JOHN ASTIN

John Astin is best known for bringing to life Gomez Addams in the 1960s television series The Addams Family. While well-loved as the patriarch of the Addams family, he was also criticized for being the campiest version of the Batman villain The Riddler. He portrayed the character in the ‘60s adaptation of the series, which also starred Adam West. Post-retirement, John is now practicing and teaching Buddhism and keeping a low profile.

John Astin was born on March 30, 1930 in Baltimore. He attended Johns Hopkins University and studied mathematics. However, he discovered his passion for the theater and began to perform in mini-dramas and dubbing commercials. He first gained attention for playing a small role in “West Side Story”, then appeared in several other films and was later dubbed the role of “Gomes Adams”. He is also a professor at John Hopkins University, where he also earned his drama degree.