Health Care for All – California wishes to extend our condolences to the family and close friends of Ed Asner. His lifetime of progressive activism included staunch support for single payer health care, and HCA is grateful to the special role he played in our history.
On 1 April 2006, Ed was the emcee for the HCA-sponsored “April Faux Premiere” fundraiser, which was held at the Motion Picture Grips & Craft Services Local 80 soundstage in Burbank. Over 600 people attended event. In addition to Ed, the program featured performances by Lily Tomlin, Ed Begley, Jr., Cindy Williams, Hector Elizondo, and the author of the current single payer legislation, Senate Bill 840,
Sen. Sheila Kuehl.
Over $25,000 was raised that evening, which covered the cost of the production of HCA’s educational film, “California OneCare: Full Care for All for Less.” It can be seen online here.
Three years later, Ed was among nearly 90 entertainers, politicians and activists who made a brief video for HCA to promote single payer. His clip can be seen here.
HCA will always honor the memory of Ed Asner, and we will always think of him as presente!