John Astin belongs in the spotlight.
His enduring talent, unforgettable face and quirky charisma fueled a lengthy TV, film and stage career. From 1962 to 1964, the Baltimore native cemented a place in pop-culture history, playing “The Addams Family?s” eccentric, cigar-chomping patriarch Gomez. He was nominated for an Emmy in 1993 for his voice work on “The Addams Family” cartoon series and an Oscar in 1969 for “Prelude,” a short film he wrote, produced and directed.
During two marriages, the second to actress Patty Duke, Astin fathered five sons, including, from his marriage to Duke, successful TV and film actor Mackenzie, who recently moved to Baltimore, and adopted son Sean, star of “Rudy” and the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
Time may have taken Astin?s mop of hair, but it hasn?t touched his crooked grin, distinctive voice and infectious charm. He?s quick to compliment his Hollywood friends and theater peers, especially those working beside him at his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University.
Since 2001, Astin, 77, has dedicated his golden years to teaching Hopkins? young thespians while campaigning for the university to adopt a theater arts major. Astin?s home away from home ? he lives with his third wife Valerie Sandobal Astin near Hopkins? Homewood campus — is his JHU office inside The Merrick Barn, where, more than 50 years ago, he rehearsed lines for his first play and declared to a friend he was quitting smoking.
Q Did you really quit smoking?
AI did quit smoking then, although I picked it up again ? for four years ? in my late 30s and early 40s, when I finally abandoned it for good. I also smoked cigars during “The Addams Family” filming but dropped that habit when the show stopped.
Q Was the role of Gomez a mixed blessing?
A It probably kept me out of parts I would have done otherwise, but I had my way with it. Gomez is really an extension of my own personality. As my brother [UCLA professor emeritus Alexander W. Astin] said, it?s the closest thing to who I am really am. Running away from Gomez would be like running away from myself.
Q What was the atmosphere like on “The Addams Family” set?
A I loved doing [the show.] It was a terrific time. Nat [Perrin], who was the producer and did a lot of the writing but didn?t take credit for it, had gone to Hollywood to write for the Marx Brothers, and he kept that same spirit. He was a great guy. I really miss him, and David Levy, who created the show … we all had something in common. We were all seasoned professionals, except for the kids of course. Jackie Coogan [Uncle Fester] had been there since the beginning of Hollywood, or just about, as a kid. And Carolyn [Jones, who played Morticia] was the leading lady for a great array of stars — Frank Sinatra, Richard Burton, a long list. It?s kind of funny that Carolyn is best known as Morticia, which is fine with me.
Q What was your relationship like with Carolyn?
A: We were great friends. In fact, when she was terminally [ill] she sent a message to me through someone else because she didnt want to put pressure on me. She wanted me to do her eulogy. I said ‘No, I’m not going to think about it [right now.] We were friends right up until the end. She was a great lady. EDITORS NOTE: Astin did give the eulogy at Jones’ funeral in 1983.
Q Do fans still greet you?
A A lot, yes. But since I cut off the hair I had left, people don?t recognize me as much. It used to be impossible to go anywhere every day of my life. I learned to appreciate it. It?s a great thing. It?s mostly about Gomez, but when I was working a lot in Chicago, taxi drivers always focused on “Night Court” for some reason. They?d get so excited. ?There?s Buddy!? [Astin played eccentric ex-mental patient Buddy Ryan on TV?s “Night Court” from 1988 to 1990.]
Q Do you look back on your lengthy career with any regrets?
A I wrote and directed something on my own, showed it to [widely revered Italian filmmaker Federico] Fellini, and he loved it. He said, “John, I?d love to be your friend,” and he gave me his private number and address to talk about it. And after that summer I never called him. Why? I don?t know. It might have been my insecurity. That?s one kind of regret, not following up on something like that. I probably made some other foolish decisions along the way. But I look back on those days [mostly] without regret because I?m very happy where I am today. I have a wife who I love. And children and grandchildren … that?s a great part of living. I?m happy doing this here.
Q What do you hope to accomplish at Hopkins?
A [Hopkins] was virtually the only major university in the country without a theater program. And now I can say it?s the only one without a theater major. I hope we can come by that soon because we?re just about ready for it, and it?s going to be very exciting. I?m here to give a broader perspective and contribute to the school that means so much to me, that gave me a great experience as an undergraduate, and I want to give that experience to others. It?s a simple act of gratitude. I think [the theater major] can be fabulous for the university and can exist after I?m gone. It can flourish with new people. If I can get the major established here, it will be a huge, I mean a huge, source of satisfaction for me. I don?t know one major university that has a known actor teaching every day.
Q What period of your life would you relive if you could?
A I?d do it all, all over again. We all struggle, and I had plenty of that, but I?ve had a great time. I?ve done hundreds of TV shows and 30 to 40 movies, and I love acting. I?m very happy having done the [Edgar Allen] Poe [one-man play.] That?s been really terrific. It?s turned into a great piece.
Q You?ve lived in some of the country?s greatest cities. How does Baltimore compare?
A I love this town and its neighborhoods. It?s a big city and a small city. Baltimore is a very interesting place. I know all about the murders and the crime. That?s going to happen when there?s poverty, and that?s something that needs to be worked on here. But the city is small enough so things like that can be done. There?s enough influence in this city to make things happen. And it?s exciting to find so much diversity here.
