Ed Begley, Jr.: As green as it gets
So…Tomorrow is Earth Day. Interestingly, in California, Earth Day is turning out to be Spring’s version of Christmas. There is so much hype and marketing buzz surrounding this date, it almost makes you feel suspicious of real intent. But, I figure, whatever it takes for people to take the environment seriously, right?
Image from hanover.edu
One of the earliest Hollywood “green soldiers” is Ed Begley, Jr. Jessica featured him a few months ago when he came to Northern California to encourage people about going green.
In the 70s, Mr. Begley’s green leanings were considered just a little hokey. It was in that decade that he started recycling, tweaked his diet and purchased his first electric car ($950!). He says it wasn’t only good for the earth, but that it was cheaper on his wallet, too.
Ed Begley, Jr. has truly come a long way. While he is a serious actor with an impressive body of work (six Emmy awards, for instance), he was considered an oddity in Hollywood back then. Unafraid of ruffling feathers and hurting his image, he would come to movie premieres and award shows via bicycle, public transportation or his electric car. (No, Leonardo, you weren’t the first.) Today, his take on going green is not only considered “trendy” but is better appreciated and supported by other celebrities.
Certainly unafraid of living what he believes, he has adapted much of his eco-philosophies into his daily life. Testament to this fact is a peek into his world via the first “green” reality show, “Living With Ed” where he not only shows us all the neat human-powered gadgets he uses, but also gets into spats with his wife about how much energy her curling iron wastes. Mmmm, now THAT’S good TV.
Ed Begley Jr. with his wife, Rachelle.
Image from evonline.com
So, he may have been once considered “eccentric”, but these days Ed Begley, Jr. is working more than ever. After nearly 42 years in the business, he now also speaks on environmental topics regularly, has published a book, restaged plays, enjoyed recurring roles on shows such as Arrested Development and has a product line called Begley’s Best a line of earth-friendly household cleansers.
As if his Emmy Awards were not enough, he has been honored by various groups numerous times for his environmental work some of which include the Natural Resources Defense Council and The Coalition for Clean Air. This June he is set to receive the humanitarian award from the Entertainment Merchant’s Association.
Yes, friends, tomorrow is Earth Day. Make like Ed and start something good for yourself, for others, and our planet.
We believe in making small, doable, realistic changes in our lifestyle, making healthier, eco-responsible decisions that leave a good impact and not a huge carbon footprint. Hopefully we have been able to inspire and encourage you!
