Ed Begley Jr.—yeah, that Ed Begley—landed on the scene back in ’49, right in the heart of Los Angeles. The city was all glitz and chaos, and honestly, he fit right in. Acting pretty much runs in his blood (his dad was a big deal too), so you could say he was basically destined for the spotlight. Over the years, Begley’s face has popped up everywhere. You might remember him from “A Mighty Wind” (that hilarious folk music mockumentary from 2003), or maybe he cracked you up in “Pineapple Express” (2008), that wild stoner comedy with Seth Rogen. The guy’s got range—he’ll go from deadpan straight man to total goofball, no problem. And let’s not ignore “Whatever Works” (2009), a Woody Allen flick where he showed up with his signature offbeat charm. Off camera, Ed’s got a bit of an eco-warrior reputation; he’s been all about green living since before it was trendy. Married to Rachelle Carson-Begley since 2000, those two are basically the king and queen of environmental activism in Hollywood. They’ve even got a TV show about it, which is kind of wild. Oh, and they’ve got a kid together, just to keep things interesting. Before Rachelle, Ed was married to Ingrid Taylor—life’s full of twists, right? Through all the weirdness of Hollywood, he’s managed to be this steady, quirky presence, showing up in cult classics and keeping things real. Not many can pull that off.
It’s kinda wild, but yeah, he actually keeps his dad’s Oscar for Sweet Bird of Youth (1962) right at home, just out in the open like it’s no big deal. Not tucked away in some dusty corner or locked up in a safe, nope—he displays it proudly, like a trophy you’d show off after winning the world’s weirdest talent show. Guests drop by and boom, there it is, gleaming on a shelf, basically screaming, “Yeah, my dad crushed it.” Some people might feel awkward flaunting that kind of legacy, but not him. It’s not about bragging, more like paying respect to what his old man accomplished. Honestly, you can’t blame the guy. If your dad snagged an Academy Award, wouldn’t you want to keep a little piece of Hollywood history right where everyone could see it? It’s a daily reminder of some serious family talent and, honestly, that’s just pretty cool.
referencennYou know that feeling when the world’s problems just pile up and you’re staring at them, thinking, “Well, crap, where do I even start?” That’s basically what’s going on here—nobody expects you to be some heroic legend like Sir Edmund Hillary, scaling Everest without breaking a sweat. Most of us are just regular folks, trying not to trip over our own shoelaces, let alone save the planet in one heroic leap. The whole vibe is: yeah, the mountain’s huge, but you don’t have to sprint to the top. Take it step by step, do what you can, and maybe don’t stress if you’re not planting a flag at the summit tomorrow. The story really taps into that—making it clear you’re allowed to just be human, not perfect, and every little bit counts. It’s honestly a relief, right? Just keep moving forward, one small action at a time.
September 16, 1949
6′ 4″ (1.93 m)
Konidela Ram Charan
Los Angeles, California, USA
Yes, Hayden Carson Begley
Ed Begley and Surekha
75 years old