CINEFILER

John Astin

Born
March 30, 1930
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).
Known For
Teen Wolf Too
(1987)
Dean Dunn
West Side Story
(1961)
Glad Hand (uncredited)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
(1990)
Janitor
The Frighteners
(1996)
The Judge
National Lampoon's European Vacation
(1985)
Kent
Freaky Friday
(1976)
Bill Andrews
Candy
(1968)
T.M. Christian / Jack Christian
That Touch of Mink
(1962)
Mr. Everett Beasley
School of Life
(2005)
Norman Warner
The Silence of the Hams
(1994)
The Ranger
Return of the Killer Tomatoes!
(1988)
Prof. Gangreen
Move Over, Darling
(1963)
Clyde Prokey
Harrison Bergeron
(1995)
Golf Announcer
Viva Max!
(1969)
Sergeant Valdez
Billy Rose's Jumbo
(1962)
Pilot
Mr. Boogedy
(1986)
Widow Marian
Full Filmography
Acting
The Kiss
(1958)
Male Necker
The Pusher
(1960)
Detective
West Side Story
(1961)
Glad Hand (uncredited)
That Touch of Mink
(1962)
Mr. Everett Beasley
Billy Rose's Jumbo
(1962)
Pilot
Period of Adjustment
(1962)
Smoky Anderson (uncredited)
Move Over, Darling
(1963)
Clyde Prokey
The Wheeler Dealers
(1963)
Hector Vanson
The Spirit Is Willing
(1967)
Dr. Frieden
Candy
(1968)
T.M. Christian / Jack Christian
Prelude
(1968)
Viva Max!
(1969)
Sergeant Valdez
Two on a Bench
(1971)
Dr. Stanley Remington
Bunny O'Hare
(1971)
Ad O'Hare
Evil Roy Slade
(1972)
Evil Roy Slade
Get to Know Your Rabbit
(1972)
Mr. Turnbull
Every Little Crook and Nanny
(1972)
Vito Garbugli
Wacky Taxi
(1972)
Pepper
Brothers O'Toole
(1973)
Michael O'Toole
Only with Married Men
(1974)
Dr. Harvey Osterman
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute
(1974)
Self
Skyway to Death
(1974)
Andrew Tustin
Hard Day at Blue Nose
(1974)
Greenburg
The Dream Makers
(1975)
Manny Wheeler
Freaky Friday
(1976)
Bill Andrews
Halloween with the New Addams Family
(1977)
Gomez Addams
National Lampoon's European Vacation
(1985)
Kent
Body Slam
(1986)
Scotty
Mystery Magical Special
(1986)
John Astin
Mr. Boogedy
(1986)
Widow Marian
Teen Wolf Too
(1987)
Dean Dunn
Harry Anderson's Sideshow
(1987)
Self
Return of the Killer Tomatoes!
(1988)
Prof. Gangreen
Night Life
(1989)
Verlin Flanders
The Saint: The Blue Dulac
(1989)
George Lafosse
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
(1990)
Janitor
Killer Tomatoes Strike Back!
(1991)
Jeronahew/Prof. Gangreen
Halloween Monster Bash
(1991)
Killer Tomatoes Eat France!
(1992)
Prof. Mortimer Gangreen
Stepmonster
(1993)
Minister
The Silence of the Hams
(1994)
The Ranger
Huck and the King of Hearts
(1994)
Zach
Runaway Daughters
(1994)
Fred
Harrison Bergeron
(1995)
Golf Announcer
The Frighteners
(1996)
The Judge
The Making of 'The Frighteners'
(1998)
Himself
School of Life
(2005)
Norman Warner
Betaville
(2005)
President Sender
Directing
Writing
Production
Data provided by TMDB