer who, despite his hard facade, was more of a teddy bear than a grizzly bear. Audiences adored his portrayal of the character, along with reviewers and peers as well.

Asner was nominated for an Emmy Award seven times for his work on the show, winning the award three times—in 1971, 1972 and 1975. Though still popular, the series ended in 1977. During its final episode, most members of the TV station's news staff were fired after new management took over.

Lou Grant Lives On

While The Mary Tyler Moore Show was finished, the character of Lou Grant lived on. He moved to Los Angeles to become the city editor for a Los Angeles newspaper on the dramatic series Lou Grant (1977-82). Asner's character often went head-to-head with the newspaper's publisher, Margaret Pynchon, played by Nancy Marchand. While the show had its share of lighter moments, it took on many important issues, including gun control and child abuse.

In the later years of the series, Asner became known for speaking out on numerous social and political topics, especially in opposition to the U.S. involvement in Central America. The show was canceled in 1982, reportedly due to poor ratings, while some—including Asner—have speculated that the actor's activism may have influenced the decision to end the series.

More Television Roles

While it may have lost some of its audience over the years, Lou Grant remained a critical success, winning the Emmy Award for outstanding drama series in both 1979 and 1980. Asner was nominated for outstanding lead actor in a drama series every year the show was on the air, taking home the Emmy Award twice—first in 1978 and again in 1980.

Throughout the rest of the 1980s and '90s, Asner worked on a variety of projects. He returned to TV a number of times, making appearances on Hearts Afire (1992-93) with John Ritter, Thunder Alley (1994-95) with Haley Joel Osment and The Closer (1998) with Tom Selleck. He also appeared on The Practice (1997-04) and held a regular role on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006-07). In 2011, he returned as the star of his own show, Working Class (2011). In this Country Music Television original series, Asner starred as a butcher who befriends a struggling single mom.

Big-Screen Work

Asner has also brought his talents to feature films, including a comic turn as Santa Claus in the 2003 comedy Elf, starring opposite Will Farrell. In 2007, the actor garnered an Emmy Award nomination for his work on the TV movie The Christmas Card.

Over the years, Asner has also lent his trademark voice to a number of animated series, including Fish Police (1992), The Magic School Bus (1994-98) and Spider-Man (1994-98). Perhaps most notably, in 2009, he did voiceover work for the award-winning Pixar film Up.

In addition to his acting work, Asner served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1981-85.

ACTIVISM and 9-11

Asner signed a statement released by the organization 9/11 Truth in 2004 that calls for a new investigation into the September 11 attacks. A brief summary of the reasons for his position appears in a video available on YouTube.  Asner confirmed his support for the statement in 2009. Asner also narrated the documentary film The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror.

Asner served as the spokesman for 2004 Racism Watch. In April 2004, he wrote an open letter to "peace and justice leaders" encouraging them to demand "full 9-11 truth" through the organization 9-11 Visibility Project. In 2011, Asner hosted the Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth documentary on the collapse of 7 World Trade Center that concludes that the building was taken down by controlled demolition.

Tom T. Moore is an award-winning author, speaker, and is in the entertainment business, where for over 25 years he has been president and CEO of his own international motion picture and TV program distribution business, based in Dallas, Texas. During this time, he has traveled extensively as part of his business duties to international film markets held in Cannes, France, Milan, Italy, Los Angeles, California and Budapest, Hungary.

He is the author of four books: The Gentle Way: A Self-Help Guide For Those Who Believe in Angels, The Gentle Way II: The Story Continues, THE GENTLE WAY III: Master your life, and FIRST CONTACT: Conversations With An ET (ISBN #s 978 1-891824-60-0, 978-1-891824-80-7, 978-1-891824-80-7, 978-1-622330-05-8 Light Technology) Visit his website at www.TheGentleWayBook.com.

The Gentle Way books provide a simple, yet powerful tool for everyday use that is a giant step forward from The Law of Attraction, and include hundreds of stories sent to Mr. Moore from all over the world from people living The Gentle Way. In 2014 Tom was voted Best Self-Help Author by the readers of Health & Happiness Magazine.

FIRST CONTACT: Conversations With An ET details Mr. Moore's telepathic communications with his "brother on another planet," who's part of a "first contact" team coming to earth in 2017.

Before becoming an international film distributor, Mr. Moore owned and operated, with his wife, an international wholesale tour company, selling tours through 3,000 travel agents nationwide. That business began out of his first successful venture, a ski club for single adults, which grew to be the largest snow ski club in Texas. Mr. Moore is still an avid skier, and loves to ski both in the United States and Canada, and Europe.

Mr. Moore graduated with a BBA in Finance from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, and served in the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant. He is a native of Dallas, Texas, is married, and has two children.

Paola Leopizzi Harris (Italy/Europe/Vatican)

is an Italo-American photojournalist and investigative reporter in the field of extraterrestrial related phenomena research.  She is also a widely published free-lance writer, especially in Europe.  She has studied extraterrestrial related phenomena since 1979 and is on personal terms with many of the leading researchers in the field.  From 1980-1986 she assisted Dr. J. Allen Hynek with his UFO investigations and has interviewed many top military witnesses concerning their involvement in the government truth embargo.

In 1997, Ms. Harris met and interviewed Col. Philip Corso in Roswell, New Mexico and became apersonal friend and confidante.  She was instrumental in having his book The Day After Roswell, for which she wrote the preface, translated into Italian.  She consequently brought Colonel Corso to Italy for the editorial group Futuro, publisher of Il Giorno Dopo Roswell, and Corso was present for many TV appearances and two conferences. She returned to Roswell in the summer of 2003 for the American debut of her book, Connecting the Dots; Making Sense of the UFO Phenomenon.

Because of her international perspective on extraterrestrial related phenomena, Paola has consulted with many researchers about the best avenues for planetary disclosure with emphasis on the “big picture” and stressing the historical connection.  She is a close friend of Monsignor Padre Corrado Balducci and assisted in filming the Italian witnesses, including the Monsignor, for the Disclosure Project for the May 9, 2001 press conference.  She was instrumental in bringing to Italy Robert Dean, Dr. Steven Greer, Linda Moulton Howe, Dr. Richard Boylan, Russell Targ, Travis Walton, Derrell Sims, Helmut Lamner, Michael Lindemann, Nick Pope, Bill Hamilton, Ryan Wood, Carlos Diaz and Dr. John Mack.  Her new non-profit association, Starworks Italia, will continue to bring speakers to Italy and promote disclosure and exo-political dialogue world-wide.

She has a regular column in Area 51 UFO Magazine, has written for Nexus, Australia, Notizario UFO and Dossier Alieni, among others publications.

Paola lives in Rome and Boulder, Colorado and has a Masters degree in Education.  She teaches history and photojournalism and On-line classes in Exopolitics for Dr. Michael Salla’s Exopolitics Institute for which she is the International liaison director.

Chris Grosso is a public speaker, writer, spiritual director of Tovio by Advocacy Unlimited, teacher with the Worldwide Insight Organization, and author of Indie Spiritualist: A No Bullshit Exploration of Spirituality (Beyond Words/Simon & Schuster) and Everything Mind: What I’ve Learned About Hard Knocks, Spiritual Awakening and the Mind-Blowing Truth of it All (Sounds True). He writes for ORIGIN Magazine, Huffington Post, and Mantra Yoga + Health Magazine, and has spoken and performed at Wanderlust Festival, Celebrate Your Life, Yoga Journal Conference, Sedona World Wisdom Days, Kripalu, and more.

Chris is passionate about his work with people who are in the process of healing or struggling with addictions of all kinds. He speaks and leads groups in detoxes, yoga studios, rehabs, youth centers, 12-step meetings, hospitals, conferences, and festivals worldwide. He is a member of the advisory board for Drugs over Dinner and hosts The Indie Spiritualist Podcast on The Mindpod Network.

Warrior, poet, author, artist, consultant to film and TV documentaries, interfaith minister/chaplain, motivational speaker, workshop facilitator, meditation teacher and non-paid Veteran advocate and lobbyist. He’s counseled several thousand veterans over the past three decades and been recognized by the US Congress and the State of California for his tireless assistance to veterans and their families dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The story telling and poetry writing of ancient spiritual warriors has a long tradition in bygone eras. The Vietnam War was no different, providing a long creative experience for this author. The poetry and stories in his many books are a direct result of Bill McDonald’s own experiences during that part of his life. Bill McDonald served in Vietnam in 1966-67. He was a crew chief/door-gunner on Huey helicopters (UH-1D) with the 128th Assault Helicopter Company. Bill was awarded numerous medals, including The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Bronze Star, and multiple Air Medals. Because he was wounded during several helicopter shoot-downs, he was awarded the Purple Heart.



He has an AA degree from San Jose City College, and a BA degree from the University of San Francisco. He went back to Vietnam in 2002, with a small group known as “The Peace Patrol” to a warm welcome from his former enemies. He wrote about that experience in 2003 in his first book A Spiritual Warrior’s Journey.

His other book 'WARRIOR: A Spiritual Odyssey' is told by a true warrior. In the book " . . .Rev. Bill  recounts his spiritual journey in selected stories through a life which began with a seemingly unending dysfunctional childhood, included an astonishing tour of duty in Vietnam, and then opened into one of the widest benevolent lives ever. His entire existence has been lived out under a spiritual umbrella that keeps him safe no matter how powerful the storm. Not afraid to go out into the rain, Rev. Bill’s humility, integrity, loyalty, faith and courage is expressed through his every move. His investment in recounting events provides all readers to experience places they’ve only dreamed about. The situations allow reflective readers to parallel the events to their own lives. And in the end, each reader will stand with him at Machu Picchu, Peru and begin his or her own odyssey. In effect this book is a road map to Rev. Bill’s personal, spiritual and emotional destination. Metaphorically the ‘map’ is on the seat of his pickup. When you begin the book he’s essentially handing you the keys and offering you the opportunity to experience his route, after which you’ll be able to tweak your own map." Available on Amazon.

Many of his poems and stories are published in national publications including Parade Magazine (10/06/02), and Self-Realization Fellowship magazine’s summer 1998 edition. Bill is featured in the book God in the Foxhole by Charles W. Sasser (2012), Divine Moments: Ordinary People Having Spiritually Transformative Experiences, by Nancy  Clark (2012), Stories of Faith and Courage from the Vietnam War (Battlefields & Blessings) by Larkin Spivey (2011), Silent Battlefields, by The Military Writers Society of America (2012 member anthology), and others.

He was also part of a documentary film crew that recorded interviews across the country in the fall of 2002, dealing with the effects of the Vietnam War and the Huey helicopter experience called, In The Shadow of The Blade. The film premiered at the LBJ Presidential Library on November 8, 2003 in Austin, Texas. He has since produced, or been a part of four other documentary films that have been shown on PBS TV, The Pentagon Television Network and The Military Channel. He is currently working on a DVD about his healing and spiritual trip back to Vietnam in 2002.



His autobiography entitled A Spiritual Warrior’s Journey, discusses his life experiences, not only in Vietnam, but both before and afterwards . It is his spiritual experiences and the supernatural events that surrounds his life that makes his writing totally unique amongst writers. He is currently working on a follow-up to A Spiritual Warrior’s Journey which deals with a near-death experience that occurred in 2004 in the mountains of India when he fell off a 30 foot sloping cliff. He landed on a large rock looking up at the blue sky. He had no heartbeat or respiration. He drifted away from his own physical body and was looking down at himself on the rock. Then a large cobra snake crawled across his feet, but that is an another story he can tell you if you ask.



Bill is an internationally known inspirational and motivational speaker. He has been an advocate for veteran’s rights and the treatment of PTSD veterans. He is also a chaplain and minister for many non-profit groups and organizations. He speaks to various spiritual organizations across the country about yoga, ESP, angels, NDEs, healing powers, and psychic abilities.



His web site, has had over 30 million visitors since 1998 and continues to be among the most visited of its genre on the internet.

His acclaimed poetry book Purple Hearts deals with poetry from the Vietnam War and is available to organizations to sell for fund raising. His award winning poetry book “Sacred Eye – Poetry in Search of the Divine” won a $25,000 marketing and promotional award from Booksurge Publisher (March 2004).



Bill works with several non-profit foundations doing projects for the people of Vietnam and for the vision of world peace. He also helps veterans and their families through his support network and other PTSD organizations.



He is the founder of two of the biggest author organizations in north America – The Military Writer’s Society of America (MWSA) http://www.mwsadispatches.com/ and The American Author’s Association (AAA).



Bill has appeared and been interviewed on various issues and subject matters by over 300 radio and TV stations and newspapers since 2001.



Bill was born in San Francisco, California and was raised on the west coast – living in California, Oregon, and Hawaii. He was a surfer, SCUBA Diver Instructor, and Lifeguard in his early days. Spent over 30 years in management with the USPS and retired in early 2001 as a Safety Manager. He now lives with his wife of 45 years in Elk Grove, California. He has two adult children and six grandchildren. He used to spend part of each year away in India at an ashram in the jungles outside of Pune. But recent health issues have keep his travels within the USA – were he takes off for several months on the road helping non-profit organizations and promoting events and other authors. If you, or your organization, needs to connect with him he can be reached at:

Bill McDonald

Spiritual Warrior Productions

Post Office Box 2441

Elk Grove, CA 95759-2441

Email Address: Angelnet@surewest.net

Sonja is originally from Vienna, Austria and now lives in the Chicago area. A student of Astrology for well over 20 years, she has been a member of the National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR) since 1997, receiving her NCGR Level 1 certification in 2005.

She has written monthly Horoscopes for MahalayaLife.com and the online magazine "Urban CampFire". She has been interviewed for her astrological insight on several internet radio shows, including "A Charmed Life", "The Reality Manifest Show" and "That's the Beauty of it All". She was also a guest on "Astrology, Numerology Now" -- a TV show hosted by Z Starman. In addition, she was the host of her own (fully sponsored) Astrology show on BiteSizeTV until July 2013. 

Her passion is for connecting with people and helping them transform their lives. This led her to train as a life coach, in addition to her lifelong study of astrology. She currently serves dozens of clients across several continents, via Skype and phone.

She currently also enjoys sharing her online Soul-Based Astrology curriculum, as well as teaching her in-person “Soul Journey” courses all over the world. 

To learn more about Sonja’s service and get great free content, visit her online at Facebook/AstrologerCoach.SonjaFrancis

On either sites you will find her regular Astrology forecasts -- written and video -- and a link to her twitter feed.

I'm a decluttering and organizational expert. I've learned that most of us struggle with getting and staying organized because we're stuck in the energies of fear, shame and guilt. By learning easy, simple strategies and using small, self love based decisions on what we like, use and need in our life – we can then start to take stock in what we really have and even come to an understanding of why we are have it and then we will finally be able to let go of what no longer serves us without it causing us stress and aggravation. I've found that using this strategy allows people to let go more easily, make smarter decisions for themselves and there is an increase in productivity, contentment and energy. 

-Make smarter decisions quicker and more easily that are for your best and highest good.

-Increase your energy, productivity and contentment levels

-Learn how to make your life easier and less stressful.

Alison Kero grew up with 2 different organizational styles being modeled to her. One parent was precision neat while the other was a pack rat. Through her teenage and college years Alison lived more like her pack rat parent but when she became an adult and started living on her own, she searched for ways to easily get and stay organized.

When Alison became an organizer in 2004, she constantly searched for ways to make her clients lives and her own, easier through organization. However, minor amounts of clutter always tended to creep up in Alison's life, which she found frustrating and kind of exhausting. Finally Alison had a major "ah-ha Oprah moment" after reading a book about tidying up. She realized that using self love as her decision making tool she could create her best possible living space filled only with what she liked, used and needed. It was the only way to ensure the outcome would be life transforming because she realized she was now only seeing good things in her home and life and she was beginning to find herself underneath some of the clutter. By first using self love in her organizing process, Alison was then able to transfer those same easy and simple techniques into all decisions she made in her life. Whether it was who to spend time with, what activities she chose or objects she brought home, Alison had found that many parts of her life were beginning to improve because of her self-love decision making; increased energy, productivity and overall contentment were just a part of what she's been seeing show up ever since.

Throughout her career she has been fortunate enough to be invited to appear on the Dr. Oz Show, the CBS Morning Show and the Mike Huckabee Show as well as several YouTube channel shows. Since embarking upon her adventure as an entrepreneur, Alison has been sought after as an organization and productivity blogger for Manilla.com and has also been interviewed by the NY Times, CNN.com, US News & World Report and many other online publications for her expert opinions. She also wrote her first book, "How to Fail at Business" which shares lessons she learned owning her first business in 2011 and is toying with writing a new book.

Alison combines organization, interior design and feng shui to help her clients create a space that truly defines who they are while creating a workable system to help them continue to achieve their goals. Alison recognizes there are myriad solutions when it comes to creating an organized life so by listening to her clients she can help them identify what's holding them back and keepining them stuck while developing a organizational system solution that's tailor made for them.

Thanks for visiting ACK! Organizing and when you're ready to create positive change in your life, drop me a line.  -- Cheers, Alison Kero

Maureen McEvoy, MA, RCC has been in private practice for more than 20 years. She works with individuals, couples and groups. She counsels clients who have experienced trauma, either recent or historical. She is certified in trauma modalities such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy (DMNS). Other approaches include art therapies, hypnosis and mindfulness.

She also works with couples using Imago Relationship therapy. She is an Advanced Imago clinician (1996) and a Certified Workshop presenter of the Getting the Love You Want weekend workshop based on the work of Harville Hendrix.

Maureen believes that each of us is able to be the author of our own lives, and that we have an inborn urge to grow towards our full potential. She sees her role in counselling to provide an environment of safety, witnessing, reflection, and support that facilitates such growth. She wishes to guide people to a deeper understanding of themselves and their situation, to befriend their challenges and embrace their strengths. She believes that self-awareness and self-acceptance are critical ingredients in order to live a happier and more fulfilling life. Clients experience her as respectful, curious, pragmatic and compassionate.

She also believes that psychological issues can never be reduced to the individual, but are always related to culture, social settings and society. Therefore, problems need to be addressed in context.