)
Ed Begley Jr.
Actor & Environmental Activist
Ed Begley Jr.
Actor & Environmental Activist
Biography
Inspired by the works of his Academy Award-winning father, Ed Begley Jr. became an actor. He first came to audiences’ attention for his portrayal of “Dr. Victor Ehrlich” on the long-running hit television series St. Elsewhere, for which he received six Emmy nominations. Since then Begley has moved easily between feature films, television, and theatre projects.
Currently, he is the co-star of Discovery Channel’s Planet Green series Living with Ed, a look at the day-to-day realities of “living green” with his not-so-environmentalist wife, Rachelle Carson.
Recent film credits include Pineapple Express and A Mighty Wind, a follow-up to the American Comedy Award-winning film Best in Show, with Christopher Guest, Catherine O’ Hara, and Parker Posey. His other feature film appearances include Batman Forever, Greedy, The Accidental Tourist, She-Devil, and The In-Laws.
On television, Begley has been seen in recurring roles on Veronica Mars, Arrested Development, Jack & Bobby, Six Feet Under, and 7th Heaven. He also guest starred in such series as The West Wing, The Practice, The Drew Carey Show, Touched by an Angel, and Providence. Among his motion pictures for television credits are Homicide: The Movie, Not in This Town, World War II: When Lions Roared, Running Mates, Cooperstown, and Story Lady.
Turning up at Hollywood events on his bicycle, Begley has been considered an environmental leader in the Hollywood community for many years. He has served as chairman of the Environmental Media Association and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. He still serves on those Boards, as well as those of the Thoreau Institute, the Earth Communications Office, Tree People, and Friends of the Earth, among many others.
His work in the environmental community has earned him a number of awards from some of the most prestigious environmental groups in the nation, including the California League of Conservation Voters, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Coalition for Clean Air, Heal the Bay, and the Santa Monica Baykeeper.
He currently lives near Los Angeles in a self-sufficient home powered by solar energy.
Speaker Videos
Actor Ed Begley Jr. on environmental activism in the time of COVID-19
"Do what you can." Ed Begley Jr. discusses climate change at the 2021 EMA Awards
Speech Topics
Live Simply So That Others Can Simply Live
One of America's most sought-after speakers on eco-living, acclaimed actor Ed Begley Jr. offers an inspiring speech on eco-consciousness that has received a standing ovation at over 200 events in just the last four years. Offering an accessible, humorous message on what it means to lead a sustainable life, Begley shares with audiences how he began his four-decade eco-journey in 1970, peppering his talk with funny personal tales (like the first time he tried to compost!).
Describing the planet as an asset with value that shouldn't be treated like a "going-out of-business sale," Begley also touches on the monetary value of protecting the earth, drawing on real-world examples—like how California's smog cleanup led to an economic boost—to illustrate his point.
)
)
)
)