John Astin will be best remembered, of course, as a pop-culture icon: Morticia's madcap, eccentric, charming Latin lover Gomez Addams. But as incredible as his portrayal of Gomez is, it's just a small sliver of this man's wonderful genius. Even with John Astin's rave critical reviews, (for directing, writing, producing,) his awesome dramatic flair is often overlooked because the public views him primarily as a comedic actor. History will judge him more accurately. He is now starring in a one man play on the life and times of Edgar Allan Poe.

In "Edgar Allen Poe - Once upon a midnight," John Astin becomes the mysterious Poe, father of modern detective fiction, pioneer of the science fiction tale, a misunderstood genius, a visionary and a man of many contradictions. Appearing as a ghostly guide, Poe (John Astin) reveals his demons and takes us on "a journey of the soul" through his life's struggles and passions in search of a "wilder beauty than earth supplies." The play deals with the orphaned Poe's unhappy childhood, his battles with alcohol, his life long poverty and his premature death at 40. But there are also great flashes of humor in the script and it offers a tender, moving account of Poe's love affair with his wife, Virginia, who was just 13 when the two wed.

Best Quotes:

"The world is a collective madhouse, its inhabitants are merely faking sanity. It is critical to becoming aware of these aberrations, for pretensions can be the enemy of love."
and
"Anyone who hates an octopus is warped."

Movie Credits;

WEST SIDE STORY,
THAT TOUCH OF MINK,
THE WHEELER DEALERS,
MOVE OVER DARLING,
CANDY,
VIVA MAX,
PEPPER,
GET TO KNOW YOUR RABBIT,
TWO ON A BEACH (TV MOVIE),
THE DREAM MAKERS (TV MOVIE),
THE BROTHERS O'TOOLE,
ONLY WITH MARRIED MEN,
SKYWAY TO DEATH,
THE SPIRIT IS WILLING,
EVERY LITTLE CROOK AND NANNY,
BAD DAY AT BLUE NOSE (TV MOVIE),
OPERATION PETTICOAT (TV MOVIE),
FREAKY FRIDAY,
TEEN WOLF TOO,
NATIONAL LAMPOON'S EUROPEAN VACATION,
GREMLINS II,
NIGHTLIFE,
ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES IV,
THE BLUE DULAC,
PRELUDE.
FRIGHTENERS
HUCK & THE KING OF HEARTS
STEP MONSTERS

Television Credits;

ADDAMS FAMILY,
I'M DICKENS ... HE'S FENSER,
EVIL ROY SLADE,
KRAFT PLAYHOUSE,
PHILCO PLAYHOUSE,
ARMSTRONG CIRCLE THEATER,
THE DONNA REED SHOW,
ROUTE 66,
THE GERTRUDE BERG SHOW,
THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER,
DESTRY,
THE PHYLLIS DILLER SHOW,
BATMAN,
HEY LANDLORD,
SHERIFF WHO,
THE FLYING NUN,
GUNSMOKE,
HE AND SHE,
THE DORIS DAY SHOW,
CBS PLAYHOUSE,
BONANZA,
LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE,
NIGHT GALLERY,
THE ODD COUPLE,
THE PARTRIDE FAMILY,
PETER LOVES MARY,
WELCOME BACK KOTTER,
TEMPERATURES RISING,
MCMILLAN AND WIFE,
HOLMES AND YOKO,
MARY,
LOVE BOAT,
FANTASY ISLAND
MURDER SHE WROTE,
NIGHT COURT
TALES FROM THE CRYPT
THE ADDAMS FAMILY (Cartoon).

Theater

GOODBYE AGAIN
SHAW'S MAJOR BARBARA
OTHELLO
THE THREE PENNY OPERA
ULYSSES IN NIGHTTOWN
OLIVER
HMS PINAFORE
A CHRISTMAS CAROLE
LEND ME A TENOR
WAITING FOR GODOT