John Astin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Astin
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Astin in a 1977 publicity photo for Operation Petticoat
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John Allen Astin
March 30, 1930 |
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| Years active | 1954–2021 |
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| Children | 5, including Sean and Mackenzie |
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| Relatives | Alexander Astin (brother) |
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John Allen Astin (born March 30, 1930) is a retired American actor and director. He is famous for playing the fun-loving and quirky father, Gomez Addams, in the classic TV show The Addams Family from 1964 to 1966.
He played Gomez again in the TV movie Halloween with the New Addams Family in 1977. He also voiced the character in the animated series The Addams Family in the 1990s.
Astin has appeared in many other movies and TV shows. Some of his well-known films include West Side Story (1961), Freaky Friday (1976), and The Frighteners (1996). He was also nominated for an Academy Award for a short film he directed called Prelude.
Astin is the adoptive father of actor Sean Astin, who is famous for his role as Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings movies.
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Early Life and Education
John Astin was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His father, Allen V. Astin, was a physicist who directed the National Bureau of Standards. This is now known as the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Astin first went to Washington & Jefferson College to study mathematics. He later transferred to Johns Hopkins University and graduated in 1952 with a degree in drama.
Acting Career
Getting Started on Stage and Screen
Astin began his career in theater. He first appeared on Broadway in a play called Major Barbara. He also did voice-overs for commercials. His first big movie role was a small part in the famous musical West Side Story in 1961.
Soon, people noticed his talent for comedy. He started getting guest roles on popular TV shows like Dennis the Menace and The Donna Reed Show. In 1962, he got his first leading role in a TV series, a sitcom called I'm Dickens, He's Fenster. He and his co-star played two clumsy carpenters. The show was well-liked but was canceled after one season.
The Famous Role of Gomez Addams
Astin became a star as Gomez Addams in The Addams Family. The show, based on cartoons by Charles Addams, was about a spooky and hilarious family. As Gomez, Astin was the enthusiastic and loving head of the family. The show ran from 1964 to 1966.
He loved the character so much that he played Gomez again in a TV movie and voiced him in a cartoon series. In the late 1990s, he appeared in The New Addams Family TV series, this time playing Grandpapa Addams. As of early 2023, Astin is the last living member of the original Addams Family cast.
Other Roles in TV and Movies
After The Addams Family, Astin continued to have a busy career. He famously played the Riddler in the second season of the Batman TV series. He also starred in the TV show Operation Petticoat and had a recurring role as Buddy on the sitcom Night Court.
He guest-starred on many shows, including Murder, She Wrote and Gunsmoke. In movies, he played Professor Gangreen in a series of Killer Tomatoes films and was the ghost of a judge in the movie The Frighteners.
For his work, Astin received an Academy Award nomination for directing a short film. He also earned an Emmy Award nomination for voicing Gomez in the animated Addams Family series.
Teaching and Later Life
Until he retired in 2021, Astin was a professor at his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University. He taught in the Theater Arts and Studies Department. He was proud to be a working actor who also taught students every day.
Astin has five children. His sons Sean Astin and Mackenzie Astin are also successful actors. He married Valerie Ann Sandobal in 1989, and they live in Baltimore, Maryland.
Selected Film and TV Roles
Astin has appeared in dozens of movies and television shows. Here are some of his most memorable roles.
Notable Movies
- West Side Story (1961) - As Glad Hand, the social worker at the dance.
- Move Over, Darling (1963) - As Clyde Prokey.
- Freaky Friday (1976) - As Bill Andrews, the father.
- National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) - As Kent Winkdale, a game show host.
- Teen Wolf Too (1987) - As Dean Dunn.
- Return of the Killer Tomatoes (1988) - As the villain, Professor Mortimer Gangreen.
- Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) - As a janitor.
- The Frighteners (1996) - As The Judge, a ghost from the Old West.
Notable Television Shows
- The Twilight Zone (1961) - As Charlie in the episode "A Hundred Yards Over the Rim".
- I'm Dickens, He's Fenster (1962–1963) - As Harry Dickens.
- The Addams Family (1964–1966) - As Gomez Addams.
- Batman (1967) - As The Riddler.
- Operation Petticoat (1977–1978) - As Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Sherman.
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) - Appeared in 5 episodes as different characters.
- Night Court (1984–1990) - As Buddy Ryan, the main character's father.
- The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1993) - As Professor Wickwire.
- The New Addams Family (1998–1999) - As Grandpapa Addams.
See also
In Spanish: John Astin para niños
