Ed Asner died this week at 91. On TV, he was the gruff Lou Grant on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." After that show was canceled, he took the character to play a crusading Los Angeles newspaper editor in the eponymous TV show. Off screen, he did more crusading. In 1983, he became president of the Screen Actors Guild. During his tenure, performers who found it hard to get auto insurance found an easier road. Managers who gouged performers were given less of an actor's pie. He was vocal about his disdain for our policy in Central America, and his disdain for then-President Ronald Reagan. He believed that stance was the reason his multi-Emmy Award-winning show was canceled because he raised money to give to the leaders of Central America. One of my favorite soap actors, Dean Santoro (Paul in "As the World Turns"), ran his campaign. Asner was vocal and clearheaded about what he felt unions needed to do for actors. He helped raise actors' minimums, pension and health care. In his own words:

"Our union is our bill of rights. It sets standards for compensation and hours of work, to counter exploitation. It fights for human rights and creative rights, against the forces of bigotry and censorship. It establishes our right to health benefits when we are sick, and pensions when we are old. It provides a redress of grievances when we are abused and gives us a voice that cannot be outshouted by networks or studios. It asserts our right to share in the profits gleaned by our labor."

He was more than a seven-time winning Emmy actor and union leader. He was funny, caring and gruff. One of the best TV lines ever is when he told Mary, "You've got spunk. I hate spunk." I was lucky enough to interview him. Asner, twice divorced, had me laughing, thinking and honored to be in his presence. Nancy Lee Grahn of "General Hospital" took to Twitter to praise him: "Was having lunch at Jinkys in Studio City & #EdAsner was sitting behind me. I turned around & asked if I could join him, he said he'd love nothing better. We talked for 31/2 hrs & his bear hug at the end was in league with my dad's, who was famous 4 his. What a gift he was."

I have an unforgettable story about the actor. He never knew it, but he taught me how not to interview. He was a guest on ABC's morning show. One of the co-hosts was interviewing him. Her tenure was short; I will not mention her name. It was her last hosting job. One of the other guests was a therapist who dealt with guilt. Asner said he thought there was a reason he was on the same show. He said he dealt with guilt his whole life. Oh my God, he opened the door. The obvious question she should have asked was, "Why would you feel guilty?" Instead, she asked, "How much are you like Lou Grant?" Door closed. It was the best lesson I ever had. Stop looking at your notes and listen to the person. Asner was gracious. He did not roll his eyes; he answered the question. Lou Grant would have hit his forehead and said, "You're stupid. I hate stupid."

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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