Sean Astin made his feature film debut (at age 13) as "Mikey Walsh" in Richard Donner's adventure
The Goonies (1984). Sean's portrayal of a young man determined to play football for Notre Dame in
Rudy (1993) won hears across America, and contunues to inspire young people whenever it is shown. Other well-known
film credits include
Bulworth, Courage Under Fire, Memphis Belle, Encino Man, Like Father Like Son, Where The Day Takes You, Staying Together, War Of The Roses, Safe Passage, and White Water Summer.
He is currently sarring in Peter Jackson's epic
Lord of the Rings, as "Samwise Gamgee," the trustworthy sidekick of Frodo Baggins (played by Elijah Wood.) The third installment of the trilogoy,
The Return of the King, will premiere worldwide in December 2003.
Sean recieved Best Actor honors for his performance in
Low Life at the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival. He can also be seen in the indie releases Deterrence,
Kimberly,
The Last Producer and
Boy Meets Girl.
A primising director, Astin garnered an Academy Award nomination for his short film
Kangaroo Court, which he co-produced with his wife, Christine. A Directors Guild of America member, Astin has also directed episodes of the HBO anthology series Perversions of Science and
Angel for the WB. His short film
The Long and Short of It was an official entry at Sundance 2003.
Sean has optioned the movie rights for Erik Larson's best-selling non-fiction book
Isaac's Storm, which he intends to produce and direct.
(( Facts ))
Sean was born in Santa Monica, California, USA.
He was John Astin and Patty Dukes first child, and in 1973 a second addition to the family came along when Mackenzie, Sean's only full brother, was born. She also has three older half brothers, David, Allen and Tom, from his father's previous marriage.
From a very young age Sean was exposed to the world of acting which he loved. Even though his parent were against him getting into the movie business, he knew that was what he wanted to do.
Respecting their son's wishes, Sean's parents decided to do their best to help him start into acting. Sean's mother, Patty Duke, continuously recived scripts from casting agents who were requesting her to star in various movies. She didn't even read most of the scripts at all because she knew that she wouldn't be interested in them. But when she got a script that called for a young boy as one of the lead roles she insantly knew that it would be the perfeect way for Sean to start his acting career. So Patty spoke to her agent and they discussed the idea, then they proceeded to somewhat blackmail the production company so that Sean could get the part. Patty told them that she would only take part in the movie if Sean could too, so that's exactly what happened.
Production of this film, called Please Dont Hit Me, Mom began when Sean was only nine years old. He was apparently a joy to work with and many of the crew members often spoiled Sean with candy and other small gifts, against Patty's wishes. Sean made a great first impression in many ways with this first film. He was well like by the cast and crew, and Sean also displayed very promising talent in acting.
For the next few years it was somewhat difficult for Sean to get any good roles due to his lack of acting experience. But in early 1984, at the age of 13, he landed a role in The Goonies, an action-packed adventure film often described as an Indiana Jones movie for kids.
Sean leared a lot about special effects from this film. He also learned a lot from directors Richard Donner and Steven Spielberg (Spielberg wrote the story but only directed a second-unit crew). This prompted Sean to aspire to be a director, as well as an actor. He realized that as an actor, he could not implement his ideas into a film, since that was the director's job, which sounded very interesting to Sean.
Sean went on to star in a made-for-TV movie, The B.R.A.T. Patrol and then in White Water Summer with Kevin Bacon in 1987. Next came Like Fater, Like Son which starred Kirk Cameron and Dudley Moore. This was Seans first role in a teen comedy and helped him to gain status as a tenn idol, appearing in many magazines such as Teen Beat and other teen magazines, often with his brother Mackenzie. During these years, Sean also found time to atted the Crossroads High School for the Arts and he studied with the famous Stella Adler.
Sean proceeded to play a small role with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner in The War of the Roses in 1989. In the same year he starred with Demmor Mulroney for the first time in the family drama Staying Together. He would go on to star once again with Mulroney in the future.
In 1990, Sean was casrt in his first adult role. He starred in the ensemble-cast film Memphis Belle with Matthew Modine, among others. Then he starred in the little-seen horror film The Willies followed ny Toy Soldiers, with Wil Wheaton, in 1991. The folling year came Where the Day Takes You, in which he once again starred with Dermot Mulroney and the comedy Encino Man with Brendan Fraser and Pauly Shore. Also in 1992, Sean married a woman named Christine, who is three years older than he is. They were married on July 11, 1992 at Sean's mother's house in Idaho, and they spent their honeymoon in Europe.
Next, Sean starred in one of his most critically acclaimed films to date he played the title role in Rudy alongside Ned Neaatty. This film proved his amazing acting talent once and for all. This led him into two movies in 1994. Safe Passage, with Susan Sarandon and Sam Sheppard amd The Low Life, a small art house film. 1994 was also a huge year for Sean as he directed and co-produced with his wife Christine the short film Kangaroo Court whioch was nominated for an Oscar at the 67th Annual Academy Awards. Coincidentally, Sean's father was also naminated in the same caegory in 1969.
In 1995 Sean once again starred in a title role in the TV movie Harrison Bargeron. Although it was made for television, this film could have easily been a success in theaters, receiving rave reviews from many movie critics.
1996 was a very important year for Sean. Not only did he have a small role in the spectacular film Courage Under Fire, but he also became a father. Sean and Christine had their first child Alexandra Louise, on November 27th,1996.
Sean now lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two daughters, who are apparentely very much "cat people". and because of this Sean actually got a kitten name Dusty to add to their famly. Sean also continues with his ever-growning acting career. Over the past couple of year he narrated part of a Holcaust documentary entitled The Long Way Home, which won an Academy Award in 1998, and he also had a part in Warren Beatty;s Bulworth. He also completed filming other movies including The sky is Falling, Dish Dogs, and Boy Meet Girl, the last of which has seen limited release and may be available on video. Sean is currently in New Zealand where he is filming the three Lord Of The Rings films back to back. Sean plays the important role of Samwise Gamgee in the trilogy.
Alumnus of
Los Angeles Valley College and presentlty serves on the Board of Directors of the Patrons Association and the Arts Council.
Member of the Directors Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
Civillian Aide to the Secretary of the Army.
Has the power to make you an honorary Goonie!
Gained 30 pounds for his role as Samwise in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (2001).
While filming the scene in LOTR where Sam rushes through the river after Frodo, he stepped on a branch that was sticking up from the riverbed. It pierced his foot, even through the prosthetic foot, which bled so much he had to be airlifted to hospital.
Left the room halfway during recording DVD commentary for THE GOONIES (1985) and never returned. The recording session started late, and Sean had an earlier commitment to introduce friend Joe Pantoliano who was M.C.'ing at a local theatre. Left the recording studio to change clothes, then returned to explain why he had to leave, give a shout out to Joey Pants, and left an action figure of San Gamgee to take his place. However, the departure and explanation were edited out by the DVD producers.
His biological father is actually Michael Tell, whom Patty Duke was married to for only a month in 1970. Sean was adopted at age 3 by John Astin, but considers both men to be his father.
On 4 December 2001, Sean had his image as Samwise Gamgee immortalized on a 90 cent New Zealand postage stamp that he shares with LOTR co-star Elijah Wood ('Frodo Baggins'). However, Sean's last name is spelled incorrectly on the presentation pack of the stamps (Austin instead of Astin).
During principal photography for the LOTR trilogy, Astin directed trilogy director Peter Jackson and fellow cast members in a documentary short about cameraderie and friendship within difficult working environments. This topic mirrored a significant theme of the trilogy.
Announced at the Texas Film Festival on 22 February 2003 that he has optioned the book Issac's Storm and is planning on shooting an epic film centered around the Galveston Hurricane of 1900.
Appeared at Wizard World signing autographs on August 9 2003
Currently resides in Los Angekes with his wife Christine Lousie and daughters Alexandra Louise (b. November 27, 1996) and Elizabeth Louise (b. August 6, 2002)
