Ed Asner, The Actor And Lou Grant, Died At The Age Of 91.

The actor, who played the lead in the Pixar film Up, died "peacefully" on Sunday morning, his family said. "Words cannot express the sadness we feel. With a kiss on the head - good night, dad. We love you."

Lou Grant's character was first introduced as Mary Richards' boss on the Mary Tyler Moore Show in the 1970s. Star Wars actor Mark Hamill, who worked on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, was paying homage to Asner on Twitter.

"Great people... great actors... great life. Thank you, Mr. Asner. #RIP," said Hamill. Comedian Ben Stiller added, "I send love to the great Ed Asner family. An icon because he is a handsome, fun, and candid actor. Nobody likes him."

The character of Lou Grant, the fictional Los Angeles Tribune editor, became a character on his show from 1977 to 1982. 

The role helped Asner earn seven Emmy Awards throughout his career, a record for a male player. In 2009, a new generation of viewers recognized him when he played the old widower Karl Fredriksen in the animated hit Up.

Documentary director Michael Moore shared an anecdote on Twitter about his first interaction with Asner as a tribute to the late actor. Asner was an outspoken supporter of several humanitarian and political causes during her acting career, including trade unions and animal rights.

From 1981 to 1985, he was President of the Screen Actors Guild and was awarded the prestigious Ralph Morgan Union Award in 2000. Asner was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1929 and started school.