SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Arts) has just elected a new president, and it's our own Samwise Gamgee. Sean Astin, famous for his roles as Sam in The Lord of the Rings, Mikey in The Goonies, and Bob in Stranger Things, will be taking over the position from Fran Drescher, who is most known for the titular role in The Nanny sitcom.
Astin is no stranger to the acting industry, having grown up in Hollywood, so understanding the ins and outs of SAG-AFTRA should come more easily. Astin's mother is the famous actress Patty Duke, and his father is John Astin, best known as Gomez Addams in the 1960s television series The Addams Family. Duke was also president of the Screen Actors Guild for three years in the '80s, so Astin's election feels like a continuing legacy in the acting world.
Why Sean Astin will make a great SAG-AFTRA president
SAG-AFTRA has made the news often in recent years due to its strikes, along with the Writers Guild of America. The labor union has held strikes against companies using AI-generated likenesses of actors and unfair pay rates between streaming and traditional media. They are the ones to stand up for the lesser-known and smaller actors.
So, how is a famous name like Astin going to be good at standing up for the little guy? Well, even though he comes from well-known actors, he wasn't always the big name he is today. Astin had played a few roles in his childhood, but his career fell into a slump.
He tells the story in his biography that while filming The Lord of the Rings, Astin was humbled when working with experienced thespians like Ian McKellen. He came to realize that he was still young and had a lot to learn.
Astin also learned from the character he played. Samwise Gamgee taught him attributes that are absolutely necessary to be a great leader. As the labor union president, Astin will be in a position to carry burdens. Maybe fighting for actors' rights and fair pay doesn't seem as important as saving all of Middle-earth, but Astin has the opportunity to be an aid and companion to those in his care. And that will make all the difference.
In Aug. 2024, Astin spoke publicly as a SAG-AFTRA board member and the L.A. Local GAPP Committee Vice Chair on the concerns of AI.
“We at SAG-AFTRA believe people should be prioritized in this new era of innovation,” Astin stated during an assembly hearing. “That means even those without a worldwide following and access to high-level legal resources should have regulatory safeguards. Tackling this challenge will take courage from lawmakers. It can be done. And, as all of us raise our voices, we increase the likelihood of achieving the outcome we all need.”