Even though Ed Asner is instantly recognizable and needs no introduction, the first thing I thought when I saw him while coming out of the restroom during the intermisson of the October 2, 2005 presentation of the reading of Casablanca was “wow, that guy waiting in line to get in the bathroom kind of looks like Ed Asner.” Then I thought to myself – “hey, are you remembering that you are standing in the heart of Hollywood?” Asner wasn’t in the production, but was merely there to enjoy it – and he had to wait in line to use the restroom like everybody else, including TV writer and frequent Hollywood Square Bruce Vilanch.
I didn’t have anything for Mr. Asner to sign, but it didn’t matter. I had gotten multiple autographs of him through the mail back in 1998 and 99 by writing him a couple of times and sending along photos. He was a most generous signer through the mail, sending along two recent portrait in addition to signing my photos.
My cast shot from The Mary Tyler Moore Show
He warned me not to mess with him on this shot from Roots, and I didn’t…
The first portrait he sent to me
The second promo shot he sent me, from his current-at-that-time series The Closer
I didn’t bother the former Lou Grant and Roots slavedriver while he was in the waiting line for the restroom. But I did grab him after the show and when he was waiting around the paparazzi area, seeing if anyone noticed him. I did – even if no else made a fuss. Jimmy snapped a photo of the two of us together.
This concludes the encounters of celebrites roaming the Casablanca play.
Return to the show here…
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