Who is John Astin?

American actor and movie director John Allen Astin was born in Baltimore, Maryland USA, on 30 March 1930 under the zodiac sign of Aries. He’s appeared in over 150 movies and TV series, while he’s perhaps still best known for his playing of The Judge in the 1996 fantasy horror comedy movie “The Frighteners”, written and directed by Peter Jackson, and which starred Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado and Peter Dobson. It follows a man who became able to speak to the dead following the death of his wife, and is now the only man capable of stopping a demon from killing all the people and the ghosts; the movie won three of its 20 award nominations.

John’s been semi-retired from acting for over two decades now, and is today leading a peaceful life with his third wife in Baltimore, away from the media’s attention.

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Education and early life

John’s father Dr. Allen Varley Astin and mother Margaret Linnie (nee Mackenzie) raised him in Baltimore, alongside his brother Alexander; Margaret was a housewife, while Dr. Allen was the director of the National Bureau of Standards.

John was still a teenager when he became interested in acting, and was attending a local high school, where he was a member of its drama club, and played both lead and supporting characters in over 10 school plays.

He matriculated in 1948, and enrolled at Washington & Jefferson College, as his parents urged him to pursue a college degree; John studied mathematics, but switched to Johns Hopkins University after only a single semester, wanting to study drama. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1952, and worked a couple of jobs during the following five years, prior to launching a career in the film industry.

Roles in TV series

John’s debut TV series appearance was in the 1957 episode “The Night America Trembled” of the drama “Studio One”, and the year 1960 saw him appear in an episode of three series: the western comedy “Maverick”, the comedy drama “General Electric Theater”, and the comedy “Peter Loves Mary”.

He gained recognition in 1962 and ‘63, when cast to play Harry Dickens in the comedy “I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster”, created by Leonard Stern, and in which John starred alongside Marty Ingels and Emmaline Henry. It follows the lives of best friends Harry Dickens and Arch Fenster, and the series was nominated for a 1964 Writers Guild of America Award for Comedy/Variety, Any Length.

What also marked the ‘60s for John was his playing of the lead character Gomez Addams in the evergreen family horror comedy “The Addams Family”, which David Levy created, and which also starred Jackie Coogan and Carolyn Jones. It follows the lives of members of a strange but loving family, aired from 1964 to 1966, and won one of its four award nominations. A couple of John’s roles in the remainder of the ‘60s were in the action adventure western “The Wild Wild West”, the action adventure comedy “Batman”, and the comedy “The Phyllis Diller Show”.

In 1972 and 1973, John played Sykes in the mystery crime drama “McMillan & Wife”, created by Leonard Stern, and which starred Rock Hudson, John Schuck and Susan Saint James. It follows the lives of police commissioner Stewart ‘Mac’ McMillan and his detective wife, and the series won three of its 27 award nominations. Between 1971 and 1978, John played five characters in five episodes of the drama “Insight”, and concurrently in 1977 and ‘78, he starred as Lieutenant Commander Matthew Sherman in the war comedy “Operation Petticoat”.

The year 1985 saw John play Ed LaSalle in the popular comedy “Mary”, created by David Isaacs and Ken Levine, and in which John starred alongside Mary Tyler Moore and James Farentino; it follows an author who’s begun writing the column “Helpline” for the magazine “The Chicago Eagle”. Between 1984 and 1990, he played Buddy Ryan in 11 episodes of the popular comedy “Night Court”, which won 19 of its 53 award nominations.

Some of John’s most notable performances in the ‘90s were in the 1994 mystery crime drama “Murder, She Wrote”, the 1996 romantic family comedy “The Nanny”, and the 1999 family horror comedy “The New Addams Family”.

He’s since been semi-retired, and has played and voiced characters in only a couple of TV series and movies, with his three most recent roles in TV series having been in the 2001 episode “The Even Steven Holiday Special” of the animated comedy drama “As Told by Ginger”, the 2004 episode “Twinkle’s Wish” of the animated family drama “Higglytown Heroes”, and the 2018 episode “Captain Bamboozle” of the animated adventure “Justice League Action”, all voice roles.

Roles in movies

John’s debut film appearance was in the 1958 short comedy “The Kiss”, while a couple of his following roles were in the 1960 crime drama “The Pusher”, the evergreen 1961 musical drama “West Side Story” which won 10 Oscars, including for Best Picture, Best Director (Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (George Chakiris), and the 1962 romantic comedy “That Touch of Mink”.

In 1963, John portrayed Hector Vanson in the comedy “The Wheeler Dealers”, directed by Arthur Hiller, and which starred Lee Remick, James Garner and Phil Harris. It follows a wheeler dealer from Texas who’s gone broke, and now has to go to New York City and raise over $1 million; the movie was nominated for two awards. A couple of John’s other notable roles in the ‘60s were in the 1967 horror comedy “The Spirit Is Willing”, the 1967 western comedy “Sheriff Who”, and the 1968 adventure fantasy comedy “Candy”.

The year 1973 saw John portray the lead character Michael O’Toole in the western comedy “The Brothers O’Toole”, directed by Richard Erdman, and which also starred Pat Carroll and Hans Conried. It follows the O’Toole brothers as they’re searching for gold in a small mining town. John could then have been seen playing Many Wheeler in the 1975 musical drama “The Dream Makers”, Phillip Logan in the 1976 comedy “Phillip and Barbara” and Gomez Addams in the 1977 horror comedy “Halloween with the New Addams Family”.

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His following movie role came in 1985, when cast to play Pig in a Poke Host – Kent in the popular adventure comedy “National Lampoon’s European Vacation”, which Amy Heckerling directed, and which starred Dana Hill, Beverly D’Angelo and Chevy Chase. It follows the Griswold family as they’re vacationing in Europe, and the movie won one of its two award nominations. John appeared in a couple of movies in the remainder of the ‘80s, such as the 1986 musical sports comedy “Body Slam”, the 1987 fantasy comedy “Teen Wolf Too”, and the 1988 science fiction horror comedy “Return of the Killer Tomatoes!”

What marked the ‘90s for him was perhaps his playing of The Ranger in the 1994 thriller comedy “The Silence of the Hams”, written and directed by Ezio Greggio, who also starred in it alongside Dom DeLuise and Billy Zane. It follows federal agent Jo Dee Fostar as he’s trying to catch a serial killer.

John has since appeared in only a couple of movies, with three of his most recent roles having been in the 1995 science fiction “Harrison Bergeron”, the 2001 family fantasy science fiction “Betaville”, and the 2005 family comedy drama “School of Life”.

Other credits

John has a single writing and producing credit, and 17 directing credits. He wrote, produced and directed the 1968 short movie “Prelude”, while some of his most notable directing works were the 1978 comedy film “Fix-it City”, the 1982 comedy movie “Two Guys from Muck”, and the 1988 documentary horror film “Night Creatures”.

He’s been featured in numerous documentary series, most recently in the 2011 “America in Primetime”, the 2014 “Great Performances”, and the 2017 “F. S. Key After the Song”.

John’s made a guest appearance in the talk-shows “Good Morning America”, “ABC World News Tonight with David Muir”, and “DCPS Crushing the Game”, amongst others.

Awards and nominations

John’s been nominated for three awards, including an Oscar in 1969 for Best Short Subject, Live Action Subjects for his work on “Prelude”.

He was also nominated for a 1992 CableACE Award for Actor in a Dramatic Series, for “Tales from the Crypt”, and a 1993 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series, for “The Addams Family”.

Love life and spouse

John’s married thrice. He married his first wife, American actress Suzanne Hahn on 26 March 1956; Suzanne has only a single credit to her name, playing Female Necker in the 1958 short comedy movie “The Kiss”. Suzanne gave birth to their twin sons David and Allen J. on 23 March 1961, and their third son Thomas E. Astin was born on 19 March 1965; John and Suzanne divorced on 14 June 1972.

He exchanged vows with his second wife, American actress, screenwriter and producer Patty Duke on 5 August 1972, in a large ceremony attended by more than 200 of their friends and family members. Patty’s appeared in nearly 150 movies and TV series, and won a 1963 Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in the 1962 biographical movie “The Miracle Worker”. Patty gave birth to their son Mackenzie on 12 May 1973, while John also adopted Patty’s son Sean Patrick Duke from her former marriage to music promoter Michael Tell; John and Patty divorced on 3 November 1985.

Since 19 March 1989, John’s been married to non-celebrity American Valerie Ann Sandobal, and they are leading a peaceful life together in Baltimore, as of October 2022.

Interesting facts and hobbies

John’s a Nichiren Buddhist, and is a member of Soka Gakkai International.

He has six grandchildren.

John, his adoptive son Sean and Sean’s daughter Ali Astin have all worked with famous movie director Peter Jackson: John appeared in his movie “The Frighteners”, Sean in the film trilogy “Lord of the Rings” and Ali in “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”. They have also worked with British actor and producer Christopher Lee.

John occasionally teaches theatre at Johns Hopkins University.

He’s a huge fan of the late American author Edgar Allan Poe.

John revealed while giving a speech at Booker High School that he didn’t and wouldn’t watch any of the new Addams Family movies, but didn’t explain why.

Height, eyes and net worth

John’s age is 92. His hair’s short and gray, his eyes are blue and his height’s 5ft 11ins (1.8m); his weight is 170lbs (78kgs).

John’s net worth’s been estimated at over $6 million, as of October 2022.

Who is Jane Curtin?

American actress and comedienne Jane Therese Curtin was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts USA. on 6 September 1947 under the zodiac sign of Virgo. She’s appeared in over 60 movies and TV series, and is perhaps still best known for her playing of Prymatt Conehead in the popular science fiction comedy movie “Coneheads”, which Steve Barron directed, and in which she starred alongside Robert Knott and Dan Aykroyd. It follows a group of aliens with cone-shaped heads as they’re living on Earth, and the movie was nominated for two awards.

Jane Curtin shares New Year’s resolution: ‘To make sure that the Republican Party dies’ https://t.co/GguuvQqycE pic.twitter.com/LK0tixA47i

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) January 2, 2019

Education and early life

Jane was raised alongside her two brothers Larry (younger) and John J. ‘Jack’ (older) in Wellesley, Massachusetts by their father John Joseph Curtin who was the owner of an insurance agency, and their mother Mary Constance (nee Farrell) who also worked at the insurance agency. Jane’s related to American actress and moviemaker Valerie Curtin, while her uncle Joseph Curtin was a radio personality; her brother John passed away in 2008.

Jane studied at Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, and was into a number of activities during her four years there, as she practiced creative writing, took acting lessons and danced. Upon matriculating in 1966, Jane began attending Elizabeth Seton Junior College in New York City, but dropped out in 1967 so that she could study acting at Northeastern University, but quit in the following year, wanting to focus on her career.

Prior to launching her career on TV, Jane was a comedienne and a member of the comedy group The Proposition; she performed with them from 1968 to 1972, and the year 1974 saw her star in the off-Broadway play “Pretzels”.

Roles in TV series

Jane became famous between 1975 and 1980, when she played various characters in the critically acclaimed musical comedy “Saturday Night Live”, which Lorne Michaels created, and which stars Darrell Hammond, Don Pardo and The Saturday Night Live Band; each episode has a different celebrity starring in sketches and parodies, the series has aired 935 episodes since 1975, and has won 295 awards, including 87 Primetime Emmys, while it’s been nominated for 545 other awards.

What marked the ‘80s for Jane was her portrayal of Allie Lowell in all the 122 episodes of the comedy “Kate & Allie”, created by Sherry Coben, and in which she starred alongside Susan Saint James and Frederick Koehler. It follows two single mothers and their children as they’re living under the same roof; the series aired from 1984 to ‘89 and won eight of its 36 award nominations.

Some of Jane’s following roles were in several episodes of the drama “Common Ground”, the comedy “Working It Out”, and the comedy “Dave’s World”.

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From 1996 to 2001, she played Dr. Mary Albright, one of the main characters in the evergreen science fiction family comedy “3rd Rock from the Sun”, which Terry Turner and Bonnie Turner created, and which also starred Kristen Johnston and John Lithgow. It follows a group of aliens who’ve come to learn more about Earth, disguised as a human family; the series won 34 of its 108 award nominations.

Jane had roles in only five TV series in the 2000s, including the 2003 episode “Hugs and Witches” of the short animated adventure “Cyberchase” (voice role), 13 episodes of the 2006 comedy “Crumbs”, and the 2008 episode “Mother Dearest” of the comedy “In the Motherhood”.

Between 2012 and 2014, she played Joanne Webster in the mystery crime drama “Unforgettable”, which Ed Redlich and John Bellucci created, and which starred James Hiroyuki Liao, Dylan Walsh and Poppy Montgomery. It follows former police detective Carrie Wells who has a photographic memory, and is still helping the police solve crimes; the series aired from 2011 to 2016, and was nominated for a 2012 People’s Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama.

Jane’s three most recent TV series roles have been in 10 episodes of the 2019 comedy podcast “64th Man”, eight episodes of the 2020 comedy “United We Fall”, and two episodes of the 2021 crime drama “The Good Fight”.

Roles in movies

Jane’s debut film appearance was in the popular 1980 crime comedy “How to Beat the High Cost of Living”, directed by Robert Scheerer, and in which she starred alongside Susan Saint James and Jessica Lange. It follows three housewives who are planning to steal $1 million from a local shopping mall.

A couple of Jane’s following roles were in the 1982 drama “Divorce Wars: A Love Story”, the 1982 comedy drama “Candida” and the 1984 comedy “Bedrooms”.

She spent the following 10 years focused on appearing in TV series, until in 1995 cast to play Mary Todd Lincoln in the historical drama “Tad”, directed by Rob Thompson, and which also starred Kris Kristofferson and Bug Hall; it follows the lives of US President Abraham Lincoln and his son Tad.

In 1998, Jane voiced Muffy in the popular animated adventure comedy “Antz”, and she then played Fran in the 2000 romantic comedy drama “Catch a Falling Star”, and Mrs Webb in the 2003 romantic family drama “Our Town”.

In 2006, she portrayed Charlene in the action adventure comedy “The Librarian: Return to King Solomon’s Mines”, directed by Jonathan Frakes, and which starred Noah Wyle, Gabrielle Anwar and Bob Newhart. It follows Flynn Carsen as he’s searching for the King Solomon’s mines, and the movie won one of its nine award nominations.

A couple of Jane’s following notable performances were in the 2007 comedy “Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office”, the 2011 romantic comedy “I Don’t Know How She Does It”, and the 2015 short comedy “State Farm Coneheads Commercial”.

In 2018, Jane played Carol in the action adventure comedy “The Spy Who Dumped Me”, which Susanna Fogel wrote and directed, and which starred Vilma Szecsi, Blanka Gyorfi-Toth and Justin Theroux. It follows two best friends who’ve become involved in a conspiracy now that they’ve learned that one of their former boyfriends is a spy; the film won three of its seven award nominations.

Jane’s three most recent film roles have been in the 2019 romantic comedy “Ode to Joy”, the 2020 family comedy drama “Godmothered”, and the 2021 romantic comedy drama “Queen Bees”; she’s currently shooting for the upcoming movie “Jules”.

Other credits

Jane sang the song “Winter Wonderland” in the 1999 comedy film “Saturday Night Live Christmas”, 14 songs in 14 episodes of the series “3rd Rock from the Sun” between 1996 and 2000, and the song “(Walkin’ in a) Winter Wonderland” in the 2009 action adventure comedy movie “Stealing Time”.

She’s been featured in many documentary movies, including in 2015 “Live from New York!” and “Unforgettable Moments: Inside Season 3”, and the 2020 “Belushi”.

Jane’s made a guest appearance in the talk-shows “Stars in the House”, “Today” and “Celebrity Page”, amongst many others.

Awards and nominations

She’s won five of her 20 award nominations; her wins include a 1984 and ‘85 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, for her performance in “Kate & Allie”, a 1992 CableACE Entertainment Host Award for “Retaining Laughter” and a 1997 Golden Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical for “3rd Rock from the Sun”.

Love life and husband

Jane avoids talking about her love life in public, but it’s widely known that she’s been married to American film producer and art director Patrick Lynch since 2 April 1975; the two had met at a hockey game three year earlier.

Patrick prefers to stay away from media, but it’s known that he and his colleagues won a 1985 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’ Program, for producing “Displaced Person”; Patrick also produced the 1987 episode “Suspicion” of the series “American Playhouse”, and he’s recently worked as an art director on two episodes of “Saturday Night Live”.

Jane and Patrick have a daughter Tess Lynch together, born on 16 January 1983; Tess has made a guest appearance in several talk-shows, including “Behind the Bastards”, “Drunk History” and “Kinda Murdery”.

Interesting facts and hobbies

Jane’s a grandmother, as her daughter Tess has two children.

She’s revealed that she believed her life would change if she won an Emmy, and that all film producers and directors would want her to appear in their movies and TV series, however, nothing really changed after she had won it.

Jane dislikes social media networks, and believes that these have done more bad than good.

She was paid $750 a week in 1975, for appearing in “Saturday Night Live”.

Jane has donated money to many non-profit organizations, while mostly to those working with children.

Height, eyes and net worth

Jane’s age is 75. Her hair’s short and brown, her eyes are blue, while her height is 5ft 5ins (1.65m), and weight about 125lbs (56kgs).

Jane’s net worth’s been estimated at over $10 million, as of October 2022.