My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!
Ed Begley Headshot
News Alerts

Ed Begley

Also Credited As: Edward Begley

BIO

Ed Begley was an American actor and environmental activist born on March 25, 1901, in Hartford, Connecticut. He began his acting career in the 1940s, with his first Broadway credit being in the play "Harvey." He went on to appear in several other Broadway productions, including "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "All My Sons."


Begley's success on Broadway led to opportunities in film and television. He appeared in over 200 films and television shows throughout his career, including classics such as "12 Angry Men" and "Sweet Bird of Youth." He also had a recurring role on the popular television series "St. Elsewhere" in the 1980s.

In addition to his acting career, Begley was also a passionate environmental activist. He was one of the first celebrities to advocate for environmental causes, and he often spoke out about the importance of conservation and sustainability. He even built his own home in the 1950s using recycled materials and alternative energy sources.

Begley's commitment to the environment was recognized with several awards and honors, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Sweet Bird of Youth" and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "The Unsinkable Molly Brown."

Begley continued to act well into his 80s, with one of his most notable roles being in the television series "7th Heaven." He passed away on April 28, 1970, at the age of 69.

Overall, Ed Begley was a talented actor who made a significant impact on both the entertainment industry and the environmental movement. His legacy continues to inspire others to this day.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
1969
Dr. Gibbs

[Broadway]
1969
Alexander Hartman

[Broadway]
1960
Orrin Knox

[Broadway]
1960
Frank Friar

[Broadway]
1957
Augustus Randall

[Broadway]
1955
Henry Drummond [Replacement], Matthew Harrison Brady

[Broadway]
1954
Dad

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1947
Joe Keller

[Broadway]
1943
General von Obermann

Movies

Now You See Him, Now You Don't
[ 1972 ] Druffle
Charley and the Angel
[ 1973 ] Derwood Moseby
Showdown
[ 1973 ] Pook
Superdad
[ 1973 ] The Gang
Cockfighter
[ 1974 ] Tom Peeples
Stay Hungry
[ 1976 ] Lester
Record City
[ 1977 ] Pokey
Citizens Band
[ 1977 ] The Priest
The One and Only
[ 1978 ] Arnold - The King
Blue Collar
[ 1978 ] Bobby Joe
Battlestar Galactica
[ 1978 ] Ensign Greenbean
Goin' South
[ 1978 ] Whitey Haber
The In-Laws
[ 1979 ] Barry Lutz
The Concorde... Airport '79
[ 1979 ] Rescuer #1
Hardcore
[ 1979 ] Soldier
Private Lessons
[ 1981 ] Jack Travis
Buddy Buddy
[ 1981 ] Lieutenant #1
An Officer and a Gentleman
[ 1982 ] Altitude Chamber Instructor
Eating Raoul
[ 1982 ] Hippie
Cat People
[ 1982 ] Joe Creigh
Young Doctors in Love
[ 1982 ] The Flhback - Young Simon's Father
Voyager from the Unknown
[ 1982 ] Wilbur Wright
Get Crazy
[ 1983 ] Colin Beverly
Streets of Fire
[ 1984 ] Ben Gunn
Protocol
[ 1984 ] Hsler
This Is Spinal Tap
[ 1984 ] JohnStumpyPepys
Transylvania 6-5000
[ 1985 ] Gil Turner
The Accidental Tourist
[ 1988 ] Charles Leary
She-Devil
[ 1989 ] Bob
Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills
[ 1989 ] Peter Hepburn
Meet the Applegates
[ 1990 ] Richard P. Applegate
Dark Horse
[ 1992 ] Jack Mills
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
[ 1993 ] Rupert
The Pagemaster
[ 1994 ] Alan Tyler
Rave Review
[ 1994 ] Bert
Greedy
[ 1994 ] Carl
Sensation
[ 1994 ] Earl Strauber
Renaissance Man
[ 1994 ] Jack Markin
The Crazysitter
[ 1994 ] Paul Van Arsdale
Storybook
[ 1994 ] Pouch
Santa with Muscles
[ 1996 ] Ebner Frost
Joey
[ 1997 ] Ambsador Ross
Ms. Bear
[ 1997 ] Greg Bradley
The Lay of the Land
[ 1997 ] Harvey Dankworth
I'm Losing You
[ 1998 ] Zev
Best in Show
[ 2000 ] Hotel Manager
Anthrax
[ 2001 ] Brent Krawford
Get Over It
[ 2001 ] Frank Landers
Auto Focus
[ 2002 ] Mel Rosen
Bug
[ 2002 ] The Dept. of Health Inspector /The Hand
Net Games
[ 2003 ] John Fielding
A Mighty Wind
[ 2003 ] Lars Olfen
Going Down
[ 2003 ] Oscar Earnest
Raising Genius
[ 2004 ] Dr. Curly Weeks
Stateside
[ 2004 ] Father Concoff
Back by Midnight
[ 2004 ] Lawyer
Hair High
[ 2004 ] Rev. Sidney Cheddar
Welcome to California
[ 2005 ] Documentary Narrator
Desolation Sound
[ 2005 ] Doug Shepard
The Legend of William Tell
[ 2006 ] James Ayers
The Elder Son
[ 2006 ] Leonard
Relative Strangers
[ 2006 ] Mr. Manoire
For Your Consideration
[ 2006 ] Sandy Lane
Hard Four
[ 2007 ] Governor Begley
One Long Night
[ 2007 ] Joel
Fly Me to the Moon 3D
[ 2007 ] Poopchev
Next of Kin
[ 2008 ] Patrick
Pineapple Express
[ 2008 ] Robert
21 and a Wake-Up
[ 2009 ] Colonel Ritchie
Tripping Forward
[ 2009 ] James - Acting Teacher
Whatever Works
[ 2009 ] John
Fatal Secrets
[ 2009 ] Reverend Vernon
He's Such a Girl
[ 2009 ] Taylor's Father
A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures
[ 2010 ] GreenPeace Worker
The Penthouse
[ 2010 ] Nichol
What's Your Number?
[ 2011 ] Mr. Darling
Little Women, Big Cars
[ 2012 ] Mr. Hughes
Little Women, Big Cars 2
[ 2012 ] Principle Larry
Making Change
[ 2012 ] Simmons
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight
[ 2013 ] Harry Blackmun
Armed Response
[ 2013 ] Officer Krupke
You're Not You
[ 2014 ] Uncle Roger
Mascots
[ 2016 ] A.J. Blumquist
Ghostbusters
[ 2016 ] Ed Mulgrave
Time Toys
[ 2016 ] WilliamWizWisconsin
Lucky
[ 2017 ] Dr. Christian Kneedler
Amelia 2.0
[ 2017 ] Paul Wesley
Girlfriend's Day
[ 2017 ] Rupert
CHIPS
[ 2017 ] Wp Driver
Imperfections
[ 2018 ] Barry
Making Babies
[ 2018 ] Dr. Remis
Book Club
[ 2018 ] Tom
Plus One
[ 2019 ] Chuck
Reboot Camp
[ 2020 ] John Lehman
Amsterdam
[ 2022 ] General Bill Meekins

TV Shows

7th Heaven
Dr. Hank Hastings
Adventures from the Book of Virtues
Alec, William Tell, Soldier
Arrested Development
Stan Sitwell
Battlestar Galactica
Flight Sergeant Greenbean, Ensign Greenbean
Betas
Murch, George Murchison
Better Call Saul
Clifford Main
Big City Greens
Mr. Whistler
Bless This Mess
Rudy
Blunt Talk
Teddy
Boston Legal
Clifford Cabot
Columbo
Irving Krutch, Officer Stein
CSI: Miami
Scott O'Shay
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Dr. Winokur, Dr. Winocur
Easy to Assemble
S. Erland Hussen
Fantasy Island
Amos McAllister, Jamie
Gary Unmarried
Dr. Walter Krandall
Insight
Father John, Jimmy, Marty
Jack & Bobby
Rev. Belknap
Lady Dynamite
Joel Bamford
Me, Myself and I
Older Justin
Modern Family
Jerry
Mr. Mayor
Chet Danville
Parenthood
Gil Buckman
Portlandia
Dr Ravich, Cafe Owner, Wes
Quincy M.E.
Kit Sawyer, Walter 'Speed' Simpson, David Phillips
Rizzoli & Isles
Dr. T. Pike
Roll Out
Lt. Robert W. Chapman
Room 222
Bob, Willard, Stretch
Six Feet Under
Hiram Gunderson
St. Elsewhere
Dr. Victor Ehrlich
The Agency
Lenny Musgrave
The Larry Sanders Show
Ed Begley Jr.
The New Adventures of Old Christine
Pastor Ed
The Simpsons
Ed Begley Jr.
Veronica Mars
Cyrus O'Dell
Young Sheldon
Dr. Linkletter

Awards and Nominations


winner
Tony Awards - 1956 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Ed Begley, Inherit the Wind

Videos

News


Photos: Alfred Molina, Denis O'Hare, & More Attend THE BOROUGHS World Premiere
by Josh Sharpe - May 21, 2026

Earlier this week, Netflix held the world premiere for The Boroughs, the new supernatural mystery series starring Drama Desk Award-winner Alfred Molina. Take a look at red carpet photos from the event now.
Video: Alfred Molina, Denis O'Hare & More Band Together in THE BOROUGHS Trailer
by Josh Sharpe - May 5, 2026

A new trailer has arrived for The Boroughs, Netflix's forthcoming supernatural series starring Drama Desk Award-winner Alfred Molina and Tony-winner Denis O'Hare. Watch the trailer now.
Review: INHERIT THE WIND at Arena Stage
by Roger Catlin - Mar 8, 2026

The sign of a good play is that it can ring out its truth through different eras and still seem utterly relevant to the moment. 
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN To Screen At El Portal Theatre For Women’s History Month
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 4, 2026

El Portal Theatre will host a special screening of A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN on March 14, 2026, celebrating Women's History Month and the theatre's 100th anniversary.
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN To Screen At El Portal Theatre For Women’s History Month
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 2, 2026

El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood will celebrate Women's History Month with a special screening of A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN on March 14, 2026, marking the theatre's 100th anniversary.
El Portal Theatre To Celebrate 100th Anniversary In 2026
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 10, 2026

El Portal Theatre will celebrate its Centennial Anniversary on October 5, 2026, marking 100 years since the theatre first opened its doors on Lankershim Boulevard on October 5, 1926.
THE OFFICE: SUPERFAN EPISODES Sets Premiere for Final Season on Peacock
by Josh Sharpe - Jan 22, 2026

Beginning Monday, January 26, the ninth and final season of The Office: Superfan Episodes will be available alongside the previously released eight seasons.
L.A. Theatre Works Launches Streaming Subscription Service
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 2, 2025

L.A. Theatre Works, the world’s foremost producer of audio theater, has launched a monthly subscription service offering global access plays in its catalog of classic, contemporary and original plays, with additional titles added every month.
Cast Set For HAMLET HAIL TO THE THIEF at Aviva Studios
by Stephi Wild - Feb 25, 2025

Full cast and creative team have been announced for the upcoming world premiere of Hamlet Hail to the Thief opening at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, Manchester .
TH IR DS Comes to the Zephyr in Hollywood This Week
by Stephi Wild - Sep 4, 2024

In an alternate timeline of American history in which the Civil War was never fought, America stands divided into three separate countries: The Union, The Confederate, and The Pacific States of America.
Christine Ebersole Joins Hallmark Movie HOLIDAY TOUCHDOWN: A CHIEFS LOVE STORY
by Josh Sharpe - Jul 11, 2024

Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole is one of the latest names to join the cast of the upcoming original Hallmark movie centering on the Kansas City Chiefs football team. In Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, Ebersole will appear alongside Diedrich Bader, Megyn Price, and Richard Riehle.
Marcy Carsey To Be Honored at LATW 50th Anniversary Gala at The Broad
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 15, 2024

Marcy Carsey will be honored at LATW's 50th Anniversary Gala on June 2 at The Broad in Santa Monica. Learn more and join the celebration of her contributions to the entertainment industry.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Ed Begley been in?

Ed Begley has appeared on Broadway in 9 shows.

How many West End shows has Ed Begley been in?

Ed Begley has not appeared in the West End

What awards has Ed Begley been nominated for?

Ed Begley has been nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play for his role in "Inherit the Wind."

What awards has Ed Begley won?

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Inherit the Wind.

News Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Videos


TICKET CENTRAL
Hot Show
Tickets From $59
Hot Show
Tickets From $77
Hot Show
Tickets From $70
Hot Show
Tickets From $59