Born Feb. 25, 1971, in Santa Monica, Calif., Sean Astin knew from the start that he wanted to be an actor -- not surprising coming from the son of John Astin ("The Addams Family") and Patty Duke. Unlike many child stars, however, he also wanted to get an education -- which he did, graduating from UCLA with degrees in history and English.Astin was a familiar face to TV audiences by the time Steven Spielberg handpicked him to star in The Goonies (1985). Since then, Astin has moved to adult roles in films such as Encino Man (1992), Rudy (1993) and The Low Life (1995). In 1999, Astin gained 30 pounds to land the role of hobbit Sam Gamgee in Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Astin also writes, directs and produces films for his company, Lava Entertainment, and in 1995, his second short film, Kangaroo Court, received an Oscar nomination for Best Short Film.
The GooniesA group of misfit, small-town children discovers a pirate-treasure map and embarks on a journey to find the riches in this beloved 1980s classic. Along the way, they battle curmudgeonly crooks and squabble with one another in their quest for fortune. Stars Sean Astin, Josh Brolin and Corey Feldman... Read More
RudyIn this fact-based drama about the triumph of the human spirit, scrawny high schooler Rudy Ruettiger (Sean Astin) dreams of playing football at Notre Dame. But his father (Ned Beatty) can't afford to send him, so he ends up at a college across the street instead. Undaunted, Rudy eventually transfers... Read More
The Final SeasonThe tiny town of Norway, Iowa, loves baseball -- particularly the games played by the local high school team, the Tigers. So when authorities decide the town is too small for its own school, the residents are devastated. Sean Astin stars as the rookie coach who must lead the Tigers to victory for... Read More
Encino ManHigh school misfits Stoney (Pauly Shore) and Dave (Sean Astin) discover a long-frozen primeval man from the past in their back yard. But the thawed-out Link (Brendan Fraser), as the boys have named him, quickly becomes a wild card in the teens' already zany Southern California lives. After a shave... Read More
Into the WestExecutive producer Steven Spielberg presents this TNT miniseries about American Westward expansion during the 19th century, told from both the perspective of the white Wheeler family and the Native American Lakota tribe. This frontier epic follows the clans as they struggle to find their place in a... Read More
