A cousin of actress Elaine Stritch.
Attended C.W. Post College on a sports scholarship where he played baseball, football and basketball.
Besides Burt Reynolds, he is the only other actor to appear in both The Longest Yard (1974) and The Longest Yard (2005).
Ed Lauter co-starred with Charles Bronson in four films: Death Wish 3 (1985), Death Hunt (1981), The White Buffalo (1977) and Breakheart Pass (1975).
Has a B.A. in English.
Has four children.
His last name is pronounced "Law-ter".
Made his Broadway debut in 1970 in the play "The Great White Hope".
Spent two years in the army.
Studied drama at the Herbert Berghof School.
Was set to co-star in what would have been Alfred Hitchcock's next film, "The Short Night", in 1980.
Worked as a stand-up comic before entering films