Who Is Still Alive From the Cast of the Addams Family
UPDATED i/5/2022
Anybody knows the lovable and creepy cast of The Addams Family! The fictional family unit consists of Gomez and Morticia Addams, their children Midweek and Pugsley, family members Uncle Fester and Grandmama, their butler Lurch, the disembodied mitt Affair, and Gomez's Cousin Itt. Wikipedia describes the family as a "satirical inversion of the ideal 20th-century American family: an odd wealthy aristocratic clan who please in the macabre and are seemingly unaware, or practise non care, that other people find them bizarre or frightening."
The first adaptation of the family came in 1964 equally a television series on ABC. From and then on, the characters would go on to make animated appearances in shows like Scooby-Doo in the 1970s. It has also had quite a number of spinoffs including Halloween with the New Addams Family in 1977 and The New Addams Family unit in 1998. From there the Addams' were featured in three live action films released in 1991, 1993 and 1998, a pair of CG animated characteristic films in 2019 and 2021 and, in between, a 2011 Broadway musical.
Carolyn Jones – Morticia Addams
Morticia Addams, the matriarch of the family, is played by Carolyn Jones. This was undoubtedly her biggest role and would go on to take sporadic roles throughout the '70s that were far less notable. Her chemistry with Gomez was infectious and ready the mood for the entire show.
Carolyn Jones was born on Apr 28, 1930 in Amarillo, Texas and had something of a tough babyhood. Her female parent, Chloe, was agoraphobic and she never got to know her begetter, Julius, as he had abandoned the family. On meridian of that, as a child she suffered from severe asthma that restricted her activities. Offers pop civilization historian Geoffrey Marker, "Carolyn had lung problems as a child; then much so that similar many immature people she ended upward in show business organisation with the fantasy of it being an escape. All she could practice was mind to the radio. She couldn't even go to the movies, so she would read flick magazines. She aimed her life toward that, considering, in essence, that was her reality."
"Acting was her burning obsession," adds biographer James Plyant, author ofIn Morticia's Shadow: The Life & Career of Carolyn Jones, "and information technology was not really relatable to people she was growing up with, so she was very much an outsider. But even every bit a child she was ambitious, her objective to get out of Amarillo and go to Hollywood. She was very driven."
When she was 17, Jones enrolled at the Pasadena Playhouse in California, and during her time at that place caught the attention of a Paramount Pictures talent scout, which led to her 1952 flick debut inThe Turning Point. A few TV guest starring roles followed every bit did movie roles in 1953'sThe Large OestrusandHouse of Wax.That same year she married aspiring filmmaker Aaron Spelling, who helped develop Charlie'due south Angels and Dynasty , among many others. She and Spelling would stay married for 11 years.
Subsequent roles include the Marilyn Monroe filmThe Seven Year Crawling(1955),The Tender Trap(1955),Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), a sci-fi classic; Alfred Hitchcock'sThe Man Who Knew Likewise Much(1956), an Oscar-nominated function forThe Bachelor Party(1957), opposite Elvis Presley inMale monarch Creole(1958) andHow the W Was Won(1962). This was followed by guest starring roles in a number of series, but she found that the offers were slowing downward. Which was whenThe Addams Family unit, and Morticia Addams, was offered to her.
"I'grand doing the series because I like to work," Jones explained in 1964. "There aren't plenty movies beingness made anymore and I'yard tired of sitting around doing nothing. I was a little nervous near information technology at first, but not anymore. Personally, comedy is a lot harder to play than drama, simply it's a wonderful change of footstep for me." The following year she sounded more than enthusiastic, nothing, 'The show has brought me a whole new set of fans — the teenagers. Every bit for getting typed, I'thou not worried. I was a star in films earlier I was a star on TV . People should remember that. I promise."
OnThe Addams Family, Jones used a long coal-black wig made of existent pilus to became Morticia. Information technology took her ii hours of make-up to complete the look. "Had she not been so well-versed in her craft, Carolyn would've not been able to pull Morticia Addams off," suggests Mark. "Information technology was a very hard part to play, considering she had to look similar the drawings, every bit did everybody else on the show, but she also had to take a smoldering sexuality that was very uncommon on sixties telly in full general, never mind sitcoms. The grapheme had to exist totally comfortable in her ain skin and warm and loving. That's a lot to enquire of an actor. She also needed to make Gomez wait sexy, because John Astin was a great thespian, merely wasn't known for being hysterically handsome. But she was and then turned on by Gomez that the audience knew that he had to have something going on."
Points out Plyant, "The sexualitywassurprising, "especially when you consider that you're coming out ofI Love Lucy having twin beds and hither they are being and then romantic and Gomez can't control himself around her. That was not washed on telly at the time."
When The Addams Family was canceled in 1966, the producers gifted her with Morticia's oval-backed wicker chair, which Jones kept in her bedchamber for the balance of her life. Following the end of the series, she became Marsha, Queen of Diamonds in Adam Westward's Batman.
While waiting for offers (once again), in 1971 Jones decided to fill up the time by writing a sex activity novel, which was titled Twice Upon a Time and which, she noted, had a therapeutic result for her regarding a "sexual crisis" she was experiencing. A decade subsequently, Jones landed the office of ability-driven matriarch Myrna Clegg in the CBS daytime soap Capitol . Before long subsequently Capitol debuted, she was diagnosed with cancer, and played many of her scenes in a wheelchair. Jones sadly died in 1983 at the age of 53 after a battle with colon cancer.
"Her legacy," Plyant muses, "is her status as an icon. Her sis and I have talked about this many times. Carolyn would never have dreamt of how she would accept such a following this many years afterwards her death. A whole generation born afterward she died that follows her in movies andThe Addams Family. She never would have thought that would be a possibility."
John Astin – Gomez Addams
Gomez Addams was commencement brought to life past John Astin, who was born March 30, 1930 in Baltimore, Maryland. His acting career began in theater, working as an understudy on Broadway in 1956's Major Barbara, which was followed by commercial voiceover work and so the 1961 moving picture version ofWest Side Story. He fabricated a few guest star appearances on unlike series, before being cast alongside Marty Ingalls in the 1962 to 1963 sitcom,I'yard Dickens, He'south Fenster. On that show, the media of the time dubbed him a "comedy find."
"I'll probably get used to being called a 'find,' just being categorized similar this is somewhat uncomfortable," he told the Star-Gazetteof Elmira, NY in 1962. "Information technology's similar I was discovered on an amateur 60 minutes and given my outset professional opportunity. Of grade, this series may bear witness to be the best thing that'south happened to me in my career — and I hope it volition be — simply it's certainly not the first thing by a long shot. It's a small signal, merely very rarely is one an overnight discovery in this business. I majored in drama through to a college caste and piece of work hard to establish myself as a professional. At first, New York welcomed me with an all-fourth dimension indifference equally an player, so I'g not aback to say I took odd jobs as soda clerk, truck driver, fifty-fifty janitor, till I became a stage and TV notice, but that was 10 years ago. Again, I'm not lament."
Saying aye to Gomez was really not an easy decision for him. "I was skeptical at commencement," he admitted toThe Baltimore Sun, "because I wasn't as well sure whether I could do justice to Charles Addams' cartoons. I didn't want the characters to come off like ghouls or monsters. Addams' cartoons are most indescribable — except to say 'It's Addams.' They imply violence, all the same they're not trigger-happy. They somehow allow a person to release ambitious feelings without feeling guilty.
"Morticia and Gomez are probably the best-adjusted couple on telly," he aded to theRedlands Daily Facts. "Our just problem, and this really hampers our script writers, is that they have no problems. We are truly two completely happy people. The public doesn't want great goggle box. What they want is happiness pills; things they can look at without any strain."
AlthoughThe Addams Familyended its run in 1966, it was far from out of his life. In 1977 he reprised the role of Gomez in the TV moving-picture showHalloween and the New Addams Family, the 1992-1993 animatedThe Addams Familyand, in the role of Grandpapa Addams, in the 1998-1999 series The New Addams Family. Many recurring and starring roles on TV shows followed, includingThe Pruitts of Southampton, McMillan & Wife, Welcome Back, Kotter, Functioning Petticoat, Mary, Night Courtroom, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Eerie Indianaand The Adventures of Brisco Canton, Jr.On summit of that he fabricated guest star appearances (including a two-episode stint as The Riddler on the Adam West version ofBatman). Plus, many moves on the large screen and the pocket-size. He had a short-lived regular gig on a series in the Television version of the characteristic filmOperation Petticoat(1977).
1 of the roles he has been virtually excited nearly was in the one-homo stage show Edgar Allen Poe: In one case Upon a Midnight, written past Paul Twenty-four hour period Clemens and Ron Magid. Describes Wikipedia, "The story is told through Poe's eyes, equally he narrates his own life to the audience. He tells of his babyhood, his time in the military and the troubles he caused while at West Indicate; his marriage and his struggles to brand his mark equally a poet, publisher and author."
One reporter wondered if Gomez had actually prepared him for the part of Poe, to which he replied, "My work is to reach people with ideas," he replied, "hopes, dreams, encouragement, insight and revelation. That'due south what an actor wants to exercise. The feedback that I get from my association with Gomez is heartwarming. It is very difficult for me to accept anything only a positive view of the Gomez phenomenon. Probably, it had kept me out of roles that I might otherwise have played, because of the extremely intense identification with that character. But there is no way that I tin diminish my indebtedness to that program. Just your smile now is an indication that there is something good virtually the character of Gomez. I wouldn't merchandise the clan with him for anything or whatever part that I might accept missed."
Astin would also earn a nomination for the Academy Accolade for All-time Live Activity Curt Flick for his directorial debut. Information technology should be noted that he was married to actress Patty Knuckles in which they shared two children, i adopted from Knuckles'south previous spousal relationship. That adopted child was none other than Rudy himself, Sean Astin. Hollywood sure does trickle downwards the family lines! The union lasted from 1972 to 1985.
Today John is 91 years old, and nevertheless acts on occasion, mostly with his voice. His final big-budget operation was as The Approximate, the ghost of an Onetime West gunslinger, in Peter Jackson's The Frighteners in 1997. He'due south been married to his third wife, Valerie, since 1989 and lives in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.
Ted Cassidy – Lurch
Ted Cassidy is well known for his tall stature at 6 ft 9 in. and his deep, bass voice. Aside from his part as Lurch on The Addams Family, he would too become known for narrating The Incredible Hulk Television set series. Addams was undoubtedly his breakout role, or roles, actually, as his hand portrayed Matter as well. Though the character of Lurch was intended to exist mute, when Cassidy ad-libbed "You rang?" the subtle humor and sultry deepness to his voice was immediately a hitting, and the character was expanded.
His voice was his golden ticket, and he voiced many cartoons including 1976's Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, and Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels. If you remember Helm Caveman, you should check out forth with 9 others in our Cheesiest Cartoons from the 70s list! His tiptop allowed him amazing guest-roles, like in 1976 when he portrayed Bigfoot in a ii-parter for The Half-dozen Million Dollar Homo! He sadly passed away in 1979 from complications following a non-malignant tumor removal from his heart.
Jackie Coogan – Uncle Fester
We all know Jackie Coogan to be the lovable Uncle Fester! He began his movie career in silent films as a kid role player. Aside from his acting, he was well known for his charity work as well. In 1924, he started the "Children's Crusade" as role of a fundraising bulldoze, resulting in the provision of more than than $one one thousand thousand in clothing, food, and more vitally-needed items. Additionally, Coogan would dabble in radio work and serve in the U.S. Ground forces in WWII.
Coogan was taking chances like this at a young age. He was 1 of Hollywood's first child stars, part of Charlie Chaplin's archetype The Kid in 1921, and one of the showtime to be heavily merchandised: Peanut butter, whistles, and figurines were among the Coogan-themed products introduced to the public. But all of this were just highlights in a life oft marred with tragedy. In 1933, Brooke Hart, a friend and heir to a successful San Jose department shop, was kidnapped and murders. The killers were taken from jail by an angry mob — Coogan among them — and hung from a tree. Two years later, he was the sole survivor of a car crash that took the life of his male parent, actors, Robert J. Horner and Inferior Durkin, and Coogan ranch foreman Charles Jones.
Then,when he turned 21 in 1935, he discovered that the $4 million trust from his childhood acting career (which would be near $75 million today) had been squandered by his female parent and stepfather, whom she'd married following his father's expiry. In the stop he sued them and ended up with a paltry corporeality after legal fees were paid. Adding insult to injury, neither his mother or stepfather expressed any remorse over what they'd done. In the aftermath, however, in 1939 the state passed The California Child Role player's Bill (also known equally the Coogan Act) which would prevent the same thing from happening to whatever other immature performer.
Although Coogan acted hither and at that place, his career never flourished over again. Sadly he died in 1984 afterward suffering from center and kidney ailments. Thankfully he had come to terms with the fact that the public knew him primarily as Uncle Fester. His daughter Leslie shared with author Stephen Cox, "He had been doing the office for a while, I guess, and he came abode crying-sober. He said, 'I used to be the almost beautiful child in the globe and now I'yard a hideous monster.' That was heavy. Something but dawned on him 1 twenty-four hour period. It hit him. He'd let go of it after, only information technology really had to do with his lost childhood. Later on he came to cope with the Fester character and loved doing the character and loved doing the show. So he cherished it."
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Source: https://doyouremember.com/38804/the-addams-family-today
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