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| party =
| party =
| television = ''[[The Addams Family (1964 TV series)|The Addams Family]]''<br />''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]''
| television = ''[[The Addams Family (1964 TV series)|The Addams Family]]''<br />''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]''
| religion = Nichiren Buddhism ([[Soka Gakkai International]])<ref>{{cite news | last =Davis| first =John | coauthors = | title =Soka Gakkai Buddhist Retreat Center | newspaper =SunSentinel | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date = | url =http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-05-24/news/9605230673_1_soka-gakkai-buddhist-shopping-center-retreat-center | accessdate =9 December 2013 }}</ref>
| religion = Nichiren Buddhism ([[Soka Gakkai International]])<ref>{{cite news|last=Davis|first=John|coauthors=|title =Soka Gakkai Buddhist Retreat Center|newspaper=SunSentinel|location=|pages=|language= publisher=|date=|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-05-24/news/9605230673_1_soka-gakkai-buddhist-shopping-center-retreat-center|accessdate=December 9, 2013}}</ref>
| spouse = {{marriage|Suzanne Hahn|1956|1972}}<br />{{marriage|[[Patty Duke]]|1972|1985}}<br />{{marriage|Valerie Ann Sandobal|1989|}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Suzanne Hahn|1956|1972}}<br />{{marriage|[[Patty Duke]]|1972|1985}}<br />{{marriage|Valerie Ann Sandobal|1989|}}
}}
}}
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==Early years==
==Early years==
Astin was born in [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]], to Margaret Linnie (née Mackenzie) and Dr. Allen Varley Astin, who was the director of the National Bureau of Standards (now the [[National Institute of Standards and Technology]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/93/John-Astin.html |title=John Astin Biography |work=filmreference |year=2008 |accessdate=2009-01-17}}</ref> He graduated from [[Johns Hopkins University]] in 1952, after transferring from [[Washington & Jefferson College]]. He studied [[mathematics]] at Washington & Jefferson and then at Johns Hopkins; he was a member of the [[Phi Kappa Psi]] fraternity at Johns Hopkins.
Astin was born in [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]], to Margaret Linnie (née Mackenzie) and Dr. Allen Varley Astin, who was the director of the National Bureau of Standards (now the [[National Institute of Standards and Technology]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/93/John-Astin.html |title=John Astin Biography|work=filmreference|year=2008|accessdate=January 17, 2009}}</ref> He graduated from [[Johns Hopkins University]] in 1952, after transferring from [[Washington & Jefferson College]]. He studied [[mathematics]] at Washington & Jefferson and then at Johns Hopkins; he was a member of the [[Phi Kappa Psi]] fraternity at Johns Hopkins.


==Career==
==Career==
Astin started in theater, making his first Broadway appearance as an understudy in ''[[Major Barbara]]'', and also did voice-over work for commercials. His first big break in film came with a small part in ''[[West Side Story (film)|West Side Story]]'' in 1961.
Astin started in theater, making his first Broadway appearance as an understudy in ''[[Major Barbara]]'', and also did voice-over work for commercials. His first big break in film came with a small part in ''[[West Side Story (film)|West Side Story]]'' in 1961.


During this period, his talent for also playing comedy was spotted by actor [[Tony Randall]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Lowry|first=Cynthia|title=Actor John Astin Suddenly Finds He's A Siamese Twin|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=knZPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GAUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6499,6053148&dq=john+astin&hl=en|accessdate=26 October 2013|newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner|date=30 October 1962}}</ref> leading to guest starring roles on the [[Situation comedy|situation comedies]] ''[[Dennis the Menace (1959 TV series)|Dennis the Menace]]'', starring [[Jay North]], ''[[The Donna Reed Show]]'', and ''[[Harrigan and Son]]'', starring [[Pat O'Brien (actor)|Pat O'Brien]], the first carried on [[CBS]] and the latter two carried on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]. In 1961, he appeared in the final episode of the ABC [[police drama]] ''[[The Asphalt Jungle (TV series)|The Asphalt Jungle]]''. In 1962–1963, Astin starred with [[Marty Ingels]] in the unusual ABC sitcom ''[[I'm Dickens, He's Fenster]]'', which lasted for thirty-one episodes. From 1964 to 1966, he starred in ''[[The Addams Family (1964 TV series)|The Addams Family]]'' as [[Gomez Addams]], the head of the macabre family. He appeared in the TV show ''[[The New Addams Family]]'' as Grandpapa Addams in 1998, with the role of Gomez Addams played by [[Glenn Taranto]].
During this period, his talent for also playing comedy was spotted by actor [[Tony Randall]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Lowry|first=Cynthia|title=Actor John Astin Suddenly Finds He's A Siamese Twin|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=knZPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GAUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6499,6053148&dq=john+astin&hl=en|accessdate=October 26,2013|newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner|date=October 30, 1962|accessdate=May 25, 2015}}</ref> leading to guest starring roles on the [[Situation comedy|situation comedies]] ''[[Dennis the Menace (1959 TV series)|Dennis the Menace]]'', starring [[Jay North]], ''[[The Donna Reed Show]]'', and ''[[Harrigan and Son]]'', starring [[Pat O'Brien (actor)|Pat O'Brien]], the first carried on [[CBS]] and the latter two carried on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]. In 1961, he appeared in the final episode of the ABC [[police drama]] ''[[The Asphalt Jungle (TV series)|The Asphalt Jungle]]''. In 1962–1963, Astin starred with [[Marty Ingels]] in the unusual ABC sitcom ''[[I'm Dickens, He's Fenster]]'', which lasted for thirty-one episodes. From 1964 to 1966, he starred in ''[[The Addams Family (1964 TV series)|The Addams Family]]'' as [[Gomez Addams]], the head of the macabre family. He appeared in the TV show ''[[The New Addams Family]]'' as Grandpapa Addams in 1998, with the role of Gomez Addams played by [[Glenn Taranto]].


[[File:Operation Petticoat television cast.JPG|thumb|180px|The television cast: back, from left: Doreen Thomson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Melinda Naud, Bond Gibson. Front, from left: Richard Gilliand, John Astin.]]
Astin joined the retooled ''[[The Pruitts of Southampton]]'' (re-titled ''The Phyllis Diller Show'') for the second half of the 1966-1967 season, playing Diller's brother-in-law, Angus Pruitt. He also played the [[Riddler]] in the second season of ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' ([[Frank Gorshin]] returned for the third and final season.)<ref>http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0321976/?ref_=tt_cl_t241</ref> He played submarine commander Matthew Sherman in the 1970s TV series ''[[Operation Petticoat]]''. He also made a notable appearance in the popular mystery show ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'', as the villainous [[Sheriff]] Harry Pierce. He had a recurring role on the sitcom ''[[Night Court]]'' as Buddy, eccentric former mental patient and the father of lead character Harry Stone. He also played the regular role of Ed LaSalle in the short-lived [[Mary Tyler Moore]] sitcom ''[[Mary (TV series)|Mary]]'' during the 1985–86 television season. He guest starred on numerous television series too, including a ''[[Gunsmoke]]'' appearance in 1967 as [[Festus Haggen|Festus's]] cousin Henry, [[Jack Palance]]'s ABC circus drama, ''[[The Greatest Show on Earth (TV series)|The Greatest Show on Earth]]'', ''[[Duckman]]'', and ''[[Homeboys in Outer Space]]''.
Astin joined the retooled ''[[The Pruitts of Southampton]]'' (re-titled ''The Phyllis Diller Show'') for the second half of the 1966-1967 season, playing Diller's brother-in-law, Angus Pruitt. He also played the [[Riddler]] in the second season of ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' ([[Frank Gorshin]] returned for the third and final season.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0321976/?ref_=tt_cl_t241|title=Batman|work=imdb.com|accessdate=May 25, 2015}}</ref> He played submarine commander Matthew Sherman in the 1970s TV series ''[[Operation Petticoat]]''. He also made a notable appearance in the popular mystery show ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'', as the villainous [[Sheriff]] Harry Pierce. He had a recurring role on the sitcom ''[[Night Court]]'' as Buddy, eccentric former mental patient and the father of lead character Harry Stone. He also played the regular role of Ed LaSalle in the short-lived [[Mary Tyler Moore]] sitcom ''[[Mary (TV series)|Mary]]'' during the 1985–86 television season. He guest starred on numerous television series too, including a ''[[Gunsmoke]]'' appearance in 1967 as [[Festus Haggen|Festus's]] cousin Henry, [[Jack Palance]]'s ABC circus drama, ''[[The Greatest Show on Earth (TV series)|The Greatest Show on Earth]]'', ''[[Duckman]]'', and ''[[Homeboys in Outer Space]]''.


Astin received an Academy Award nomination for ''Prelude'', a short film that he wrote, produced, and directed. He was nominated for an Ace Award for his work on ''[[Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|Tales from the Crypt]]'', and received an Emmy nomination for the cartoon voice of Gomez on ABC-TV's ''The Addams Family''. He also voiced the character Bull Gator on the animated series ''[[Taz-Mania]]''. Astin served for four years on the Board of Directors of the [[Writers Guild of America]], and has been active in community affairs in Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
Astin received an Academy Award nomination for ''Prelude'', a short film that he wrote, produced, and directed. He was nominated for an Ace Award for his work on ''[[Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|Tales from the Crypt]]'', and received an Emmy nomination for the cartoon voice of Gomez on ABC-TV's ''The Addams Family''. He also voiced the character Bull Gator on the animated series ''[[Taz-Mania]]''. Astin served for four years on the Board of Directors of the [[Writers Guild of America]], and has been active in community affairs in Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
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==Personal life==
==Personal life==
[[File:Handprints of John Astin.jpg|thumb|The handprints of John Astin in front of [[Hollywood Hills Amphitheater]] at [[Walt Disney World]]'s [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]] theme park]]
John Astin has five sons; three (David, Allen, and Tom) with his first wife, Suzanne Hahn; two with his second wife, actress [[Patty Duke]] - one adopted ([[Sean Astin|Sean]], Patty's son from an earlier relationship, whom John adopted after their marriage) and one biological ([[Mackenzie Astin|Mackenzie]]). Astin is currently married to Valerie Ann Sandobal and lives in Baltimore. He practices Nichiren Buddhism as a member of the worldwide Buddhist association [[Soka Gakkai International]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Jessica Novak |title=Johns Hopkins' leading man |work=The Baltimore Examiner |date=28 December 2007 |url= |accessdate=2007-12-28}}</ref>
John Astin has five sons; three (David, Allen, and Tom) with his first wife, Suzanne Hahn; two with his second wife, actress [[Patty Duke]] - one adopted ([[Sean Astin|Sean]], Patty's son from an earlier relationship, whom John adopted after their marriage) and one biological ([[Mackenzie Astin|Mackenzie]]). Astin is currently married to Valerie Ann Sandobal and lives in Baltimore. He practices Nichiren Buddhism as a member of the worldwide Buddhist association [[Soka Gakkai International]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Jessica Novak|title=Johns Hopkins' leading man |work=The Baltimore Examiner|date=December 28, 2007|url=|accessdate=December 28, 2007}}</ref>


His younger brother, [[Alexander Astin]], is a professor emeritus at [[University of California, Los Angeles|UCLA]].
His younger brother, [[Alexander Astin]], is a professor emeritus at [[University of California, Los Angeles|UCLA]].
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He has six granddaughters: Alexandra, Elizabeth, Isabella, Sedona, Jaya, and Dov.
He has six granddaughters: Alexandra, Elizabeth, Isabella, Sedona, Jaya, and Dov.


==Filmography==
==TV and filmography==
:n.b. for credit listings reference<ref name="TV">{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/people/john-astin/|title=John Astin : Credit Listings |publisher=TV.com|date=|accessdate=May 25, 2015}}</ref>
[[File:Handprints of John Astin.jpg|thumb|The handprints of John Astin in front of [[Hollywood Hills Amphitheater]] at [[Walt Disney World]]'s [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]] theme park]]

* ''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]'': "[[A Hundred Yards Over the Rim]]" (1961) - Charlie
===Film===
* ''[[West Side Story (film)|West Side Story]]'' (1961) – Glad Hand, Social Worker Leading Dance
{| class="wikitable sortable"
* ''[[That Touch of Mink]]'' (1962) – Mr. Everett Beasley
! Year
* ''[[I'm Dickens, He's Fenster]]'' (1962-63) (CBS - Television) - Harry Dickens
! Title
* ''[[Move Over Darling]]'' (1963) – Clyde Prokey
! Role
* ''[[The Wheeler Dealers]]'' (1963) – SEC official
! Notes
* ''[[The Addams Family (1964 TV series)|The Addams Family]]'' (1964–66) (television) – Gomez/Grandpapa Addams
! ref
* ''[[The Pruitts of Southampton]]'' (1967) (ABC television)
|-
* ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'': "Batman's Anniversary/A Riddling Controversy" (1967) (television) – The Riddler
| 1961
* ''[[The Wild Wild West]]'': "The Night of the Tartar" (1967) (television) – Count Nikolai Sazanov
| ''[[West Side Story (film)|West Side Story]]''
* ''[[The Flying Nun]]'': "Flight of the Dodo Bird" (1967) (television) – Father Lundigan
| Glad Hand, Social Worker Leading Dance
* ''The Spirit is Willing'' (1967) - Dr. Frieden
| {{Plain list |
* ''[[Candy (1968 film)|Candy]]'' (1968) – Daddy / Uncle Jack
* American [[Romance film|romantic]] [[Musical film|musical]] [[drama film]] directed by [[Robert Wise]] and [[Jerome Robbins]].
* ''[[Viva Max!]]'' (1969) – Sergeant Valdez
* The film is an [[Film adaptation|adaptation]] of the 1957 [[Broadway theatre|Broadway musical]] [[West Side Story|of the same name]], which in turn was inspired by [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]''.
* ''[[Bunny O'Hare]]'' (1971) – Ad
}}
* ''[[The Odd Couple]]'' (1971) "Oscar's New Life" – Beau Buffingham (television)
| <ref>{{cite web|title=''West Side Story'' (AA)|url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/west-side-story-scope-70mm|work=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|date=January 12, 1962|accessdate=May 25, 2015}}</ref>
* ''[[Night Gallery]]'': "Pamela's Voice" (1971) (television) - Jonathon
|-
* ''[[Night Gallery]]'': "Hell's Bells" (1971) (television) - Randy Miller
| 1962
* ''[[Night Gallery]]'': "The Girl with the Hungry Eyes" (1972) (television) – Mr. Munch
* ''[[Evil Roy Slade]]'' (1972) – Evil Roy Slade
| ''[[That Touch of Mink]]''
| Mr. Everett Beasley
* ''[[Get to Know Your Rabbit]]'' (1972) - Mr. Turnbull
|
* ''[[Every Little Crook and Nanny]]'' (1972) - Vito Garbugli
|
* ''The Brothers O'Toole'' (1973) - Michael O'Toole / Desperate Ambrose Littleberry
|-
* ''[[Ghost Story (TV series)|Circle of Fear]]'': "The Graveyard Shift" (1973) (television) – Fred Colby
|1963
* ''[[The Partridge Family]]'' (1973) (television) – Sydney Rose in The Mad Millionaire
| ''[[Move Over Darling]]''
* ''Only with Married Men'' (1974 film)
| Clyde Prokey
* Guest starred on ''Welcome Back Kotter'' as the museum curator (television) - 1975 to 1979
| {{Plain list |
* ''[[Freaky Friday (1976 film)|Freaky Friday]]'' (1976) – Bill Andrews
* The picture was a [[remake]] of a 1940 [[screwball comedy film]], ''[[My Favorite Wife]]'', with [[Irene Dunne]], [[Cary Grant]] and [[Gail Patrick]].
* ''[[Operation Petticoat#1977 television series|Operation Petticoat]]'' (1977) – Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Sherman
* In between these movies, a version entitled ''[[Something's Got to Give]]'' began shooting in 1962, directed by [[George Cukor]] and starring [[Marilyn Monroe]] and [[Dean Martin]], but was never finished.
* ''Halloween with The (New) Addams Family''(TV-movie)-(1977)- Gomez Addams
}}
* ''[[Murder She Wrote]]'': "Hooray for Homicide" (1985) – Ross Hayley
| <ref>Garner, James & Winokur, Jon ''The Garner Files: A Memoir'' Simon & Schuster; (November 1, 2011) Accessed May 23, 2015</ref>
* ''[[Murder She Wrote]]'': "Joshua Peabody Died Here... Possibly" (1985) – Harry Pierce
|-
* ''[[Murder She Wrote]]'': "A Lady In the Lake" (1985) (television) – Harry Pierce
| 1963
* ''[[Murder She Wrote]]'': "Sticks and Stones" (1985) (television) – Harry Pierce
| ''[[The Wheeler Dealers]]''
* ''[[Otherworld (TV series)|Otherworld]]'': "Mansion of the Beast" (1985) (television) - Akin
| SEC official
* ''[[National Lampoon's European Vacation]]'' (1985) – Kent Winkdale (host of "A Pig inT a Poke")
| Released as '''Separate Beds''' in the UK
* ''[[Mr. Boogedy]]'' (1986) – Neil Witherspoon
| <ref>''[[Variety Film Reviews|Variety]]'' film review; September 25, 1963, page 6 Accesed May 23, 2015.</ref>
* ''[[Teen Wolf Too]]'' (1987) – Dean Dunn
|-
* ''[[The Charmings]]'' (1987) – Jack/''[[The Devil]]''
| 1967
* ''[[Body Slam]]'' (1987) - Scotty the car dealer
| ''The Spirit is Willing''
* ''[[Return of the Killer Tomatoes]]'' (1988) – Professor Gangreen
| Dr. Frieden
* "[[Charles in Charge]]" (1989)
|
- Pickle King of New York /Uncle Joe
|
* ''[[Killer Tomatoes Strike Back]]'' (1990) – Professor Gangreen
|-
* ''[[Killer Tomatoes Eat France]]'' (1991) – Professor Gangreen
| 1968
* ''[[Eerie Indiana]]'' (1991) (television) – Radford
| ''[[Candy (1968 film)|Candy]]''
* ''[[The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.]]'' (1993) (television) – Professor Albert Wickwire
| Daddy / Uncle Jack
* ''[[Night Court]]'' (1986) – Former Mental Patient Buddy Ryan
| {{Plain list |
* ''[[Gremlins 2: The New Batch]]'' (1990) – Janitor
* [[Sex farce]] film directed by [[Christian Marquand]] based on [[Candy (Southern and Hoffenberg novel)|the 1958 novel]] by [[Terry Southern]] and Mason Hoffenberg, from a screenplay by [[Buck Henry]].
* ''[[Taz-Mania]]'' (1991) (television) – Bull Gator (voice)
* The film satirizes pornographic stories through the adventures of its naive heroine, Candy, played by [[Ewa Aulin]].
* ''[[The Addams Family (1992 animated series)|The Addams Family]],'' animated series (1992) – Gomez Addams (voice)
}}
* ''[[Stepmonster]]'' (1993) – Minister
| <ref name=Ebert>{{cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|date=December 26, 1968|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19681226/REVIEWS/812260301/1023|title=Review: Candy (1968)]|work=[[Chicago Sun Times]]|accessdate=March 23, 2010}}</ref><ref name=Rotten>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1105374-candy/|title=Candy (1968) Reviews|work=''RottenTomatoes.com''|accessdate=March 23, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Adler|first=Renata|date=December 18, 1968|url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=1&res=9507E5DA1230E034BC4052DFB4678383679EDE|title='Candy,' Compromises Galore:Film Faithful in Spirit to Satirical Novel|work=''[[New York Times]]''|accessdate=March 23, 2010}}</ref>
* ''[[The Silence of the Hams]]'' (1993) – The Ranger
|-
* ''[[Duckman]]'' (1994) – Terry Duke Tetzloff (voice)
| 1969
* ''[[Mad About You]]'': "Up All Night" (1994) (television) – Himself
* ''[[Super Password]]'' – Himself
| ''[[Viva Max!]]''
| Sergeant Valdez
* ''[[Murder She Wrote]]'': "Film Flam" (1995) (television) – Fritz Randall
| [[comedy film|Comedy]] [[film]]
* ''[[Step by Step (TV series)|Step by Step]]'': "The Ice Cream Man Cometh" (1994) and "The Flight Before Christmas" (1995) - George Humphries
|
* ''[[The Frighteners]]'' (1996) – The Judge
|-
* ''[[The Nanny]]'': "Your Feets Too Big" (1996) and "Tattoo" (1996) - The Plastic Surgeon
| 1971
* ''[[Becker (TV series)|Becker]]'': "All The Rage" (2000) – Richard Wilson
| ''[[Bunny O'Hare]]''
* ''[[School of Life]]'' (2005) – Stormin' Norman Warner
| Ad
* ''[[What the Bleep!?: Down the Rabbit Hole]]'' (2006) - Dr. Quantum (voice)
| {{Plain list |
* ''Starship II: Rendezvous with Ramses'' (2015) - Professor Peabody
* [[United States|American]] [[comedy film]] directed by [[Gerd Oswald]].
* Bette Davis was unhappy with the final film and sued AIP for $3.3 million in damages.
}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/title.jsp?stid=69906&atid=54063&category=overview|title=''Bunny O'Hare''|work=[[Turner Classic Movies]]|accessdate=May 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>The Contract and the Cutting Room Floor
The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973) [Washington, D.C] 21 Aug 1971: E2</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1972
| ''[[Evil Roy Slade]]''
| Evil Roy Slade
|
|
|-
| ''[[Get to Know Your Rabbit]]''
| Mr. Turnbull
|
|
|-
| ''[[Every Little Crook and Nanny]]''
| Vito Garbugli
|
|
|-
| 1973
| ''The Brothers O'Toole''
| Michael O'Toole / Desperate Ambrose Littleberry
|
|
|-
| 1976
| ''[[Freaky Friday (1976 film)|Freaky Friday]]''
| Bill Andrews
| American [[fantasy film|fantasy]] [[comedy film]] directed by [[Gary Nelson (director)|Gary Nelson]].
|
|-
| 1985
| ''[[National Lampoon's European Vacation]]''
| Kent Winkdale (host of "A Pig in a Poke")
| {{Plain list |
* Originally given the working title '''Vacation '2' Europe'''.
* The second film in [[National Lampoon, Inc.|National Lampoon]]'s [[National Lampoon's Vacation (film series)|''Vacation'' film series]].
}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1987
| ''[[Teen Wolf Too]]''
| Dean Dunn
| {{Plain list |
* American comedy film
* The sequel to ''[[Teen Wolf]]''.
}}
|
|-
| ''[[Body Slam (film)|Body Slam]]''
| Scotty the car dealer
| American comedy film directed by [[Hal Needham]].
|
|-
| 1988
| ''[[Return of the Killer Tomatoes]]''
| Professor Gangreen
| {{Plain list |
* A horror comedy film
* The first sequel to ''[[Attack of the Killer Tomatoes]]''.
}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1990
| ''[[Gremlins 2: The New Batch]]''
| Janitor
| {{Plain list |
* American [[horror comedy]] film.
* The sequel to ''[[Gremlins]]''.
* The film is a live action horror comedy film; however, Dante put effort into taking the sequel in new [[anarchic comedy film|anarchic]] directions.
}}
| <ref name=DVD>{{cite video|people=DVD commentary|date=2002|title=Gremlins 2: The New Batch|url=|medium=|language=|trans_title=|publisher=Warner Home Video|location= archiveurl=|archivedate=|accessdate=May 25, 2015|time=|id=|isbn=|oclc=|quote=}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Killer Tomatoes Strike Back]]''
| Professor Gangreen
| It is the second in the ''Killer Tomatoes'' film series.
|
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Killer Tomatoes Eat France]]''
| Professor Gangreen
| It is the third in the ''Killer Tomatoes'' film series.
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1993
| ''[[Stepmonster]]''
| Minister
| [[Direct-to-video]] film
|
|-
| ''[[The Silence of the Hams]]''
| The Ranger
| {{Plain list |
* Italian: '''Il Silenzio dei Prosciutti'''
* [[Parody film]] of many popular thriller and horror films, notably ''[[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|The Silence of the Lambs]]'' and ''[[Psycho (1960 film)|Psycho]]''.
}}
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Il Silenzio dei prosciutti (The Silence of the Hams) (1994)|work=Rotten Tomatoes|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/silence_of_the_hams/|accessdate=May 25, 2015}}</ref><ref name="timeout">{{cite web|title=The Silence of the Hams|work=Time Out Film Guide website|url=http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/74640/the-silence-of-the-hams.html|accessdate=May 25, 2015}}</ref><ref name="empire">{{cite web|url=http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=132614|title=Silence of the Hams|work=Empire Online|first=Darren|last=Bignell|accessdate=May 25, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| 1996
| ''[[The Frighteners]]''
| The Judge
| New Zealand-American [[horror comedy]] [[fantasy]] film directed by [[Peter Jackson]] and co-written with his wife, [[Fran Walsh]].
| <ref name=stress>{{cite book | author= Pryor, Ian | title = Peter Jackson: From Prince of Splatter to Lord of the Rings | publisher =[[Thomas Dunne Books]] | year =2003 | pages = 204–205 | isbn = 0-312-32294-1 | location = New York City}}</ref>
|-
| 2006
| ''[[What the Bleep!?: Down the Rabbit Hole]]''
| Dr. Quantum
| Voice
|
|-
| 2015
| ''Starship II: Rendezvous with Ramses''
| Professor Peabody
|
|
|-
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
! ref
|-
| 1961
| ''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]''
| Charlie
| '''Episode''': "[[A Hundred Yards Over the Rim]]"
|
|-
| 1962– 63
| ''[[I'm Dickens, He's Fenster]]''
| Harry Dickens
| Main cast
|
|-
| 1964–66
| ''[[The Addams Family (1964 TV series)|The Addams Family]]''
| [[Gomez Addams]]/Grandpapa Addams
| Main cast
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 1967
| ''[[The Pruitts of Southampton]]''
| Rudy Pruitt
| {{Plain list |
* Main cast
* The show was based on the [[novel]] ''House Party'' (1954) by [[Patrick Dennis]].
* It was ABC's futile attempt to turn female stand-up comic [[Phyllis Diller]] into a sitcom comedienne very much in the style of ''[[Lucille Ball]]''.
}}
| <ref name=lampshade>{{cite book|title=Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse: My Life in Comedy |last1=Diller|first1=Phyllis|last2=Buskin |first2=Richard |year=2005|publisher=The Penguin Group |location=New York |isbn=1-58542-396-3 |pages=190–193|accessdate=May 25, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]''
| [[Riddler|The Riddler]]
|'''Episode''': "Batman's Anniversary/A Riddling Controversy"
|
|-
| ''[[The Wild Wild West]]''
| Count Nikolai Sazanov
| '''Episode''': "The Night of the Tartar"
|
|-
| ''[[The Flying Nun]]''
| Father Lundigan
| '''Episode''': "Flight of the Dodo Bird"
|
|-
|rowspan="3" | 1971
| ''[[The Odd Couple]]''
| Beau Buffingham
| '''Episode''': "Oscar's New Life"
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | ''[[Night Gallery]]''
| Jonathon
| '''Episode''': "Pamela's Voice"
|
|-
| Randy Miller
| '''Episode''': "Hell's Bells"
|
|-
| 1972
| ''Night Gallery''
| Mr. Munch
| '''Episode''': "The Girl with the Hungry Eyes"
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1973
| ''[[The Partridge Family]]''
| Sydney Rose
| '''Episode''': "The Mad Millionaire"
|
|-
| ''[[Ghost Story (TV series)|Circle of Fear]]''
| Fred Colby
| '''Episode''': "The Graveyard Shift"
|
|-
| 1974
| ''Only with Married Men''
| Dr. Harvey Osterman
| [[Television film|Made-for-TV Movie]]
|
|-
| 1975– 1979
|''[[Welcome Back Kotter]]''
| Museum curator
| [[Recurring character|Recurring role]]
|
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Halloween with the New Addams Family]]''
| Gomez Addams
| Made-for-TV Movie
|
|-
| 1977–78
| ''[[Operation Petticoat#1977 television series|Operation Petticoat]]''
| Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Sherman
| Main cast
| <ref name=CDPT>Brooks and Marsh 1995, p. 780. Accessed May 20, 2015</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the70sproject.com/tv/tvshow.php?tvshow=Operation-Petticoat|title=Operation Petticoat TV Show|work=''the70sproject.com''|accessdate=May 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075551/episodes|title=Operation Petticoat (1977–1979)|work=imdb.com|accessdate=May 20, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| 1984
| ''[[Night Court]]''
| Kenny
| '''Episode''' :"Inside Harry Stone" (S 2:Ep 9)
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1985
| rowspan="2" | ''[[Murder She Wrote]]''
| Ross Hayley
| '''Episode''': "Hooray for Homicide"
|
|-
| Harry Pierce
| '''Episodes''':{{Plain list |
* "Joshua Peabody Died Here... Possibly"
* "A Lady In the Lake"
* "Sticks and Stones"
}}
|
|-
| ''[[Otherworld (TV series)|Otherworld]]''
| Akin
| '''Episode''': "Mansion of the Beast"
|
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Mr. Boogedy]]''
| Neil Witherspoon
| Made-for TV [[family film|movie]]
| <ref name=NY>{{cite web|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=http://www.nytimes.com/tv/show/55735/Mr-Boogedy/overview|title=Mr. Boogedy|accessdate=May 20, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| 1986–90
| ''Night Court''
| Former Mental Patient Buddy Ryan
| Recurring role
|
|-
| 1987
| ''[[The Charmings]]''
| Jack/''[[The Devil]]''
| '''Episode''': "The Witch is of Van Oaks" (S 2:Ep 3)
|
|-
| 1989
| "[[Charles in Charge]]"
| Uncle Joe
| '''Episode''': "Pickle King of New York"
|
|-
| 1993
| ''[[The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.]]''
| Professor Albert Wickwire
| '''Episode''': "Pilot" (S 1:Ep 1)
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1991
| ''[[Eerie Indiana]]''
| Radford
| Recurring role
|
|-
| ''[[Taz-Mania]]''
| Bull Gator
| {{Plain list |
* [[Voice acting|Voice]]
* [[Animated series]]
* Recurring role
}}
|
|-
| 1992–93
| ''[[The Addams Family (1992 animated series)|The Addams Family]]''
| Gomez Addams
| {{Plain list |
* Main cast
* Animated series based on the [[The Addams Family|eponymous comic strip characters]].
* Voice
* The series' development began in the wake of the successful 1991 [[The Addams Family (film)|''Addams Family'' feature film]].
* It was the second-to-last Hanna-Barbera-produced show to premiere on ABC.
}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1994
| ''[[Mad About You]]''
| Himself
| '''Episode''': "Up All Night"
|
|-
| ''[[Step by Step (TV series)|Step by Step]]''
| George Humphries
| '''Episode''': "The Ice Cream Man Cometh"
|
|-
| 1994–97
| ''[[Duckman]]''
| Terry Duke Tetzloff
| {{Plain list |
* Recurring role
* Animated series
* Voice
}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1995
| ''Murder She Wrote''
| Fritz Randall
| '''Episode''': "Film Flam"
|
|-
| ''Step by Step''
| George Humphries
| '''Episode''': "The Flight Before Christmas"
|
|-
| 1996
| ''[[The Nanny]]''
| The Plastic Surgeon
| '''Episodes''':{{Plain list |
* "Your Feets Too Big"
* "Tattoo"
}}
|
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Becker (TV series)|Becker]]''
| Richard Wilson
| '''Episode''': "All The Rage"
|
|-
| 2005
| ''[[School of Life]]''
| Stormin' Norman Warner
| Made-for-TV Movie
|
|-
|}


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 23:27, 25 May 2015

John Astin
Astin in a publicity photo 1977
Born
John Allen Astin

(1930-03-30) March 30, 1930 (age 94)
EducationWashington & Jefferson College
Alma materJohns Hopkins University
OccupationActor
Years active1957–present
TelevisionThe Addams Family
Batman
Spouse(s)
Suzanne Hahn
(m. 1956⁠–⁠1972)

(m. 1972⁠–⁠1985)

Valerie Ann Sandobal
(m. 1989)

John Allen Astin (born March 30, 1930) is an American actor who has appeared in numerous films and television shows, and is best known for the roles of Gomez Addams on The Addams Family, Evil Roy Slade, and other similarly eccentric comedic characters.

Early years

Astin was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Margaret Linnie (née Mackenzie) and Dr. Allen Varley Astin, who was the director of the National Bureau of Standards (now the National Institute of Standards and Technology).[2] He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1952, after transferring from Washington & Jefferson College. He studied mathematics at Washington & Jefferson and then at Johns Hopkins; he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at Johns Hopkins.

Career

Astin started in theater, making his first Broadway appearance as an understudy in Major Barbara, and also did voice-over work for commercials. His first big break in film came with a small part in West Side Story in 1961.

During this period, his talent for also playing comedy was spotted by actor Tony Randall,[3] leading to guest starring roles on the situation comedies Dennis the Menace, starring Jay North, The Donna Reed Show, and Harrigan and Son, starring Pat O'Brien, the first carried on CBS and the latter two carried on ABC. In 1961, he appeared in the final episode of the ABC police drama The Asphalt Jungle. In 1962–1963, Astin starred with Marty Ingels in the unusual ABC sitcom I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, which lasted for thirty-one episodes. From 1964 to 1966, he starred in The Addams Family as Gomez Addams, the head of the macabre family. He appeared in the TV show The New Addams Family as Grandpapa Addams in 1998, with the role of Gomez Addams played by Glenn Taranto.

The television cast: back, from left: Doreen Thomson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Melinda Naud, Bond Gibson. Front, from left: Richard Gilliand, John Astin.

Astin joined the retooled The Pruitts of Southampton (re-titled The Phyllis Diller Show) for the second half of the 1966-1967 season, playing Diller's brother-in-law, Angus Pruitt. He also played the Riddler in the second season of Batman (Frank Gorshin returned for the third and final season.)[4] He played submarine commander Matthew Sherman in the 1970s TV series Operation Petticoat. He also made a notable appearance in the popular mystery show Murder, She Wrote, as the villainous Sheriff Harry Pierce. He had a recurring role on the sitcom Night Court as Buddy, eccentric former mental patient and the father of lead character Harry Stone. He also played the regular role of Ed LaSalle in the short-lived Mary Tyler Moore sitcom Mary during the 1985–86 television season. He guest starred on numerous television series too, including a Gunsmoke appearance in 1967 as Festus's cousin Henry, Jack Palance's ABC circus drama, The Greatest Show on Earth, Duckman, and Homeboys in Outer Space.

Astin received an Academy Award nomination for Prelude, a short film that he wrote, produced, and directed. He was nominated for an Ace Award for his work on Tales from the Crypt, and received an Emmy nomination for the cartoon voice of Gomez on ABC-TV's The Addams Family. He also voiced the character Bull Gator on the animated series Taz-Mania. Astin served for four years on the Board of Directors of the Writers Guild of America, and has been active in community affairs in Los Angeles and Santa Monica.

He has continued to work in acting, appearing in a string of Killer Tomatoes films as Professor Gangreen and as Professor Wickwire in The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.. He also has toured the one-man play Edgar Allan Poe: Once Upon a Midnight, written by Paul Day Clemens and Ron Magid. In a December 2007 Baltimore Examiner interview, Astin said of his acting experience:

We all struggle, and I had plenty of that, but I've had a great time. I've done hundreds of TV shows and 30 to 40 movies, and I love acting. I'm very happy having done the Poe. That's been really terrific.

Teaching

Astin currently teaches method acting and directing in the Theater Arts and Studies Department at Johns Hopkins University, his alma mater. Commenting on his dual career, he said in 2007, "I don't know one major university that has a known actor teaching every day." He hopes to re-establish a drama major at the university, noting that he is one of only a handful to earn a drama degree from Hopkins. Astin can be seen singing and playing cowbell in a music video from JHU released in December 2009.

Personal life

The handprints of John Astin in front of Hollywood Hills Amphitheater at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park

John Astin has five sons; three (David, Allen, and Tom) with his first wife, Suzanne Hahn; two with his second wife, actress Patty Duke - one adopted (Sean, Patty's son from an earlier relationship, whom John adopted after their marriage) and one biological (Mackenzie). Astin is currently married to Valerie Ann Sandobal and lives in Baltimore. He practices Nichiren Buddhism as a member of the worldwide Buddhist association Soka Gakkai International.[5]

His younger brother, Alexander Astin, is a professor emeritus at UCLA.

He has six granddaughters: Alexandra, Elizabeth, Isabella, Sedona, Jaya, and Dov.

Filmography

n.b. for credit listings reference[6]

Film

Year Title Role Notes ref
1961 West Side Story Glad Hand, Social Worker Leading Dance
[7]
1962 That Touch of Mink Mr. Everett Beasley
1963 Move Over Darling Clyde Prokey
[8]
1963 The Wheeler Dealers SEC official Released as Separate Beds in the UK [9]
1967 The Spirit is Willing Dr. Frieden
1968 Candy Daddy / Uncle Jack
[10][11][12]
1969 Viva Max! Sergeant Valdez Comedy film
1971 Bunny O'Hare Ad
[13][14]
1972 Evil Roy Slade Evil Roy Slade
Get to Know Your Rabbit Mr. Turnbull
Every Little Crook and Nanny Vito Garbugli
1973 The Brothers O'Toole Michael O'Toole / Desperate Ambrose Littleberry
1976 Freaky Friday Bill Andrews American fantasy comedy film directed by Gary Nelson.
1985 National Lampoon's European Vacation Kent Winkdale (host of "A Pig in a Poke")
1987 Teen Wolf Too Dean Dunn
  • American comedy film
  • The sequel to Teen Wolf.
Body Slam Scotty the car dealer American comedy film directed by Hal Needham.
1988 Return of the Killer Tomatoes Professor Gangreen
1990 Gremlins 2: The New Batch Janitor
  • American horror comedy film.
  • The sequel to Gremlins.
  • The film is a live action horror comedy film; however, Dante put effort into taking the sequel in new anarchic directions.
[15]
Killer Tomatoes Strike Back Professor Gangreen It is the second in the Killer Tomatoes film series.
1991 Killer Tomatoes Eat France Professor Gangreen It is the third in the Killer Tomatoes film series.
1993 Stepmonster Minister Direct-to-video film
The Silence of the Hams The Ranger
[16][17][18]
1996 The Frighteners The Judge New Zealand-American horror comedy fantasy film directed by Peter Jackson and co-written with his wife, Fran Walsh. [19]
2006 What the Bleep!?: Down the Rabbit Hole Dr. Quantum Voice
2015 Starship II: Rendezvous with Ramses Professor Peabody

Television

Year Title Role Notes ref
1961 The Twilight Zone Charlie Episode: "A Hundred Yards Over the Rim"
1962– 63 I'm Dickens, He's Fenster Harry Dickens Main cast
1964–66 The Addams Family Gomez Addams/Grandpapa Addams Main cast
1967 The Pruitts of Southampton Rudy Pruitt
[20]
Batman The Riddler Episode: "Batman's Anniversary/A Riddling Controversy"
The Wild Wild West Count Nikolai Sazanov Episode: "The Night of the Tartar"
The Flying Nun Father Lundigan Episode: "Flight of the Dodo Bird"
1971 The Odd Couple Beau Buffingham Episode: "Oscar's New Life"
Night Gallery Jonathon Episode: "Pamela's Voice"
Randy Miller Episode: "Hell's Bells"
1972 Night Gallery Mr. Munch Episode: "The Girl with the Hungry Eyes"
1973 The Partridge Family Sydney Rose Episode: "The Mad Millionaire"
Circle of Fear Fred Colby Episode: "The Graveyard Shift"
1974 Only with Married Men Dr. Harvey Osterman Made-for-TV Movie
1975– 1979 Welcome Back Kotter Museum curator Recurring role
1977 Halloween with the New Addams Family Gomez Addams Made-for-TV Movie
1977–78 Operation Petticoat Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Sherman Main cast [21][22][23]
1984 Night Court Kenny Episode :"Inside Harry Stone" (S 2:Ep 9)
1985 Murder She Wrote Ross Hayley Episode: "Hooray for Homicide"
Harry Pierce Episodes:
  • "Joshua Peabody Died Here... Possibly"
  • "A Lady In the Lake"
  • "Sticks and Stones"
Otherworld Akin Episode: "Mansion of the Beast"
1986 Mr. Boogedy Neil Witherspoon Made-for TV movie [24]
1986–90 Night Court Former Mental Patient Buddy Ryan Recurring role
1987 The Charmings Jack/The Devil Episode: "The Witch is of Van Oaks" (S 2:Ep 3)
1989 "Charles in Charge" Uncle Joe Episode: "Pickle King of New York"
1993 The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Professor Albert Wickwire Episode: "Pilot" (S 1:Ep 1)
1991 Eerie Indiana Radford Recurring role
Taz-Mania Bull Gator
1992–93 The Addams Family Gomez Addams
1994 Mad About You Himself Episode: "Up All Night"
Step by Step George Humphries Episode: "The Ice Cream Man Cometh"
1994–97 Duckman Terry Duke Tetzloff
  • Recurring role
  • Animated series
  • Voice
1995 Murder She Wrote Fritz Randall Episode: "Film Flam"
Step by Step George Humphries Episode: "The Flight Before Christmas"
1996 The Nanny The Plastic Surgeon Episodes:
  • "Your Feets Too Big"
  • "Tattoo"
2000 Becker Richard Wilson Episode: "All The Rage"
2005 School of Life Stormin' Norman Warner Made-for-TV Movie

References

  1. ^ Davis, John. "Soka Gakkai Buddhist Retreat Center". SunSentinel (in publisher=). Retrieved December 9, 2013. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Missing pipe in: |language= (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  2. ^ "John Astin Biography". filmreference. 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2009.
  3. ^ Lowry, Cynthia (October 30, 1962). "Actor John Astin Suddenly Finds He's A Siamese Twin". Ocala Star-Banner. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  4. ^ "Batman". imdb.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  5. ^ Jessica Novak (December 28, 2007). "Johns Hopkins' leading man". The Baltimore Examiner. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  6. ^ "John Astin : Credit Listings". TV.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  7. ^ "West Side Story (AA)". British Board of Film Classification. January 12, 1962. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  8. ^ Garner, James & Winokur, Jon The Garner Files: A Memoir Simon & Schuster; (November 1, 2011) Accessed May 23, 2015
  9. ^ Variety film review; September 25, 1963, page 6 Accesed May 23, 2015.
  10. ^ Ebert, Roger (December 26, 1968). "Review: Candy (1968)]". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  11. ^ "Candy (1968) Reviews". RottenTomatoes.com. Retrieved March 23, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  12. ^ Adler, Renata (December 18, 1968). "'Candy,' Compromises Galore:Film Faithful in Spirit to Satirical Novel". New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  13. ^ "Bunny O'Hare". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  14. ^ The Contract and the Cutting Room Floor The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973) [Washington, D.C] 21 Aug 1971: E2
  15. ^ DVD commentary (2002). Gremlins 2: The New Batch. archiveurl=: Warner Home Video. {{cite AV media}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |trans_title= (help); Missing pipe in: |location= (help)
  16. ^ "Il Silenzio dei prosciutti (The Silence of the Hams) (1994)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  17. ^ "The Silence of the Hams". Time Out Film Guide website. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  18. ^ Bignell, Darren. "Silence of the Hams". Empire Online. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  19. ^ Pryor, Ian (2003). Peter Jackson: From Prince of Splatter to Lord of the Rings. New York City: Thomas Dunne Books. pp. 204–205. ISBN 0-312-32294-1.
  20. ^ Diller, Phyllis; Buskin, Richard (2005). Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse: My Life in Comedy. New York: The Penguin Group. pp. 190–193. ISBN 1-58542-396-3. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  21. ^ Brooks and Marsh 1995, p. 780. Accessed May 20, 2015
  22. ^ "Operation Petticoat TV Show". the70sproject.com. Retrieved May 20, 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  23. ^ "Operation Petticoat (1977–1979)". imdb.com. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  24. ^ "Mr. Boogedy". The New York Times. Retrieved May 20, 2015.

External links

First actor Gomez Addams Actor
18 September 1964 – 30 October 1977
Succeeded by
Preceded by The Riddler Actor
8 – 9 February 1967
Succeeded by

Template:Persondata