Famous Vegans - Ed Begley, Jr.

Ed Begley, Jr., 2007.

Ed Begley, Jr.

Born Edward James Begley, Jr. on September 16, 1949. He's an American actor and has appeared in hundreds of films, television shows and stage performances. He received six Emmy Award nominations for his role as Dr. Victor Ehrlich on the television series St. Elsewhere. You can check out some of his other acting work at this link. He is also an environmentalist and has written Ed Begley, Jr.'s Guide to Sustainable Living and Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life. With his wife, actress Rachelle Carson-Begley, he stars in a reality show about green living called Living with Ed. You can find his website at this link.

Quotes by Ed Begley, Jr.:

"I became a vegan in 1970, but it was too hard back then, filming on distant locations, etc. I strayed for a while, but never ate red meat, of course. I became a full vegan again in 1992, and haven't looked back."

"I believe in the rights of all creatures. If we needed to kill to survive, we have and we would, as do many creatures in the wild. But that need no longer be the way we live. In striking a balance between our needs and the needs of the many other species with whom we share this earth, the balance is way out of whack. We treat many other animals as if they are merely "resources" or "spare parts". They are living, breathing, feeling creatures that need to be accorded some measure of respect."

When asked whether he wears leather or visits circuses, he answered:

"No leather. No circuses, except for the best circus ever, Cirque de Soleil, where all participants go into the tent willingly to perform."

When asked what people can do to live a more sustainable lifestyle, he answered:

"They can Live Simply so that Others Can Simply Live. Less is more. I encourage everyone to slow down and simplify. Start with what you can afford and work your way up the ladder. That’s the way I did it starting back in 1970. You do what you can, save money, and do more. Start with the cheap and easy stuff – energy efficient lighting, weather stripping, recycling, composting, home gardening, bike riding, public transportation etc. A kilowatt SAVED is far cheaper than a kilowatt PRODUCED. I encourage everyone to start with a home energy audit – and work towards a more energy efficient home through insulation, windows, lighting etc."

When asked about what he considers to be the biggest problem facing our planet these days, he answered:

"Space considerations are crucial as our population climbs over 6 billion. We have to make efficient use of our arable land. A plant-based diet can do that. "

When asked what he thinks it will take to get more people to move to a plant-based diet, he answered:

"Getting a tasty vegan meal."

Quotes are from his interview with VegFamily, his interview with FamousVeggie, his interview with SoyStache and his 2010 interview with Low Density Lifestyle.