John Astin |
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John Astin Biography |
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John Allen Astin (born March 30, 1930) is an American actor who has appeared in numerous films and television shows, and is best known for the role of Gomez Addams on The Addams Family, and other similarly eccentric comedic characters. Astin was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Margaret Linnie Mackenzie and Dr. Allen Varley Astin, who was the director of the National Bureau of Standards (now the National Institute of Standards and Technology).[1] He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1952, after transferring from Washington & Jefferson College. He initially studied mathematics at Washington & Jefferson then became a drama major at Johns Hopkins; he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at Johns Hopkins.
Astin started in theatre, doing voice-over work for commercials. His first big break came with a small part in West Side Story in 1961. At this time, he also guest starred on the ABC sitcom, Harrigan and Son, starring Pat O`Brien. In 1962-1963, he starred with Marty Ingels in the sitcom I`m Dickens, He`s Fenster, which aired thirty-one episodes in a single season. From 1964-1966, he starred in The Addams Family as Gomez Addams, the macabre head of the family. He appeared in the TV show The New Addams Family as Grandpapa Addams in 1998, with the role of Gomez Addams played by Glenn Taranto. Astin also played the Riddler on ABC`s Batman during Frank Gorshin`s second season departure. (Gorshin came back for the third season.) He played submarine commander Matthew Sherman in the 1970s TV series "Operation Petticoat." He also made a notable appearance in popular mystery show Murder, She Wrote, as the villainous Sheriff Harry Pierce. He had a recurring role on the sitcom Night Court as Buddy, eccentric former mental patient and the stepfather of lead character Harry Stone. He also played the regular role of Ed LaSalle in the short-lived Mary Tyler Moore sitcom Mary during the 1985-86 television season. He guest starred on numerous television series too, including Jack Palance`s ABC circus drama, The Greatest Show on Earth. Astin received an Academy Award nomination for Prelude, a short film that he wrote, produced, and directed. He was nominated for an Ace Award for his work on Tales from the Crypt, and received an Emmy nomination for the cartoon voice of Gomez on ABC-TV`s The Addams Family. He also voiced the character Bull Gator on the animated series Taz-Mania. Astin served for four years on the Board of Directors of the Writers Guild of America, and has been active in community affairs in Los Angeles and Santa Monica. He has continued to work in acting, appearing in a string of Killer Tomatoes films as Professor Gangreen and as a professor in The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. He also has toured the one-man play Edgar Allan Poe: Once Upon a Midnight, written by Paul Day Clemens and Ron Magid. Astin currently teaches method acting and directing in the Writing Seminars Department at Johns Hopkins University, his alma mater. He has five sons, of whom three David, Allen (born March 23, 1961), and Tom (born March 19, 1965) were with his first wife, Suzanne Hahn, and two (Sean Astin and Mackenzie Astin) with his second wife, actress Patty Duke. John legally adopted Sean when he married Patty. John Astin is currently married to Valerie Ann Sandobal and lives in Baltimore. His younger brother, Alexander Astin, is a professor emeritus at UCLA. He has five granddaughters — Alexandra, Elizabeth, Isabella, Sedona and Biography Credit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Astin |
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Trivia and QuotesQuotes I figure I basically am a ghost. I think we all are. [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.Trivia Is portrayed by Arthur Taxier in Call Me Anna (1990) (TV) Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. pg. 31-32. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387 Grandfather of actress Alexandra Astin, Elizabeth Louise Astin, Isabella Louise Astin, Sedona Astin and Jaya Astin. 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. 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). 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.
Best remembered by the public for his starring role as Gomez Adams in The Addams Family (1964). 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. Attended Washington and Jefferson College, graduated from Johns Hopkins University and did graduate work at the University of Minnesota. 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, while Sean had a lead role in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. 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. Currently 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 Allen Poe. Three generations of his family have worked with director Peter Jackson. He appeared in _Frighteners, The (1996/I)_, 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). Appeared in three separate episodes of "Night Gallery" (1970). During each episode, his character was killed, and during two episodes, his character found himself in Hell. Also directed three episodes of the show. He and his wife Val are leaders of a Buddhist group in Santa Monica. Is a vegetarian Father of actors Sean Astin and Mackenzie Astin Father, Allen Astin, was the 5th Director of the National Bureau of Standards. Spouse: Valerie Ann Sandobal (19 March 1989 - present); Patty Duke (5 August 1972 - 1985) (divorced) 2 sons
Suzanne Hahn (26 March 1956 - 1972) (divorced) 3 children
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