Seenonscreen - The Biggest Library of movies and tv series.

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).

The Frighteners ( 1996) | IMDb: 7.1

Comedy , Horror

Once an architect, Frank Bannister now passes himself off as an exorcist of evil spirits. To bolster his facade, he claims his "special" gift is the result of a car accident that killed his wife. But what he does not count on is more people dying in the small town where he lives. As he tries to piece together the supernatural mystery of these killings, he falls in love with the wife of one of the victims and deals with a crazy FBI agent.

Starring:

Michael J. Fox , Trini Alvarado , Peter Dobson , John Astin , Jeffrey Combs , Dee Wallace

Directed by:

Michele Priest , Merrin Ruck , Carey Carter

Produced by:

Victoria Burrows , Peter Jackson , Karyn Childs

Gremlins 2: The New Batch ( 1990) | IMDb: 6.4

Comedy , Fantasy , Horror

Young sweethearts Billy and Kate move to the Big Apple, land jobs in a high-tech office park and soon reunite with the friendly and lovable Gizmo. But a series of accidents creates a whole new generation of Gremlins. The situation worsens when the devilish green creatures invade a top-secret laboratory and develop genetically altered powers, making them even harder to destroy!

Starring:

Zach Galligan , Phoebe Cates , John Glover , Robert Prosky , Robert Picardo , Christopher Lee

Directed by:

P.R. Tooke , Victor Hsu , James H. Spencer

Produced by:

Marion Dougherty , Kathleen Kennedy , Rick Baker

Night Life ( 1989) | IMDb: 5.6

Comedy , Horror

Archie works part-time at his uncle's mortuary and is harassed by a few of the popular kids because of it. His harassers die in an automobile accident, and the bodies are taken to his uncle's mortuary. Archie is pulling a late night at the mortuary when he sees a storm brewing. Lighting strikes! They're alive! The preppie bullies continue to torment him...as zombies!

Starring:

Scott Grimes , John Astin , Cheryl Pollak , Anthony Geary , Alan Blumenfeld , Kenneth Ian Davis

Directed by:

David Acomba

Produced by:

Susan Young , Charles Lippincott , Susan Nicoletti

Teen Wolf Too ( 1987) | IMDb: 3.4

Comedy , Family , Fantasy

Although awkward college student Todd Howard is particularly adept at science, he's paying for school with an athletic scholarship that he will lose should he not fare well in an upcoming boxing tournament. Luckily for Todd, he has inherited the same family curse that once turned his cousin into a werewolf. As he transforms into the hairy, fanged, howling monster, he finds both his physical agility and his popularity skyrocketing -- but at what cost?

Starring:

Jason Bateman , Kim Darby , John Astin , Paul Sand , Mark Holton , James Hampton

Directed by:

Mark S. Thomas , Tana M. Manners , Christopher Leitch

Produced by:

Kent Bateman , Thomas Coleman , Bruce Margolis

National Lampoon's European Vacation Poster

National Lampoon's European Vacation ( 1985) | IMDb: 6.2

Adventure , Comedy , Romance

The Griswolds win a vacation to Europe on a game show, and so pack their bags for the continent. They do their best to catch the flavor of Europe, but they just don't know how to be be good tourists. Besides, they have trouble taking holidays in countries where they CAN speak the language.

Starring:

Chevy Chase , Beverly D'Angelo , Dana Hill , Jason Lively , Eric Idle , Victor Lanoux

Directed by:

Amy Heckerling , Don French , Michael D. Moore

Produced by:

Dieter Meyer , Stuart Cornfeld , Regina Gruss

Candy ( 1968) | IMDb: 5.1

Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy

A high school girl encounters a variety of kookie characters and humorous sexual situations while searching for the meaning of life.

Starring:

Ewa Aulin , Charles Aznavour , Marlon Brando , Richard Burton , James Coburn , John Huston

Directed by:

Christian Marquand

Produced by:

Robert Haggiag , Peter Zoref , Selig J. Seligman

West Side Story ( 1961) | IMDb: 7.6

Crime , Drama , Romance

In the slums of the upper West Side of Manhattan, tensions are high as a gang of Polish-Americans compete against a gang of recently immigrated Puerto Ricans, but this doesn't stop two romantics from each gang falling in love.

Starring:

Natalie Wood , Richard Beymer , Rita Moreno , George Chakiris , Russ Tamblyn , Simon Oakland

Directed by:

Jerome M. Siegel , Robert E. Relyea , Stanley K. Scheuer

Produced by:

Walter Mirisch , Lynn Stalmaster , Saul Chaplin

John Astin Movies: Top 7 Performances by a Successful Actor

Biography