John Astin
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).
Acting
Movie
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
as Janitor
1990
Movie
West Side Story
as Glad Hand (uncredited)
1961
Movie
The Frighteners
as The Judge
1996
TV
The Nanny
as Dr. Roberts
1993
TV
The Twilight Zone
as Charlie
1959
Movie
National Lampoon's European Vacation
as Kent
1985
TV
Tales from the Crypt
as Nelson Halliwell
1989
TV
Pinky and the Brain
1995
TV
Batman
as The Riddler
1966
TV
Recess
as Supt. Skinner (voice)
1997
TV
Step by Step
as George Humphries
1991
TV
Murder, She Wrote
as Harry Pierce
1984
TV
Murder, She Wrote
as Fritz Randall
1984
TV
Murder, She Wrote
as Ross Hayley
1984
TV
The Addams Family
as Gomez Addams
1964
Movie
Freaky Friday
as Bill Andrews
1976
TV
The Wild Thornberrys
as The Great Bangaboo (voice)
1998
TV
Diff'rent Strokes
1978
TV
The New Scooby-Doo Movies
as Gomez Addams (voice)
1972
TV
Taz-Mania
as Bull Gator (voice)
1991
TV
Mad About You
as John Astin
1992
Movie
Return of the Killer Tomatoes!
as Prof. Gangreen
1988
Movie
Teen Wolf Too
as Dean Dunn
1987
Movie
The Silence of the Hams
as The Ranger
1994
Crew
TV
Murder, She Wrote
Director
1984
TV
CHiPs
Director
1977
TV
Night Gallery
Director
1970
TV
McMillan & Wife
Director
1971
Movie
Wacky Taxi
Director
1972
TV
Mr. Merlin
Director
1981
TV
Just Our Luck
Director
1983
Lanigan's Rabbi
Director
1977
Prelude
Director
1968
Movie
Rosetti and Ryan: Men Who Love Women
Director
1977