John Astin | WatchedThis

John Astin

John Astin

Acting

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 standing at a height of 5' 11" (1.8 m) was born March 30, 1930 (Aries), in Baltimore, MD as John Allen Astin to Allen V. Astin and Margaret Astin with a brother Alexander Astin. He is an American actor, voice actor and director. He attended Washington, Jefferson College and Johns Hopkins University where he studied mathematics. However he discovered a passion for the theater and began performing in minor plays and doing voice-over work for commercials. Married Suzanne Hahn on March 26, 1956, had 3 sons: David Aston (born 1953), Allen J. Astin (born March 23, 1961) and Thomas E. Astin (born March 19, 1965), then divorced June 14, 1972. He first got noticed in a small role in West Side Story (1961), then appeared in several other films, That Touch of Mink (1962), Move Over Darling (1963), before being cast as "Gomez Addams". While "The Addams Family (1964–1966)" 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), an appearance in the Disney comedy Freaky Friday (1976), reprising the role in the television film Halloween with the New Addams Family (1977) and dual roles in National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985), Teen Wolf Too (1987) and The Frighteners (1996). Married Patty Duke on August 5, 1972, had 2 sons: Mackenzie Astin (born May 12, 1973) and adopted Sean Astin (born February 25, 1971), when he was 3 years old, then divorced November 3, 1985. Roughly four years later, he married Valerie Ann Sandobal on March 19, 1989 and is still presently married. 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 is still active (1957-present) regularly appearing in films. Currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland with current wife. Astin was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for his directorial debut, the comedic short Prelude (1968).

Filmography Movies

Acting

Poster for Gremlins 2: The New Batch
MOVIE

Gremlins 2: The New Batch

6.5(2.9K)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Janitor
Poster for The Silence of the Hams
MOVIE

The Silence of the Hams

4.9(0.2K)
The Silence of the Hams
The Ranger
Poster for The Frighteners
MOVIE

The Frighteners

6.9(1.7K)
The Frighteners
The Judge
Poster for The Kiss
MOVIE

The Kiss

6.5(0.0K)
The Kiss
Male Necker
Poster for Move Over, Darling
MOVIE

Move Over, Darling

6.7(0.1K)
Move Over, Darling
Clyde Prokey
Poster for Evil Roy Slade
MOVIE

Evil Roy Slade

6.5(0.0K)
Evil Roy Slade
Evil Roy Slade
Poster for Night Life
MOVIE

Night Life

5.5(0.0K)
Night Life
Verlin Flanders
Poster for That Touch of Mink
MOVIE

That Touch of Mink

6.5(0.2K)
That Touch of Mink
Mr. Everett Beasley
Poster for Halloween Monster Bash
MOVIE

Halloween Monster Bash

Halloween Monster Bash
Self
Poster for School of Life
MOVIE

School of Life

6.4(0.2K)
School of Life
Norman Warner

Production

Poster for Wacky Taxi
MOVIE

Wacky Taxi

4.9(0.0K)
Wacky Taxi
Director
PreludeMOVIE
MOVIE

Prelude

10.0(0.0K)
Prelude
Director
Poster for Rosetti and Ryan: Men Who Love Women
MOVIE

Rosetti and Ryan: Men Who Love Women

10.0(0.0K)
Rosetti and Ryan: Men Who Love Women
Director
PreludeMOVIE
MOVIE

Prelude

10.0(0.0K)
Prelude
Writer
PreludeMOVIE
MOVIE

Prelude

10.0(0.0K)
Prelude
Producer

Gallery

John Astin portrait
John Astin portrait
John Astin portrait
John Astin portrait