Sean Astin has been elected as the brand new SAG-AFTRA president. Astin, who first broke out in The Goonies and has since starred in notable films together with Rudy and The Lord of the Rings franchise, succeeds Fran Drescher because the chief of the union that represents actors and others working in films, tv, and radio.
Outcomes of the election have been introduced Friday, September 12, with Astin taking 79% of the vote towards Chuck Slavin, a member of SAG-AFTRA’s New England native board. Additionally elected to the position of secretary-treasurer is Michelle Hurd, who performed Raffi Musiker on Star Trek: Picard and was most just lately seen in a few episodes of Netflix’s You season 5.
Shortly after being elected to the position of president, for which he’ll serve a two-year time period, Astin launched a press release the place he mentioned:
“Now is a time for optimism and creativity. I am thrilled that the members have allowed me to lead our storied organization out of this challenging moment and into a future defined by confidence, progress, and fierce advocacy.”
Astin has mentioned he grew to become extra energetic within the politics of SAG-AFTRA during the last six years, most notably throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. That included serving on the negotiating committee for the union throughout the 2023 actor’s strike.
That have will doubtless come in useful, as SAG-AFTRA is predicted to start new negotiations with the Alliance of Movement Image and Tv Producers in 2026. AMPTP did difficulty a press release congratulating Astin and saying they sit up for working with him.
Speaking about future negotiations, Astin praised Drescher’s work throughout the 2023 strike, saying that his job is to “extend” the work that she did, and “to approach any negotiation with an open mind and an open heart, but also with absolute resolve that our dignity and our legitimate needs be understood.”
What This Means For Sean Astin
Astin is locked in for a two-year time period, which begins instantly and can final till September 2027. He can be eligible to run for re-election at the moment.
Headshot Of Sean Astin In The Paleyfest LA Presents Netflix’s Stranger Factor
Birthdate
February 25, 1971
Birthplace
Santa Monica, California, USA
Top
5 toes 7 inches
Whereas serving as president of SAG-AFTRA is definitely a big accountability, it mustn’t preclude Astin from persevering with to work as an actor. Drescher appeared in a number of TV exhibits (primarily in visitor roles) throughout her tenure as SAG-AFTRA president, and was a part of the Spinal Faucet II solid.
Barring one other strike, probably the most that most of the people will doubtless see of Astin in his position as SAG-AFTRA president is an annual look as a part of the SAG Awards. In any other case, most of his work will happen behind the scenes as he pushes for applications to profit SAG’s 160,000 members.
Our Take On Sean Astin Being Elected As SAG-AFTRA President
Sean Astin as Mikey down the properly in The Goonies
It is laborious to not be a fan of Astin contemplating his work in some generation-defining films, together with enjoying Mikey in The Goonies and Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, so his election to this new position representing his fellow actors would not really feel overly shocking.
He truly has a household connection to the position. Astin’s mom, the late Patty Duke, was the president of SAG, the predecessor of SAG-AFTRA, from 1985-1988. That speaks to the lengthy historical past that Astin has within the performing group.
Supply: Selection