Trivia

Is a huge 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.

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.

Has been involved with more productions of "The Addams Family" than any other actor in history. From playing the family patriarch, Gomez Addams, On The Addams Family (1964), Halloween with the New Addams Family (1977) and The Addams Family (1992); the grandfather On The New Addams Family (1998); and even in a way, himself who loves and will always be associated with "The Addams Family", in films with spoofs like The Silence of the Hams (1994).

After working as a visiting professor at Johns Hopkins University, teaching acting and directing in the Department of Writing Seminars in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, became a full-time professor. In 2005, he was made the head of the theater arts program at Johns Hopkins University and created the theater arts minor, teaching an average of eight classes a year and directing student productions. In 2011, Hopkins Merrick Red Barn theater was renovated and renamed in his honor. At the reopening ceremony, he was unaware that the theater had been renamed and surprised by his sons Sean and Mackenzie Astin and friend Ed Asner during the event.

Son Sean Astin is not his biological child. He is ex-wife Patty Duke's son with her ex-husband Michael Tell. Duke claimed Sean's biological father was John Astin until the two blood-tested in 1990 and this became clear that Tell was the father.

Has played the same character (Gomez Addams) on three different series: The Addams Family (1964), The New Scooby-Doo Movies (1972) and The Addams Family (1992).

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.

He is the only surviving regular cast member of The Addams Family (1964).

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, Ali Astin, played the daughter of his character in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).

He is one of only three actors to have played Special Guest Villains on Batman (1966) who are still alive, the others being Julie Newmar and Joan Collins. Of these, he is the only male.

Has appeared in three separate episodes of 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.

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.

Attended Washington and Jefferson College, graduated from Johns Hopkins University and did graduate work at the University of Minnesota.

Has played the Riddler, replacing Frank Gorshin, in a two-part episode of the Batman (1966) television series.

Has a son with Patty Duke: Mackenzie Astin; also adopted Sean Astin, Duke's son, when he was 3 years old. Has three sons with Suzanne Hahn: David Aston, Allen J. Astin (born March 23, 1961) and Thomas E. Astin (born March 19, 1965).

His father, Dr. Allen Varley Astin, was the fifth Director of the National Bureau of Standards.

Three generations of his family have worked with Christopher Lee. His son, Sean Astin, and granddaughter, Ali 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).

Is 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.

Following the passing of Eartha Kitt in 2008, he became the oldest surviving actor to play a main - i.e Catwoman, Joker, Penguin, Riddler - Batman villain.

The late Ted Cassidy played Thing on The Addams Family (1964). However, when a scene required both him and Thing in the scene, Thing was played by associate director Jack Voglin.

He and his wife Valerie are leaders of a Buddhist group in Santa Monica, California.

Has twice played father to Jodie Foster. They appeared together as father and daughter in the Disney comedy Freaky Friday (1976). On the live-action sitcom The Addams Family (1964), John plays Gomez Addams. On an animated series in the early 1970s, Jodie voiced Pugsley Addams.

Best remembered by the public for his starring role as Gomez Addams on The Addams Family (1964).

In the Charles Addams cartoons, Gomez-as with all of the members of the family-had no given name. When The Addams Family television series was being developed, Charles Addams suggested naming the character either Repelli or Gomez. Addams left the final choice up to John who chose Gomez. It is because of John that the Gomez character was named.

Grandfather of actress Ali Astin, Elizabeth Louise Astin, Isabella Louise Astin, Sedona Astin and Jaya Astin.

He and his wife Valerie have resided in the Tuscany-Canterbury area of Baltimore, Maryland for the past five years. (July 2007)

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. pg. 31-32. New York: Facts on File (1992). ISBN 0816023387.

His father was director of the Bureau of Standards in Washington.

As of January 28, 2023, John Astin is the only remaining regular cast member on The Addams Family.

A tuition grant in maths got him into Washington and Jefferson College and finished at Jon Hopkins where he studied drama.