• Plans to make his directing debut on the long-awaited FANTASTIC FOUR movie if studio bosses give him the go-ahead. (January 21, 2004)
• A Directors Guild of America member, Astin also directed an episode of the HBO anthology series Perversions of Science.
• A promising director, Astin garnered an Academy Award nomination for his short film KANGAROO COURT, which he also co-produced with his wife, Christine.
• His portrayal of a young man determined to play football for Notre Dame in RUDY (1993) won hearts across America, and continues to inspire young people whenever it is shown.
• Gained 30 pounds for his role as Samwise in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (2001).
• At one point in THE GOONIES, the character he played cries out Holy Mackenzie!
• While filming the scene in LOTR where Sam rushes through the river after Frodo, he stepped on a branch that was sticking up from the riverbed. It pierced his foot, even through the prosthetic foot, which bled so much he had to be airlifted to hospital.
• Izzy Singer was originally to be played by River Phoenix, but he got the part after Phoenix's death in SAFE PASSAGE (1994).
• Serves on the Board of Directors of the Patrons Association and the Arts Council.
• Member of the Directors Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
• Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army.
• Attended Crossroads High School in Santa Monica, California with actor/musician Jack Black. Was cast in a school play/film when Black backed out.
• Calls four people Dad: John Astin, Desi Arnez Jr., Mike Tell and Mike Pearce (his step-father).
• Eyes are hazel, yet tend to change from brown to green depending on what he wears.
• Is the second actor from a Lord of the Rings adaptation to have a relative in an Addams Family adaptation. His father, John, played Gomez on the television series. John Huston, who voiced Gandalf in the animated version of The Return of the King, is the father of Anjelica Huston, who played Morticia in the films.
• Started his own production company, Lava Entertainment, in the late '80s.
• The title of his autobiography, There and Back Again, is actually the alternate title for The Hobbit, and, in the story, is the title of Bilbo Baggins's autobiography.
• Left the room halfway during recording DVD commentary for THE GOONIES (1985) and never returned. The recording session started late, and Sean had an earlier commitment to introduce friend Joe Pantoliano who was M.C.'ing at a local theatre. Left the recording studio to change clothes, then returned to explain why he had to leave, give a shout out to Joey Pants, and left an action figure of San Gamgee to take his place. However, the departure and explanation were edited out by the DVD producers.
• His biological father is actually Michael Tell, whom Patty Duke was married to for only a month in 1970. Sean was adopted at age 3 by John Astin, but considers both men to be his father.
• On 4 December 2001, Sean had his image as Samwise Gamgee immortalized on a 90 cent New Zealand postage stamp that he shares with LOTR co-star Elijah Wood ('Frodo Baggins'). However, Sean's last name is spelled incorrectly on the presentation pack of the stamps (Austin instead of Astin).
• During principal photography for the LOTR trilogy, Astin directed trilogy director Peter Jackson and fellow cast members in a documentary short about cameraderie and friendship within difficult working environments. This topic mirrored a significant theme of the trilogy.
• In February 2003, Sean was appointed to the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.
• Announced at the Texas Film Festival on 22 February 2003 that he has optioned the book Issac's Storm and is planning on shooting an epic film centered around the Galveston Hurricane of 1900.
• Appeared at Wizard World signing autographs on August 9 2003.

Sean Patrick Astin was born February 25, 1971 in Santa Monica, California to John Astin and Patty Duke, both actors. He was their first child, but when Sean was two his brother Mackenzie was born. They also have three older half brothers, David, Allen and Tom, who belong to their father. Sean was literally brought up on acting due to his famous parents. In 1981, at age 9, Sean starred with his mother in the after school special Please Don't Hit Me Mom. 'The Goonies' followed and since then he has had a steady stream of good roles. Sean's portrayal of a young man determined to play football for Notre Dame in Rudy (1993) won hearts across America, and continues to inspire young people whenever it is shown. Other well-known film credits include Bulworth, Courage Under Fire, Memphis Belle, Encino Man, Like Father Like Son, Where the Day Takes You, Staying Together, War of the Roses, Safe Passage, and White Water Summer. He also starr in Peter Jackson's epic Lord of the Rings, as "Samwise Gamgee," the trustworthy sidekick of Frodo Baggins (played by Elijah Wood.) The third installment of the trilogy, The Return of the King, will premiere worldwide in December 2003. Sean received Best Actor honors for his performance in Low Life at the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival. He can also be seen in the indie releases Deterrence, Kimberly, The Last Producer and Boy Meets Girl. A promising director, Astin garnered an Academy Award nomination for his short film Kangaroo Court, which he co-produced with his wife, Christine. A Directors Guild of America member, Astin has also directed episodes of the HBO anthology series Perversions of Science and Angel for The WB. His short film The Long and Short of It was an official entry at Sundance 2003. Sean has optioned the movie rights for Erik Larson's best-selling non-fiction book Isaac's Storm, which he intends to produce and direct.