John Astin

Birth Name:

John Allen Astin

Birth Place:

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Profession

Actor, Director, Soundtrack, Writer, Producer

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․"

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