Ed Masry, mentor to real-life Erin Brockovich, dies at age 73

Posted on Tue, Dec. 06, 2005

Ed Masry, mentor to real-life Erin Brockovich, dies at age 73

JEFF WILSON

Associated Press


LOS ANGELES - Attorney Edward L. Masry, champion of the underdog for decades before Albert Finney portrayed him in the Oscar-winning movie "Erin Brockovich," has died, his son said Tuesday. Masry was 73.

Masry died of complications of diabetes at 11:30 p.m. Monday at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in suburban Thousand Oaks, son Louis Masry said. Ed Masry had resigned from the Thousand Oaks City Council on Nov. 30 due to ill health.

Masry and Erin Brockovich, an unlikely self-trained legal assistant, started down the road to fame by winning a $333 million settlement on behalf of more than 600 residents of the town of Hinkley. They claimed Pacific Gas & Electric tanks leaked carcinogenic poisons into groundwater supplies.

The legal team's efforts were depicted in the 2000 film "Erin Brockovich," starring Julia Roberts in the title role and Finney as the crusty lawyer Masry. Roberts won the best-actress Oscar and Finney received a nomination.

"My father had a long career of over 40 years as an attorney," Louis Masry said. "Even prior to the movie `Erin Brockovich' he was always fighting for the underdog."


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Obviously Mr. Masry got paid for his hard work, but he stood up for those who had no voice against those bent on doing them and their families harm.

Godspeed.

Julie

Not taking anything away from Brockovich.

The David vs. Goliath myth is big in the US, and I'm caught by it, too.