Actor Ed Asner is probably best known as the gruff newsman Lou Grant, a role he played on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and the self-titled spin-off.
A new generation knows him as Carl the balloon salesman, in the animated film, "Up".
This week, Vermonters can see Asner perform in the one-man show, "FDR", which is being performed in St. Johnsbury and Burlington.
The play follows Franklin Delano Roosevelt through his White House years, and is based on actual writings, speeches and archival material.
VPR’s Neal Charnoff spoke with Ed Asner by phone from his office in Los Angeles.
Note: "FDR" will be performed Wednesday at Fuller Hall in St Johnsbury, and Saturday at the Flynn Center in Burlington.