Ed Bagley, Jr. Talks Solar and Green to Schools by F&EG Staff -6/2011-
Living with Ed”… can be a real ‘green treat’ if you are ready to take in a new energy efficient life style with well-known actor, Ed Begley, Jr. and his family. Just ask Rachel Carson Begley, Ed’s actress wife and co-host of the hit reality show, “Living with Ed.”
Known as ‘the greenest man in Tinseltown,’ this vegan actor, Ed Begley, Jr., is passionately devoted to ‘green living’ in all aspects of his personal life, work and community.
Ed’s Family
Born in Los Angeles, California September 16, 1949, Ed Begley, Jr. is the son of Best Supporting Character Actor, Ed Begley (senior), and actress mother Allene Jeanna Sanders. His sister is Allene Johanna. They moved to New York for a few years where he attended Stella Niagara Education Park Cadet school in Lewiston, NY.
For a while Ed attended Van Nuys High School in Van Nuys, CA, with other noteable school mates including Robert Redford, Paula Abdul, Stacy Keach and Natalie Wood. He later graduated from Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, He attended college at Los Angeles Valley College in Valley Glen, California.
Actor and environmental activist Ed Begley, Jr. is currently married to actress and environmental activist Rachel Carson Begley. Ed and Rachel have one daughter, Hayden Carson Begley. Ed has two children with Ingrid Taylor, son Nicholas Taylor Begley and daughter Amanda Begley.
Ed The Actor
In 1967 Ed Begley, Jr.’s acting career began with a My Three Sons episode. For this one and others he has received many Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
Begley is probably best known for his role as Dr. Victor Ehrlich on TV’s St. Elsewhere. Other shows include Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, 7th Heaven, Arrested Development, Six Feet Under, Scrubs, Boston Legal, Star Trek: Voyager, and “The West Wing.
On the big screen… Bagley’s film work includes, Pineapple Express, The Accidental Tourist, Shaggy Dog, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and he did the voice of Boba Fett for the radio adaptation of Return of the Jedi. He appeared in the animated series Batman (1992) and a role in Batman Forever (1995).
The many talents of Begley include directing a 2003 episode of NYPD Blue, working as an assistant cameraman and performing as a stand-up comic for eight years.
Stage credits include Bagley’s role in David Mamet’s Cryptogram in Boston, New York City, and Los Angeles. In 2000, he also wrote, directed and produced Cesar and Ruben, a 2003 stage musical about farmworkers-union leader Cesar Chavez. He serves in the actors branch as a Member of the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
School and Community Advocate
Considered an environmental leader in the Hollywood community for many years, Ed Begley, Jr. has spoken at schools and served on many community boards as an avid supporter of an energy efficient environments.
He served as chairman of the Environmental Media Association, and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, in addition to serving on many other prestigious boards including the Thoreau Institute, the Earth Communications Office, Tree People and Friends of the Earth.
For his work in the environmental community, Ed is a recipient of numerous awards from well respected 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.
“When I speak at schools, I try to focus on things that parents and students can get involved with. While solar panels on the roof are a great way to go,” says Ed Begley, Jr., “it requires state and local administration in addition to a huge investment.” Ed advises schools to stay “focused on the fun stuff that everyone can get going right away.”
Ed suggests several practical ways for schools to get involved with helping the Environment including recycling programs that can also be used as fundraisers. Schools can arrange events that include biking to school day, walking to school day and car-pooling to school day.
Hands-on green activities can also have a great impact like using school lunch waste for composts and planting school vegetable gardens and fruit trees. The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation is know for it’s great work at schools.
Practicing ‘Lights and Phantom Power off each day with students at schools will set examples for them and faculty while saving a huge amount of energy and cost. Many schools leave lights burning and computers plugged in after hours.
“Living With Ed”
Currently in it’s 3rd successful season, the green reality show, Living With Ed, is aired on the Planet Green channel. It is filmed at the solared home of it’s actors’ Ed Begley, Jr. and co-star actress Rachel Carson Begley. This pumped up ‘green’ reality show is a true example of ‘Edutainment’ at it’s best.
The characters include Ed, the eco-obsessed husband/dad, and Rachel, the eco-concerned, yet sophisticated/fashionista wife/mother. The story line involves their everyday practice, dilemmas and conflicts of being energy efficient in their home. They often but heads on… How much green is too green or not enough.
Interestingly…according to her mother Rachel, daughter Hayden is very comfortable and use to a life of energy efficiency as she was raised “The Green Begley Way” since she was born. When she visits her friends and other non-energy efficient homes, to Hayden they are not the norm.
The show is jam-packed with hands-on green education and fun entertainment including clashing ideas, the moral dilemma of fashion and style and all those entertaining controversies.
As you learn how to mulch a garden, practice recycling or use less water you’ll be laughing as Ed rides his bike everywhere and monitors Rachel’s shower time.
The Green Man’s Passions
If you’re in his neighborhood you’ll probably see Ed Begley, Jr. riding his bike or you might even catch him on a bus or driving his electric car. Perhaps you’ll notice him speaking at a school event about energy efficiency.
At his solared and progressively energy efficient home you’ll find his father’s (Ed Begley) Oscar proudly displayed, probably somewhere near the George Harrison guitar that he won for $300,000 at a 2003 Los Angeles auction.
There is really no end to Bagley’s green conscience and passion to help the environment. While serving as a Los Angeles Environmental Commissioner, Begley quit after he realized that he was destroying trees with all the paper the commission was using. Ed has also developed an eco-friendly a non-toxic cleaning product called ‘Begley’s Best Household Cleaner.’
Ed is a strong believer in the “take action yourself camp” with a few leaders trying to pave the way. One of those leaders, an environmental attorney and long-time friend of Ed’s is Bobby Kennedy, Jr., who has said “Ed has a greater sense of social obligation than anyone I know. He’s like a West Coast cadet who gets up every morning and says ‘reporting for duty”.
To see what Ed is doing today and make your own comments you can visit him on facebook at www.facebook.com/EdBegleyJr.
