Mackenzie Astin

Mackenzie Alexander Astin (born May 12, 1973) is an American actor.

Biography

Early life

Astin was born on May 12, 1973, in Los Angeles, California, the son of actress Patty Duke and actor John Astin. His older brother is actor Sean Astin. He attended Ralph Waldo Emerson Middle School and University High School in Los Angeles, California.

Career

Mackenzie made his acting debut in the TV movie Lois Gibbs and the Love Canal but is probably best remembered for his television role as Andy on the popular sitcom The Facts of Life. He has since had his share of roles in numerous TV shows and TV movies such as I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later, a cameo in Harrison Bergeron, which starred his brother, Sean Astin, Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor with Nathan Lane, and Widow's Kiss with Beverly D'Angelo.

He made guest appearances on Brooklyn Bridge, The Outer Limits, Without a Trace and House.

He appeared as a regular in the short-lived NBC legal drama First Years with Samantha Mathis. His character was openly gay, and Astin told The Advocate magazine that he was hoping for some "same-sex smooching" in the show.^[1] Recently, he appeared on Lost as Kate's love-interest Tom, in a flashback, in the season 1 episode "Born to Run."

Astin has also had his share of major motion pictures including Iron Will, in which he starred in the lead role, with Kevin Spacey in a key minor role. He also appeared in Wyatt Earp with Kevin Costner, The Evening Star with Shirley MacLaine, and Whit Stillman's The Last Days of Disco. During filming of The Evening Star, Mackenzie lost the top edge of his right ear, after a car accident. He was forced to wear a prosthetic ear for the rest of the film.^[2] He works presently with his father, the Director of the Theatre Arts and Studies Program at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Filmography

Awards

CAMIE Awards

• 2005: Won, "Character and Morality in Entertainment" - Love's Enduring Promise (shared w/producers, co-stars)

Young Artist Awards

• 1986: Won, "Best Young Supporting Actor in a Television Series" - The Facts of Life

References

External links

• Mackenzie Astin at the Internet Movie Database
• Mackenzie Astin at Allmovie
• Mackenzie Astin at TV.com