Just🎬CinephilesLet's just talk cinema
Search films, users, lists…Sign in
About·Credits·Icons by Icons8
John Astin

John Astin

Acting

March 30, 1930 (96)Baltimore, Maryland, USA

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

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence2026

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence

Prof. Mortimer Gangreen

Screaming Soup Presents: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Retrospective2023

Screaming Soup Presents: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Retrospective

Self

School of Life2005

School of Life

Norman Warner

Betaville2005

Betaville

President Sender

The Making of 'The Frighteners'1998

The Making of 'The Frighteners'

Self

The Frighteners1996

The Frighteners

The Judge

Harrison Bergeron1995

Harrison Bergeron

Golf Announcer

The Silence of the Hams1994

The Silence of the Hams

The Ranger

Huck and the King of Hearts1994

Huck and the King of Hearts

Zach

Runaway Daughters1994

Runaway Daughters

Fred

Stepmonster1993

Stepmonster

Minister

Killer Tomatoes Eat France!1992

Killer Tomatoes Eat France!

Prof. Mortimer Gangreen

The Addams Family Album1992

The Addams Family Album

Self / Gomez Addams (archive footage)

Halloween Monster Bash1991

Halloween Monster Bash

Self

Killer Tomatoes Strike Back!1991

Killer Tomatoes Strike Back!

Jeronahew/Prof. Gangreen

Gremlins 2: The New Batch1990

Gremlins 2: The New Batch

Janitor

Night Life1989

Night Life

Verlin Flanders

The Saint: The Blue Dulac1989

The Saint: The Blue Dulac

George Lafosse

Return of the Killer Tomatoes!1988

Return of the Killer Tomatoes!

Prof. Gangreen

Mystery Magical Special1988

Mystery Magical Special

John Astin

Teen Wolf Too1987

Teen Wolf Too

Dean Dunn

Harry Anderson's Sideshow1987

Harry Anderson's Sideshow

Self

Body Slam1986

Body Slam

Scotty

Mr. Boogedy1986

Mr. Boogedy

Neil Witherspoon

Behind the camera

Rosetti and Ryan: Men Who Love Women1977

Rosetti and Ryan: Men Who Love Women

Director

Wacky Taxi1972

Wacky Taxi

Director