A visiting theater professor at Johns Hopkins University. His new facility is the "Old Barn," former home of Theater Hopkins, a top-scale community theater outfit. Astin won rave reviews for his portrayal of the Stage Manager in a performance of "Our Town" with Hopkins as well as for a recent portrayal of Edgar Allan Poe.
Appeared in three separate episodes of "Rod Serling's Night Gallery" (1969). During each episode, his character was killed, and during two episodes, his character found himself in Hell. Also directed three episodes of the show.
Attended Washington and Jefferson College, graduated from Johns Hopkins University and did graduate work at the University of Minnesota.
Best remembered by the public for his starring role as "Gomez Adams" in "The Addams Family" (1964).
Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. pg. 31-32. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387.
Brother of Alexander W. Astin, professor emeritus at UCLA who is considered one of the most influential scholars in the field of higher education research.
Children: (with Duke) Mackenzie Astin; (with Hahn) David Astin, Allen Astin and Tom Astin. Son Sean Astin is adopted; and Sean and Mackenzie are actors.
During a speech given at Booker High School in Sarasota, Florida, he told the crowd of students that he never has, and never will watch any of the new Addams Family films. He did not give his reasons why.
Father, Allen Astin, was the 5th Director of the National Bureau of Standards.
Grandfather of actress Alexandra Astin, Elizabeth Louise Astin, Isabella Louise Astin, Sedona Astin and Jaya Astin.
Has twice played father to Jodie Foster. They appeared together as father and daughter in Freaky Friday (1976). In the live action "The Addams Family" (1964), John plays Gomez Addams. In an animated series in the early 1970s, Jodie Foster voiced Pugsley Addams.
He and his son Sean have both appeared in films that won Best Picture, four decades apart. John had a small role in West Side Story (1961), while Sean had a lead role in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
He and his wife Val are leaders of a Buddhist group in Santa Monica.
He is one of only 9 actors to have played "Special Guest Villains" in "Batman" (1966) who are still alive, the others being Malachi Throne, Julie Newmar, Eli Wallach, Joan Collins, Glynis Johns, Barbara Rush, Dina Merrill and Zsa Zsa Gabor.
He is the only member of the regular adult cast of "The Addams Family" (1964) who is still alive.
Is a fan of the works of Edgar Allan Poe, and studies Poe's works extensively. He has regularly attended Baltimore's yearly celebration of Poe's birthday.
Is a vegetarian.
Son Sean Astin is adopted. He is ex-wife Patty Duke's son with her ex-husband Michael Tell. Duke claimed Sean's biological father was Desi Arnaz Jr. until the two blood-tested in 1990 and it became clear that Tell was the father.
Three generations of his family have worked with Christopher Lee. His son, Sean Astin, and granddaughter, Alexandra Astin, appeared in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). He and Lee appeared together in Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990).
Three generations of his family have worked with director Peter Jackson. He appeared in The Frighteners (1996), while his son Sean Astin appeared in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Sean's real-life daughter, Alexandra Astin, played the daughter of his character in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).