Ed Asner and Mary Tyler Moore starred together on the hit sitcom “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” from 1970 to 1977. Asner played Lou Grant, the tough but lovable newsroom boss, while Moore played Mary Richards, the show’s spunky and independent lead character.
Although their characters had a contentious relationship on the show, the two actors had a powerful off-screen chemistry that lasted long after the show ended.
Asner and Moore became close friends on the set of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and their friendship continued for many years. Asner once described their relationship as being “like brother and sister,” and said that they had a deep respect for each other as actors and as people.
Their friendship was put to the test in the late 1970s, when Asner publicly supported controversial causes, including the Sandinista government in Nicaragua and the Palestine Liberation Organization. Moore, who was a staunch advocate for Israel, publicly disagreed with Asner’s views and the two had a falling out. However, they were eventually able to reconcile their differences and remained close until Moore’s death in 2017.
Asner and Moore’s on-screen chemistry was undeniable, but it was their off-screen friendship that truly cemented their place in television history.
Ed Asner and Mary Tyler Moore first worked together on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” in the 1970s, where they played the lovable curmudgeon Lou Grant and the bubbly Mary Richards, respectively. Their chemistry was undeniable, and they quickly became one of TV’s most beloved on-screen duos.
Off-screen, the two shared a close friendship that lasted for many years. Asner once said that he and Moore “just clicked” when they first met and that they had a “special relationship” that was built on mutual respect and admiration.
However, their relationship was not always without its challenges. Asner was known for his outspoken political views, and his activism sometimes put him at odds with Moore, who preferred to keep her political opinions private.
Despite their occasional disagreements, Asner and Moore remained close until Moore’s death in 2017. Asner spoke at her funeral, where he tearfully remembered their time together on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and praised her as a “visionary” who had changed the television industry forever.
Their powerful off-screen chemistry was a testament to the magic that can happen when two talented performers come together and create something truly special.
Ed Asner and Mary Tyler Moore both had complicated personal lives outside of their on-screen chemistry. Asner was married twice before meeting Moore, and he later married a third time. He also had a son with his first wife and three children with his second wife.
Moore was married three times, with her first two marriages ending in divorce. She had one child with her second husband and struggled with alcoholism throughout her life. Despite their personal struggles, both actors remained close friends until Moore’s death in 2017. Asner was one of the speakers at Moore’s memorial service and called her “a great lady and a dear friend.”
Ed Asner passed away on August 29, 2021, while Mary Tyler Moore passed away on January 25, 2017.
