Who is Sean Astin’s biological father? Goonies star recalls the life changing advice from his dad before death

Sean Astin, the biological son of music promoter Michael Tell, recently reflected on how actor John Astin—the man who raised him—offered pivotal advice that helped him land his iconic role in the cult classic The Goonies. Sean Astin later went on to achieve further fame when he was cast as Samwise Gamgee in another blockbuster movie franchise, "The Lord of the Rings." According to People Magazine, Sean Astin, who was born to actress Patty Duke, had, for the longest time, not known for sure who his biological father was, until he took a paternity test in 1994, helping him solve the mystery.

More about the career advice Sean Astin got from his father before his Goonies audition

Sean Astin, in his interview with AARP, recalled the wise words of his father, John Astin, who was helping him rehearse for his audition for "The Goonies," when he ended up giving him the perfect advice. He said:

"My father, Sean Astin who was Gomez in the original Addams Family who is ninty five now and he taught drama at John Hopkins for twenty five years. He wants my mom has gotten divorced, and I was at his condo, when it was time to audition. And he helped work with me on the audition."

He further added:

"What he kept saying to me was, 'Sean, stop acting your idea of what this boy is supposed to be. It's actually you. If you look what he is saying and he is being, it's you.'"

According to People Magazine, Patty Duke and John Astin met in 1964 and later started a secret relationship in the 1970s. At this time, Patty Duke was also in an on-and-off relationship with Desi Arnaz Jr., during which Sean Astin was born, making it difficult to ascertain who his biological father was. The Oscar-winning actress soon married John Duke in 1972, who already had three children from his marriage to Suzanne Hahn, and he legally adopted Astin.

In his interview with AARP, Astin further added more about his father's advice, who had said:

"And the most important thing you can do is just be honest. Just have what you are saying, be honest. Now I think of the word authentic, you know, but that piece of advice has carried me through my acting career every moment of my journey,”

When Sean Astin was a teenager, Patty Duke wrongly informed him that his biological father was Desi Arnaz, prompting the two to later develop a close bond. But it was only in 1994, after Sean Astin underwent a DNA test, that it was revealed Michael Tell, who was briefly married to Patty Duke in the 70s, was actually his biological father. According to People Magazine, soon after the discovery, the father-son duo developed a close bond. In a 2004 interview with ABC News, the Stranger Things actor noted how he considers all three, including Mike Pearce, who Patty Duke had later married following her divorce from John Astin, as father figures in his life. He said:

"I can call any of them on the phone any time I want to. "John, Desi, Mike or Papa Mike … my four dads.

In another 2001 interview with People Magazine, he said:

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"If you want to know who I am, John Astin is my father, Michael Tell is my biological father. I have a good relationship with Mike. That’s who I am. I don’t fault anybody, I don’t fault myself or with Desi, who is like my godfather, I have such a powerful love bond with this man, he’s a gorgeous human being.”

Patty Duke, who was previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder, passed away in 2016. Sean Astin also recently mourned the death of his biological father, Michael Tell, who passed away in April.

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