Quick Facts
Also Known As: Sean Patrick Duke, Sean Patrick Astin
Age: 53 Years, 53 Year Old Males
Family:Spouse/Ex-: Christine Harrell (m. 1992)
father: Michael Tell, John Astin
mother: Patty Duke
siblings: Allen Astin, David Astin, Kevin Pearce, Mackenzie Astin, Tom Astin
Born Country: United States
Jewish Actors
Actors
Height: 5'7" (170 cm), 5'7" Males
Notable Alumni: Los Angeles Valley College
Ancestry: Irish American, Austrian American, German American, Polish American
U.S. State: California
City: Santa Monica, California
More Facts
education: Los Angeles Valley College
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1
What movies has Sean Astin starred in?
Some of the movies Sean Astin has starred in include "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "Rudy," "The Goonies," "Stranger Things," and "50 First Dates."
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2
Has Sean Astin directed any films?
Yes, Sean Astin has directed a few films, including "The Long and Short of It" and "Kangaroo Court."
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3
Is Sean Astin involved in any charity work?
Yes, Sean Astin is involved in various charity work, including his support for mental health awareness, literacy programs, and organizations that help children in need.
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4
Does Sean Astin have any special talents or hobbies?
Sean Astin is known for his talent in voice acting and has voiced characters in various animated series and video games. He also enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and camping.
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5
What are some interesting facts about Sean Astin?
Sean Astin is a certified scuba diver and has a passion for underwater exploration. He is also a skilled marathon runner and has completed several races. Additionally, he is fluent in Spanish.
Childhood & Early Life
Sean Patrick Astin was born as Sean Patrick Duke on February 25, 1971 in Santa Monica, California. The son of academy award winning actress Patty Duke, Sean was adopted by the famous director and actor John Astin who married Duke in 1972.
It was widely reported that actor and musician Desi Arnaz Jr. was his biological father. Even Patty Duke told Sean when he was 14 years of age that his biological father was Desi Arnaz Jr. after keeping him under the impression that his adoptive father John Astin was his biological father for all those years.
Later it turned out that Desi Arnaz Jr. was not his biological father. It was proved through a DNA paternity test that music promoter Michael Tell, to whom Patty Duke was married for 13 days in 1970, was his biological father. This news came when Sean was around 26 years old.
He became a Protestant while attending a Presbyterian church in Bel Air, Los Angeles though he went to a Catholic School in his childhood. He is Austrian Jewish through his biological father Michael Tell and is of German and Irish ancestry through his mother Patty Duke.
Sean did his graduation from UCLA. He holds a bachelor’s degree in History and English (American Literature and Culture). He is an Alumnus of Los Angeles Valley College as well and served on the school's board of directors of the Patrons Association and the Arts Council.
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Career
Sean Astin’s acting career started with his first appearance in a television movie titled ‘Please Don't Hit Me, Mom’ in 1981. He played the role of a child with an abusive mother, played by his real-life mother Patty Duke.
His film career started when he was a 13-year-old kid. He played the role of ‘Mikey’ in the movie ‘The Goonies’ in 1985. After this, he enjoyed a steady career, featuring in many short films and TV series such as ‘Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color’ (1986), ‘Like Father Like Son’ (1987), ‘White Water Summer’ (1987), ‘The War of the Roses’ (1989), ‘Memphis Belle’ (1990) ‘The Willies’ (1990) ‘Toy Soldiers’ (1991) ‘Where the Day Takes You’ (1991) and ‘Encino Man’ (1992).
Sean Astin’s first big break came in 1993 when he was featured in the title role in ‘Rudy’, a sports biography film based on a struggling college football player. This role of his was lauded by many movie critics and earned him the spotlight he deserved.
Astin and his wife co-produced a short film titled ‘Kangaroo Court’ in 1994. This short film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. His career continued to thrive and he did important roles in movies like ‘Harrison Bergeron’ (1995), ‘Courage Under Fire’ (1996) and ‘Bulworth’ (1998) in the late 1990s.
From 2001-03, he played the role of ‘Samwise Gamgee’ in the academy award winning ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy consisting of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’ (2001), ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’ (2002), and ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003).
In the ensuing years, Sean Astin appeared in many notable films and his works have been appreciated by the industry and the fans. After the ‘The Lord of the Rings trilogy’, he did a TV series titled ‘Jeremiah’in 2003. He was also featured in many films such as ‘50 First Dates’ (2004), ‘Elvis Has Left the Building’ (2004), ‘Bigger Than the Sky’ (2005), and ‘Click’ (2006).
Major Works
Sean Astin is best known for his role of Samwise Gamgee in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy. Directed by Peter Jackson, the trilogy became a very successful project which made his character one of the most popular and lovable among fans. Playing a truly devoted friend of one of the protagonists ‘Frodo Baggins’ portrayed by Elijah Wood, Astin earned many accolades from the film industry.
Awards & Achievements
Sean Astin won the Young Artist Award for ‘Best Starring Performance by a Young Actor – Motion Picture’ for his role in ‘The Goonies’ in 1985.
In 1989, he won the Young Artist Award in the category ‘Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture’ for ‘Staying Together’.
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As part of the cast of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’, he won the Screen Actors Guild award for ‘Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture’ in 2001.
For his role in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ he won the Saturn Award and Chicago Film Critics Association award in the category ‘Best Supporting Actor’ in 2003.
Personal Life
Sean Astin married Christine Harrell on 11th July 1992. His wife had won the ‘Miss Indiana Teen USA’ title in 1984. Together they have three daughters; the eldest is named Alexandra, followed by Elizabeth and Isabella.
He is a member of the ‘Directors Guild of America’, ‘Screen Actors Guild’, ‘American Federation of Television and Radio Artists’. He has been a long-distance runner for over 25 years. He became an Ironman at the Ironman World Championship Triathlon in Hawaii on 10 October 2015. He is a vegetarian.
Facts About Sean Astin
Sean Astin is an accomplished marathon runner and has completed multiple races, including the Los Angeles Marathon.
He is a skilled voice actor and has lent his voice to various animated TV shows and video games.
Sean Astin is a talented photographer and often shares his photography on social media.
He is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and has spoken openly about his own struggles with anxiety.
Sean Astin is a dedicated family man and enjoys spending quality time with his wife and daughters.
