The agenda tonight is the recent change in leadership at SAG-AFTRA, the union representing a substantial number of professionals in entertainment and media. The facts reveal actor Sean Astin as the newly elected president.
Astin, known for his roles in “The Lord of the Rings,” “Stranger Things,” and “Rudy,” has been chosen to succeed Fran Drescher. Astin holds a notable pedigree, being the son of the late Patty Duke, an Academy Award-winning actress, and John Astin, who graced television screens in the 1960s series “The Addams Family.”
Astin triumphed over Chuck Slavin with a convincing 79% to 21% vote. Concurrently, Michelle Hurd was elected as secretary-treasurer. This development follows earlier reports that Patty Duke, Astin’s mother, served as the Screen Actors Guild’s president from 1985 to 1988.
SAG-AFTRA merges the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, representing approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, program hosts, recording artists, and others.
Under Drescher, the union has navigated through a pair of strikes involving film and television actors, in addition to a separate strike concerning video game and interactive media performers. The significance of this should not be overlooked, as Astin steps into a role marked by challenges and responsibilities.