Latest Breaking News

Omaha Steve

(107,026 posts) Sat Sep 13, 2025, 11:51 PM Saturday

Sean Astin, who starred in 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Rudy,' is elected as SAG-AFTRA's new president

Source: AP

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated 2:43 PM CDT, September 13, 2025

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The union that represents tens of thousands of actors and other entertainment and media professionals has elected Sean Astin as its new president.

On Friday, SAG-AFTRA elected Astin — an actor who appeared in “The Lord of the Rings,” “Stranger Things” and “Rudy” — to succeed Fran Drescher as its president. Astin is the son of the late Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke and John Astin, who starred in the 1960s TV series “The Addams Family.”

Sean Astin defeated Chuck Slavin in a 79% to 21% vote. Michelle Hurd was elected secretary-treasurer.

Patty Duke, Sean Astin’s mother, served as the Screen Actors Guild’s president from 1985-1988.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/sean-astin-president-sag-aftra-ae3b38912a9dea91cc1c00ef421e2d1a

20 replies

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Sean Astin, who starred in 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Rudy,' is elected as SAG-AFTRA's new president (Original Post) Omaha Steve Saturday OP

Also starred in the Goonies Dr. Shepper Saturday #1

Yeah, I don't know how they put "Rudy" in the headline over Goonies Polybius Sunday #18

And he played a simply monstrous character on an episode of "Monk!" Rhiannon12866 Sunday #2

Stranger Things Murphyb849 Sunday #3

He played a replacement agent in one season of 24. Ilsa Sunday #4

I remember when he was born.... LeftInTX Sunday #5

This message was self-deleted by its author Wiz Imp Sunday #6

Like mother, like son synni Sunday #7

I grew up watching 'The Patty Duke Show' in the '60s as a kid wolfie001 Sunday #11

Boy, your memory is better than mine. ananda Sunday #17

lol wolfie001 Sunday #19

I retract this statement, If memory serves me, last I heard is that he's a Republican. Buddyzbuddy Sunday #8

Definitely not since he actively campaigned for Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris wishstar Sunday #9

Thanks for that tidbit! wolfie001 Sunday #12

Nope Omaha Steve Sunday #13

Thank you for the update, retraction forthcoming. Buddyzbuddy Sunday #14

Thank you for the update, retraction forthcoming. Buddyzbuddy Sunday #15

Samwise Gamgee is among the greatest heroes in fiction Martin Eden Sunday #10

He was an enthusiastic delegate from Indiana at the 2024 Democratic National Convention catbyte Sunday #16

I remember the roll call but not his presence. So here's the video. CBHagman Monday #20

Dr. Shepper

(3,188 posts)

1. Also starred in the Goonies

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sat Sep 13, 2025, 11:56 PM

Saturday

Which is one of this gen x’ers favorites.

Polybius

(20,865 posts)

18. Yeah, I don't know how they put "Rudy" in the headline over Goonies

Reply to Dr. Shepper (Reply #1)

Sun Sep 14, 2025, 10:39 AM

Sunday

Had to have been written by a Boomer or Millennial.

Rhiannon12866

(242,939 posts)

2. And he played a simply monstrous character on an episode of "Monk!"

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Sep 14, 2025, 12:17 AM

Sunday

Murphyb849

(611 posts)

3. Stranger Things

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Sep 14, 2025, 01:11 AM

Sunday

I loved his character, Bob the Brain, and cried when he died.
Loved him in LOTR as well

Ilsa

(63,291 posts)

4. He played a replacement agent in one season of 24.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Sep 14, 2025, 01:28 AM

Sunday

Good story for his character. Didn't last all season though.

LeftInTX

(33,933 posts)

5. I remember when he was born....

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Sep 14, 2025, 01:30 AM

Sunday

Response to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Wiz Imp This message was self-deleted by its author.

synni

(545 posts)

7. Like mother, like son

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Sep 14, 2025, 02:10 AM

Sunday

I hope she can see this from heaven.

wolfie001

(6,130 posts)

11. I grew up watching 'The Patty Duke Show' in the '60s as a kid

Reply to synni (Reply #7)

Sun Sep 14, 2025, 07:01 AM

Sunday

I still can sing the lyrics to the show theme. She was such a doll! He seems like a good dude.

ananda

(33,157 posts)

17. Boy, your memory is better than mine.

Reply to wolfie001 (Reply #11)

Sun Sep 14, 2025, 10:29 AM

Sunday

I remember the show vaguely, but not the song.

wolfie001

(6,130 posts)

19. lol

Reply to ananda (Reply #17)

Sun Sep 14, 2025, 11:19 AM

Sunday

Young boy obsessed. One of twins had the refined English accent. Hilarious.

Buddyzbuddy

(1,461 posts)

8. I retract this statement, If memory serves me, last I heard is that he's a Republican.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Sep 14, 2025, 02:40 AM

Sunday

I heard that directly from him in an interview he gave about the time of the first Lord of the Rings.
It's possible he has changed since.
Then again, Ronnie Ray gun was a Democrat and President of the actor's union.

wishstar

(5,776 posts)

9. Definitely not since he actively campaigned for Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris

Reply to Buddyzbuddy (Reply #8)

Sun Sep 14, 2025, 05:19 AM

Sunday

Sean was on a group call with Mark Hamill in support of Harris last year

wolfie001

(6,130 posts)

12. Thanks for that tidbit!

Reply to wishstar (Reply #9)

Sun Sep 14, 2025, 07:02 AM

Sunday

Omaha Steve

(107,026 posts)

13. Nope

Reply to Buddyzbuddy (Reply #8)

Sun Sep 14, 2025, 07:08 AM

Sunday

https://www.democraticunderground.com/111717557#post3

When I was in MD in 2016,
Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)
Sat Sep 13, 2025, 12:28 PM

working the phones for HRC during the primaries, he stopped by and chatted with all of us who were there, giving us words or encouragement.

He's a really nice guy and had sincere words for all of us. He also said that he had been a hard-core HRC fan ever since the famous speech where she declared that all human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights.

He wondered why SHE wasn't the President then!