John Astin

Acting

John Astin

Born
(age 96)
Birthplace
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Credits
139 titles

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).

Signature work

Known For

Acting credits 134

YearTitleRole
2026 Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence Film Prof. Mortimer Gangreen
2023 Screaming Soup Presents: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Retrospective Film Self
2016 Justice League Action TV Uncle Dudley (voice) (1 ep)
2005 Betaville Film President Sender
2005 School of Life Film Norman Warner
2000 As Told by Ginger TV Dave Bishop (voice)
1998 The Making of 'The Frighteners' Film Self
1998 Becker TV Richard Wilson (1 ep)
1998 The New Addams Family TV Grandpapa Addams (2 ep)
1998 The Hughleys TV Mr. Crump (1 ep)
1998 The Wild Thornberrys TV The Great Bangaboo (voice) (1 ep)
1997 Recess TV Supt. Skinner (voice) (1 ep)
1996 Quack Pack TV Mr. Roborson (voice) (1 ep)
1996 The Frighteners Film The Judge
1995 The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat TV (voice) (58 ep)
1995 Pinky and the Brain TV (1 ep)
1995 Harrison Bergeron Film Golf Announcer
1994 Runaway Daughters Film Fred
1994 Rebel Highway TV Minuteman (Fred) (1 ep)
1994 The Silence of the Hams Film The Ranger
1994 Duckman TV Terry Duke Tetzloff (voice) (5 ep)
1994 Aladdin TV Sydney (voice) (1 ep)
1994 Huck and the King of Hearts Film Zach
1994 Burke's Law TV Alexander the Great (1 ep)
1993 The Nanny TV Dr. Roberts (2 ep)
1993 Problem Child TV Additional Voices (voice) (13 ep)
1993 The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. TV Prof. Albert Wickwire (7 ep)
1993 Stepmonster Film Minister
1992 The Addams Family Album Film Self / Gomez Addams (archive footage)
1992 Killer Tomatoes Eat France! Film Prof. Mortimer Gangreen
1992 Mad About You TV John Astin (1 ep)
1992 The Addams Family TV Gomez Addams (voice) (39 ep)
1991 Killer Tomatoes Strike Back! Film Jeronahew/Prof. Gangreen
1991 Halloween Monster Bash Film Self
1991 Step by Step TV George Humphries (2 ep)
1991 Eerie, Indiana TV Radford (5 ep)
1991 Taz-Mania TV Bull Gator (voice) (123 ep)
1990 They Came from Outer Space TV Neville Nessen (1 ep)
1990 Attack of the Killer Tomatoes TV Dr. Gangreen (voice) (21 ep)
1990 Gremlins 2: The New Batch Film Janitor
1989 Night Life Film Verlin Flanders
1989 The Saint: The Blue Dulac Film George Lafosse
1989 Tales from the Crypt TV Nelson Halliwell (1 ep)
1989 Friend to Friend: Armenian Earthquake Relief Film Self
1988 Mystery Magical Special Film John Astin
1988 Return of the Killer Tomatoes! Film Prof. Gangreen
1987 Teen Wolf Too Film Dean Dunn
1987 Harry Anderson's Sideshow Film Self
1987 The Charmings TV (1 ep)
1986 Body Slam Film Scotty
1986 Mr. Boogedy Film Neil Witherspoon
1985 Mary TV Ed LaSalle (13 ep)
1985 National Lampoon's European Vacation Film Kent
1985 Otherworld TV Akin (1 ep)
1984 Charles in Charge TV Uncle Joe (1 ep)
1984 Murder, She Wrote TV Harry Pierce, Fritz Randall, Ross Hayley (3 ep)
1984 Night Court TV Kenny, Buddy Ryan (1 ep)
1984 Riptide TV Baxter Bernard (1 ep)
1982 St. Elsewhere TV Kevin (1 ep)
1981 Simon & Simon TV (1 ep)

Crew credits 10

YearTitleJob
1984 Murder, She Wrote TV Director (1 ep)
1983 Just Our Luck TV Director (6 ep)
1981 Mr. Merlin TV Director (1 ep)
1977 CHiPs TV Director (3 ep)
1977 Rosetti and Ryan: Men Who Love Women Film Director
1977 Lanigan's Rabbi TV Director (1 ep)
1972 Wacky Taxi Film Director
1971 McMillan & Wife TV Director (2 ep)
1970 Night Gallery TV Director (3 ep)
1968 Prelude Film Director, Writer, Producer
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