John Astin Biography

Fast Facts

• Teaches a Contemporary Theatre course at Johns Hopkins University for the Theatre Arts and Studies Program, of which he is the director
• The Merrick Barn theater at Johns Hopkins University was renamed "The John Astin Theatre" in his honor in 2011
• Graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1952
• Before joining the drama program at Johns Hopkins, he studied mathematics at Washington & Jefferson College
• Quote: "Life is unpredictable, which is why theater is perhaps the greatest medium of all․ If it's done right, theater is a living presence in front of us․․․If you do it right, it's better than Six Flags․"
• Quote: "(On playing the villain): "There's humanity in everyone․ No exceptions․ Even the bad guys․ They're people ultimately and they are a wonder․ There's something about the human being that can manifest greatness․․․it's just not manifest all of the time․""
• Best known for his role as Gomez Addams on "The Addams Family" TV series
• Starred in the one-man play "Once Upon a Midnight" as Edgar Allan Poe, whose writings he greatly admires
• Three generations of his family have worked on projects with director Peter Jackson: himself in "The Frighteners," his son Sean Astin in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and his granddaughter Alexandra Astin in "The Return of the King․"