John Astin played Gomez Addams on the show. A former lawyer and frequent cigar smoker, Gomez is known for being extremely horny for his wife, Morticia. He’s the patriarch of the Addams clan, which includes Morticia (Carolyn Jones), their children Wednesday (Lisa Loring) and Pugsley (Ken Weatherwax), and of course, Uncle Fester (Jackie Coogan) (side-note: in the popular “Addams Family” movies from the ’90s, Fester is Gomez’s brother, but in the original series, he’s Morticia’s uncle). The family also includes Lurch the butler (Ted Cassidy), Gomez’s mother Grandmama Addams (Blossom Rock) (she’s Morticia’s mother in the movies), and the disembodied hand Thing.
Believe it or not, Astin is the only cast member still with us. He’s 93 as of this writing and retired. A prominent TV actor, Astin began his career in the theater. His big movie break came from a small role in the film adaptation of “West Side Story,” but it’s “The Addams Family” he’s best known for. Other film roles include “Freaky Friday” (1976), “National Lampoon’s European Vacation” (1985), and “The Frighteners” (1996). Astin has five sons and is the adoptive father of actor Sean Astin (Patty Duke, Sean Astin’s mother, was one of John Astin’s three wives). Astin’s final credited role before retirement was providing a voice for the animated series “Justice League Action.”