John Astin

Dark haired usually mustachioed US actor with a cheeky grin who achieved pop culture status through his portrayal of the kooky patriarch Gomez Addams in the hit TV series The Addams Family 1964 John Astin standing at a height of 5 11 18 m was born March 30 1930 Aries in Baltimore MD as John Allen Astin to Allen V Astin and Margaret Astin with a brother Alexander Astin He is an American actor voice actor and director He attended Washington Jefferson College and Johns Hopkins University where he studied mathematics However he discovered a passion for the theater and began performing in minor plays and doing voiceover work for commercials Married Suzanne Hahn on March 26 1956 had 3 sons David Aston born 1953 Allen J Astin born March 23 1961 and Thomas E Astin born March 19 1965 then divorced June 14 1972 He first got noticed in a small role in West Side Story 1961 then appeared in several other films That Touch of Mink 1962 Move Over Darling 1963 before being cast as Gomez Addams While The Addams Family 19641966 was initially a huge hit its popularity petered out after two years and Astin moved on to other work including the offbeat Bunny OHare 1971 playing a grizzled but not particularly bright gunfighter in the western spoof Evil Roy Slade 1972 an appearance in the Disney comedy Freaky Friday 1976 reprising the role in the television film Halloween with the New Addams Family 1977 and dual roles in National Lampoons European Vacation 1985 Teen Wolf Too 1987 and The Frighteners 1996 Married Patty Duke on August 5 1972 had 2 sons Mackenzie Astin born May 12 1973 and adopted Sean Astin born February 25 1971 when he was 3 years old then divorced November 3 1985 Roughly four years later he married Valerie Ann Sandobal on March 19 1989 and is still presently married He has since lent his comedic talents to numerous appearances as Dr Gangreen in several corny Killer Tomato movies and has contributed his voice to recreate Gomez Addams in the animated series The Addams Family 1992 and then played Grandpa Addams in the shortlived TV series The New Addams Family 1998 In addition Astin has contributed voices to several animated shows and is still active 1957present regularly appearing in films Currently resides in Baltimore Maryland with current wife Astin was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for his directorial debut the comedic short Prelude 1968