Biography for
John Astin More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

30 March 1930, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Birth Name

John Allen Astin

Height

5' 11" (1.80 m)

Mini Biography

Dark haired, usually mustachioed US actor with a cheeky grin who achieved pop culture status through his portrayal of the kooky patriarch "Gomez Addams" in the hit TV series "The Addams Family" (1964), John Astin was born March 30, 1930, in Baltimore, MD. He attended Johns Hopkins University and studied mathematics. However he discovered a passion for the theater and began performing in minor plays and doing voice-over work for commercials. He first got noticed in a small role in West Side Story (1961), then appeared in several other films before being cast as "Gomez Addams". While "The Addams Family" was initially a huge hit, its popularity petered out after two years, and Astin moved on to other work including the offbeat Bunny O'Hare (1971), playing a grizzled but not particularly bright gunfighter in the western spoof Evil Roy Slade (1972) (TV), an appearance in the Disney comedy Freaky Friday (1976) and dual roles in European Vacation (1985).

He has since lent his comedic talents to numerous appearances as "Dr. Gangreen" in several corny "Killer Tomato" movies, and has contributed his voice to recreate "Gomez Addams" in the animated series "The Addams Family" (1992), and then played "Grandpa Addams" in the short-lived TV series "The New Addams Family" (1998). In addition, Astin has contributed voices to several animated shows, and still regularly appears in films.

IMDb Mini Biography By: firehouse44@hotmail.com

Spouse

Valerie Ann Sandobal	(19 March 1989 - present)
Patty Duke	(5 August 1972 - 3 November 1985) (divorced) 1 child
Suzanne Hahn	(26 March 1956 - 14 June 1972) (divorced) 3 children

Trivia

Father, Allen Astin, was the 5th Director of the National Bureau of Standards.

Father of Mackenzie Astin with Patty Duke. He also has 3 sons from his marriage to Suzanne Hahn: David Aston, Allen J. Astin (born March 23, 1961) and Thomas E. Astin (born March 19, 1965).

Is a vegetarian.

He and his wife Val are leaders of a Buddhist group in Santa Monica.

Grandfather of actress Alexandra Astin, Elizabeth Louise Astin, Isabella Louise Astin, Sedona Astin and Jaya Astin.

Appeared in three separate episodes of "Rod Serling's Night Gallery" (1969). During each episode, his character was killed, and during two episodes, his character found himself in Hell. Also directed three episodes of the show.

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. pg. 31-32. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387.

Three generations of his family have worked with director Peter Jackson. He appeared in The Frighteners (1996), while his son Sean Astin appeared in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Sean's real-life daughter, Alexandra Astin, played the daughter of his character in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).

A visiting theater professor at Johns Hopkins University. His new facility is the "Old Barn," former home of Theater Hopkins, a top-scale community theater outfit. Astin won rave reviews for his portrayal of the Stage Manager in a performance of "Our Town" with Hopkins as well as for a recent portrayal of Edgar Allan Poe.

Has twice played father to Jodie Foster. They appeared together as father and daughter in Freaky Friday (1976). In the live action "The Addams Family" (1964), John plays Gomez Addams. In an animated series in the early 1970s, Jodie Foster voiced Pugsley Addams.

Three generations of his family have worked with Christopher Lee. His son, Sean Astin, and granddaughter, Alexandra Astin, appeared in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). He and Lee appeared together in Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990).

He and his son Sean have both appeared in films that won Best Picture, four decades apart. John had a small role in West Side Story (1961), while Sean had a lead role in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Attended Washington and Jefferson College, graduated from Johns Hopkins University and did graduate work at the University of Minnesota.

Brother of Alexander W. Astin, professor emeritus at UCLA who is considered one of the most influential scholars in the field of higher education research.

Best remembered by the public for his starring role as "Gomez Adams" in "The Addams Family" (1964).

During a speech given at Booker High School in Sarasota, Florida, he told the crowd of students that he never has, and never will watch any of the new Addams Family films. He did not give his reasons why.

Is a fan of the works of Edgar Allan Poe, and studies Poe's works extensively. He has regularly attended Baltimore's yearly celebration of Poe's birthday.

Son Sean Astin is not his biological child. He is ex-wife Patty Duke's son with her ex-husband Michael Tell. Duke claimed Sean's biological father was John Astin until the two blood-tested in 1990 and it became clear that Tell was the father.

He is the only member of the regular adult cast of "The Addams Family" (1964) who is still alive.

He is one of only eight actors to have played "Special Guest Villains" in "Batman" (1966) who are still alive, the others being Julie Newmar, Eli Wallach, Joan Collins, Glynis Johns, Barbara Rush, Dina Merrill and Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Has been involved with more productions of "The Addams Family" than any other actor in history. From playing the family patriarch, Gomez, in "The Addams Family" (1964), Halloween with the New Addams Family (1977) (TV) and "The Addams Family" (1992); the grandfather in "The New Addams Family" (1998); and even in a way, himself who loves and will always be associated with "The Addams Family," in films with spoofs like The Silence of the Hams (1994).

Personal Quotes

[about filming "The Addams Family" (1964)] Sometimes it was tough doing take after take upside down! I did a lot of that sort of thing.

I figure I basically am a ghost. I think we all are.

Where Are They Now

(February 2001) Is a visiting professor at Johns Hopkins University, teaching acting & directing in the Department of Writing Seminars in the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences.

(July 2007) He and his wife Valerie have lived in the Tuscany-Canterbury area of Baltimore, Maryland for the past 5 years.