Ed Begley Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ed Begley Jr.
Begley in 2014
Born	Edward James Begley Jr. (1949-09-16) September 16, 1949 (age 75) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Los Angeles Valley College
Occupation	Actor environmentalist
Years active	1967–present
Spouse(s)	Ingrid Taylor ​ (m. 1976⁠–⁠1989)​ Rachelle Carson ​ (m. 2000)​
Children	3
Parent(s)	Ed Begley (father)

Edward James "Ed" Begley Jr. (born September 16, 1949) is an American actor. He is also a passionate environmentalist. Ed Begley Jr. has appeared in many movies, TV shows, and plays.

He is well-known for playing Dr. Victor Ehrlich on the TV series St. Elsewhere (1982–1988). This role earned him several awards nominations. He also co-hosted a green living reality show called Living with Ed (2007–2010) with his wife, Rachelle Carson. More recently, he played Dr. Grant Linkletter in Young Sheldon (2019–2024).

Ed Begley Jr. has been in many popular films. These include An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) and Batman Forever (1995). He often appears in funny mockumentaries by Christopher Guest. Some of these are Best in Show (2000) and A Mighty Wind (2003). In 2020, he and his wife were in the mockumentary Reboot Camp.

About Ed Begley Jr.'s Early Life

Ed Begley Jr. was born in 1949 in Los Angeles, California. His father was Ed Begley, a famous film actor who won an Oscar. When Ed Jr. was young, he thought his father's wife, Amanda Huff, was his mother. She passed away when he was seven. He later learned about his biological mother, Allene Jeanne Sanders.

Ed Begley Jr.'s family moved to Buffalo, New York, where he grew up. He went to a private Catholic school there. When he was 13, his family moved back to California. He finished high school in Sherman Oaks and later attended Los Angeles Valley College.

Ed Begley Jr.'s Acting Career

Begley and Penny Marshall at the 40th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1988.

Ed Begley Jr. has had many roles in both television and movies. In the 1970s, he made guest appearances on shows like Maude and Room 222. He also had recurring roles on popular series such as 7th Heaven and Arrested Development.

He played important parts in Christopher Guest's mockumentary films. These include Best in Show and A Mighty Wind. Ed Begley Jr. was also a pilot named Greenbean on the original Battlestar Galactica TV series. He even voiced Boba Fett in the radio version of Return of the Jedi.

From 2000 to 2016, Ed Begley Jr. was part of the Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This group helps decide who wins the Oscars. He has also guest-starred on shows like Scrubs and Star Trek: Voyager. In 2016, he started playing Clifford Main in the TV series Better Call Saul. He also appeared in Bless This Mess from 2019 to 2020.

In 2003, Begley wrote and directed a musical called Cesar and Ruben. It was performed in Los Angeles. He also appeared in commercials for DirecTV.

Ed Begley Jr.'s Personal Life

Ed Begley Jr. was married to Ingrid Taylor from 1976 to 1989. They had two children together. In 2000, he married actress Rachelle Carson. They have one daughter.

In 2016, Ed Begley Jr. shared that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Ed Begley Jr.'s Environmental Work

Being an Environmental Leader

Ed Begley Jr. has been an environmentalist since 1970. He started by using an electric vehicle and began recycling. He also became a vegan, meaning he doesn't eat animal products.

His home is designed to be very eco-friendly. It uses solar power and wind power. He even has a special bicycle that makes electricity to toast bread! In 2008, he said his electric bills were very low, around $300 a year.

Ed Begley Jr. believes that traditional lawns use too much water, especially in places like Southern California where water is scarce. So, he changed his own lawn to a garden with plants that don't need much water. He often rides bicycles and uses public transportation. He also owns an electric vehicle. In 2023 and 2024, he took public transit to the Academy Awards.

His hybrid electric bicycle was often shown on his TV show Living With Ed. He has even made fun of his own environmental habits on shows like The Simpsons. For example, in one episode, he drives a solar-powered car that stops on train tracks during an eclipse. But then, the train also stops because it's an "Ed Begley Jr. Solar Powered Train"!

Ed Begley Jr. and his friend Bill Nye (the Science Guy) have a friendly competition. They try to see who can have the smallest carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases caused by a person's activities.

In 2009, Ed Begley Jr. appeared on The Price Is Right for Earth Day. He showed off prizes like an electric bicycle and a Toyota Prius.

Ed Begley Jr. has also written books about living an eco-friendly life. These include Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life (2008) and Ed Begley Jr.'s Guide to Sustainable Living (2009).

Groups Ed Begley Jr. Supports

Ed Begley Jr. is involved with many groups that work to protect the environment. Some of these include:

• Coalition for Clean Air
• Environmental Media Association
• Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
• League of Conservation Voters
• TreePeople
• Friends of the Earth

From 2007 to 2010, Ed Begley Jr. and his wife Rachelle Carson starred in their own reality TV series, Living with Ed. The show was about their eco-friendly lifestyle. In 2013, they filmed a web series called "On Begley Street." It showed them building a very sustainable home.

He has received awards for his environmental work, like the Thomas Alva Edison Award for Energy Independence. This award recognized his lifelong efforts to promote energy independence and environmental protection.

Awards and Nominations

Ed Begley Jr. has been recognized for his acting and environmental work.

Images for kids

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  Ed Begley Jr. in 2014.

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  Ed Begley Jr. and Penny Marshall at the 40th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1988.

See also

In Spanish: Ed Begley Jr. para niños