Comic bond at core of autism fundraiser
Actor and son behind auction to help set up permanent centre for family service
Even at age 88, actor Ed Asner still hangs out at the comic-book store with his kid. Last week, the Asners could be spotted at Hollywood’s legendary Golden Apple Comics. But they weren’t shopping.
Instead, the two were promoting an internet comic-art auction to raise funds for The Ed Asner Family Centre.
Founded this year by the actor’s son, Matthew, and daughter-in-law, Navah, the centre offers programmes and education for special-needs children and their families.
The star of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lou Grant and the lead voice in Pixar animated favorite Up, Ed Asner has a son and three grandchildren with autism.
“They’re [all] beautiful people,” the actor noted. “And, at the same time, they need all the help they can get manoeuvring through life. The Family Centre is designed to help them do that.”
Father and son have had a comic-book connection for decades, when the two would buy a couple of new comic books before the elder Asner would take his son to work on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Matthew became a serious comic-art fan, so the idea of an auction to raise funds for a permanent home for the centre came about organically. The pair caught a break when Matthew’s tweet asking for donations got a response and assist by the revered, award-winning comic artist Kevin Nowlan.
“His tenacity helped us to get to some of the greatest artists in the business: Alex Ross, Sam Kieth, Bill Sienkiewicz,” said Matthew. Among auction highlights are rare original cover art from Captain America, Astro City books, as well as three donations from Nowlan himself.
Dad also enjoys comics: “My favourite cartoon . . . was Plastic Man,” Asner recalled. “I adored his sense of humour. He had a great sense of humour. Perhaps that affected me in later years when I tried to develop one.”
Wins for work on Mary and Lou, the role earned Asner a total of seven Emmy awards. But he acknowledged success came at too big a price. “During my career, I stiffed the family. I let them come in second [too often].”
Asner said he deeply regretted not being around for his children, crediting ex-wife Nancy Sykes for Matthew’s successes.
Matthew disagreed: “He likes to tell people he had nothing to do with making me who I am, but he had everything to do with [it]. He instilled a sense of fairness and a sense of fight for the underdog and a sense of really what’s important in life.”
[Plastic Man] had a great sense of humour. Perhaps that affected me in later years when I tried to develop one. Ed Asner