Ed Begley Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ed Begley Jr.
Begley in 2025
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 Begley Jr. (born September 16, 1949) is an American actor and a dedicated environmentalist, which means he works to protect the natural world. He has appeared in hundreds of movies and TV shows.

Many people know him for playing Dr. Victor Ehrlich in the TV series St. Elsewhere from 1982 to 1988. This role was so popular that he was nominated for six Emmy Awards. More recently, he played Dr. Grant Linkletter in the show Young Sheldon.

Begley is also known for his work in movies. He has appeared in comedies like This Is Spinal Tap and Pineapple Express. He often acts in films made by Christopher Guest, which are a special type of comedy called a mockumentary (a fake documentary).

Besides acting, Begley is very passionate about protecting the environment. He and his wife, Rachelle Carson, even had a reality show called Living with Ed about their eco-friendly lifestyle.

Early Life and School

Begley was born in Los Angeles, California. His father, Ed Begley, was also a famous, Oscar-winning actor. For the first 16 years of his life, Begley Jr. believed his stepmother, Amanda Huff, was his birth mother. He later met his biological mother, Allene Jeanne Sanders.

He grew up in Merrick, New York, and later moved back to California with his family. He went to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks and later attended Los Angeles Valley College.

Acting Career

Begley and Penny Marshall on the red carpet at the 40th Primetime Emmy Awards, August 28, 1988

Ed Begley Jr. has had a long and busy career in movies and television. He started with small parts in shows like Room 222 and My Three Sons.

A Famous TV Doctor

Begley's big break came with the TV show St. Elsewhere. He played Dr. Victor Ehrlich for six years. His character was known for being tall and a bit clumsy, often getting told off by his boss, Dr. Mark Craig (played by William Daniels). The on-screen chemistry between the two actors was a huge part of the show's success.

Work in Movies

Begley has acted in many popular films. He played the drummer John "Stumpy" Pepys in the famous mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. He also appeared in Batman Forever as Fred Stickley, the boss of Edward Nygma (who becomes The Riddler).

He is a favorite actor of director Christopher Guest and has appeared in many of his mockumentaries, including:

• Best in Show (2000)
• A Mighty Wind (2003)
• For Your Consideration (2006)
• Mascots (2016)

Recent Roles

From 2019 to 2024, Begley had a recurring role as Dr. Grant Linkletter on the popular sitcom Young Sheldon. He also played a lawyer named Clifford Main in the drama series Better Call Saul. He has made guest appearances on many other shows, including The Simpsons, Arrested Development, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Personal Life

Begley in 2014

In 1972, when he was a young man, Begley was seriously injured in an attack but recovered.

Begley has three children. He was married to Ingrid Taylor from 1976 to 1989, and they had two children. In 2000, he married actress Rachelle Carson, and they have one daughter.

In 2016, Begley was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a condition that affects movement.

Work as an Environmentalist

Begley has been a strong voice for protecting the planet since 1970. He is known for living a "green" lifestyle to reduce his impact on the environment.

An Eco-Friendly Home

For many years, Begley lived in a modest-sized home powered by solar power and wind power. He even had a special bicycle that could generate enough electricity to run his toaster. He famously said he paid only about $300 a year for electricity.

He also replaced his grass lawn with native California plants that don't need much water. This is important in Southern California, where water can be scarce.

Green Transportation

Begley is famous for using public transportation and riding his bicycle to get around, even to big events like the Academy Awards. He has owned several electric cars over the years, starting with one that looked like a golf cart in 1970.

His passion for the environment has even shown up in his acting. On The Simpsons, he appeared as himself, driving a solar-powered car.

Spreading the Word

Begley has written several books about sustainable living, including Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life. He and his wife also starred in a reality show called Living with Ed, which showed families how to make their homes more environmentally friendly.

He is involved with many environmental groups, such as:

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

Friendships with Other Actors

William Daniels

Begley was a big fan of actor William Daniels before they worked together on St. Elsewhere. They became great friends on the show and have stayed close ever since. Begley has said that he owes much of his success on the show to Daniels, as their on-screen partnership was so popular with audiences.

Norman Lloyd

Begley also had a long friendship with actor and director Norman Lloyd, who he met early in his career. Lloyd, who lived to be 106 years old, became a mentor and role model for Begley. Begley said he learned to admire actors like Lloyd who had long, happy, and creative lives.

Selected Film and TV Roles

Here are some of Ed Begley Jr.'s most well-known roles in movies and on television.

Movies

Television

See also

In Spanish: Ed Begley Jr. para niños