Online Encyclopedia
John Astin
John Astin (born March 30, 1930) is an American actor best known for the role of Gomez Addams on The Addams Family television series.
He was born in Baltimore, Maryland and attended Johns Hopkins University, where he studied mathematics. He has appeared in numerous films and television shows.
He started in theatre, doing voice-over work for commercials. His first big break came in a small but memorable part in the Oscar-winning West Side Story in 1961. A few years later he starred in The Addams Family (1964-1966) as Gomez Addams, the macabre head of the family.
He has continued to work, appearing in a string of "Killer Tomatoes" films as Professor Gangreen. He also tours his one person play, "Edgar Allan Poe -Once upon a midnight". Astin teaches acting and directing in the Writing Seminars Department at his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University. He has five sons, David, Allen, Tom, Sean and Mackenzie. Sean and Mackenzie are also successful actors.
Selected Filmography
- West Side Story (1961) Glad Hand, Social Worker Leading Dance
- The Addams Family (1964) (television) Gomez Addams
- Freaky Friday (1976) Bill Andrews
- Teen Wolf Too (1987) Dean Dunn
- Return of the Killer Tomatoes! (1988) Professor Gangreen
- The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. (1993) (television) Professor Albert Wickwire