The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which represents about 160,000 entertainment and media professionals, has elected actor Sean Astin as its new president.
Astin, known for his roles in The Lord of the Rings, Stranger Things, and Rudy, will succeed Fran Drescher, the union announced Friday. He is the son of the late Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke and John Astin, star of the 1960s TV series The Addams Family.
Astin won the election with 79% of the vote, defeating rival candidate Chuck Slavin, who secured 21%. Michelle Hurd was elected secretary-treasurer.
Notably, Astin’s mother, Patty Duke, previously served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985 to 1988.
SAG-AFTRA, formed through the merger of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, represents actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, program hosts, recording artists, and others.
During Drescher’s tenure, the union led two major strikes — one involving film and television actors and another concerning video game and interactive media performers.