More than 80 years agone, cartoonist Charles Addams introduced the world to his skewered look at the American family in the course of the New Yorkersingle-panel comic stripThe Addams Family. Since then, his concept has served as the inspiration of alive-action TV shows, animated spinoffs, feature films and a contempo CG animated flick released to theaters in 2019. But of all of them, the one that continues to stand out from the rest is the 1964-1966 Classic TV show that aired on ABC.
When yous expect dorsum at '60s TV, yous'll find a lotof high-concept shows, ranging fromBewitchedtoMister Ed(the quondam nearly married life betwixt a witch and a mortal, the latter focusing on a talking equus caballus!), just there was something a petty fleck actress-special about The Addams Family. SimilarThe Munsters, which debuted during the same season, the thought was to have a typical American family (every bit represented past goggle box sitcoms) and give it a macabre twist. The end issue was our weekly invitation to spend time with patriarch Gomez and dame Morticia; the zombie manservant ("Yous rang?") Lurch, children Pugsley and Wednesday, Uncle Fester and a number of other eccentric relatives and friends.
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The audition immediately felt a connection with the Addams; a connection that's still going strong some 55 years subsequently its debut thanks to the ability of reruns. At the aforementioned fourth dimension, while the actors who brought those characters to life were no doubt thrilled for the job at the fourth dimension, when they signed their contracts they couldn't have imagined the impact it would take on their career — particularly in terms of how it would ultimately limit their interim opportunities in its backwash. That cast — including John Astin, Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan and Ted Cassidy — had different responses to the typecasting that followed them.
In the following await at the dissimilar cast members, we provide a sense of the road that took them toThe Addams Family, their feelings nigh the show and where their lives went later on. Sadly, many of them of those lives were less-than-happy, filled with frustration and pain.
Delight whorl down for much more than.
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Carolyn Jones (Morticia Addams)
Born on Apr 28, 1930 in Amarillo, Texas, Carolyn'south desire to get an actress came from a pretty unique source: As a kid she suffered from a severe case of asthma and, although she loved going to the movies, she seldom could. Instead, she read fan magazines, which fueled that desire to perform. At 17, she enrolled at the Pasadena Playhouse in California, where she was spotted by a talent lookout from Paramount Pictures. As a outcome, she made her movie debut in 1952'due south The Turning Signal, followed by episodes of Dragnet and had roles in The Large Heat and House of Wax (both 1953). She was originally bandage in From Here to Eternity in the part ultimately played by Donna Reed (Alma "Lorene" Burke), just was forced to drop out due to a example of pneumonia.
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In the years leading up to The Addams Family, she appeared in films like The Seven Year Itch (1955), The Tender Trap (1955), the sci-fi classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), Alfred Hitchcock'south remake of his own The Man Who Knew Likewise Much (1956), reverse Elvis Presley in Rex Creole (1958), The Bachelor Party (1957, for which she was nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Supporting Actress) and How the W Was Won (1962). Television roles included multiple appearances on anthology series, among them The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse, Studio 57, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and such episodic serial as Wagon Railroad train, Dr. Kildare and Burke'southward Law (for which she was nominated for a Gold Globe). Following the run of The Addams Family, she went back to episodic Idiot box piece of work, appearing on a couple of dozen shows, too as the miniseries Roots and reprised the role of Morticia on the 1977 NBC reunion film, Halloween with the New Addams Family.
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In her personal life, Carolyn was married a total of 4 times. Beginning to Don Donaldson, a beau pupil at the Pasadena Playhouse, but that matrimony only lasted a year from 1950-1951. Then it was Aaron Spelling, future uber-producer (and father to Tori Spelling) from 1953-1964. This was followed by Herbert Greene, a Tony Accolade-winning Broadway musical director, from 1968-1977. In March of 1981 she was diagnosed with colon cancer (though she told others she was suffering from ulcers) and decided, in September of the following year, to marry her swain of five years, role player Peter Bailey-Britton. Sadly, in July of 1983, she slipped into a blackout equally a effect of her cancer battle, passing away on August 3 of that yr. Carolyn Jones was only 53 years onetime.
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Unfortunately, due to her death at such a young age, there weren't many opportunities for her to await back at The Addams Family in the wake of its enduring popularity. Back in 1965 she did do an interview with columnist Hedda Hopper, commenting, "I've ever enjoyed the sense of humor of Charles Addams. I have a collection of Addams memorabilia and some of his drawings. When I was in the hospital for an functioning, he sent me a cartoon of a nurse coming out of an operating room carrying a great tray with my head on it. At the elevation, he printed, 'Keep KALM!'"
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Additionally, in his book The Addams Chronicles, writer Stephen Cox writes, "Jones, who always enjoyed her spidery character on the show, frequently answered her telephone, 'You rang?' She even appeared on The Danny Kaye Show dressed as Morticia. Flown from city to metropolis on promotional tours for the testify, she admitted being relieved when the rigors of travel ended, so Astin could resume 'chewing' on her arm."
Speaking of "chewing," in a documentary about the actress, costar John Astin commented on the seeming connection betwixt the two of them: "We heard a lot about the chemical science between us and it was there undoubtedly. As we continued to do the show, I think we both began to realize that we really were attracted to one some other."
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John Astin (Gomez Adams)
In comparing to his costars, information technology seems John has had the longest-sustained career with the smallest amount of personal drama. He was built-in on March 30, 1930 in Baltimore, Maryland, outset his career in theater. His kickoff Broadway advent was as an understudy in Major Barbara, which was followed by voiceover work in commercials and a small office in the movie version of Due west Side Story (1961). On the recommendation of Tony Randall (The Odd Couple), John started guest starring roles on such comedies as Dennis the Menace and The Donna Reed Show. From 1962-1963 he costarred with Marty Ingels in the sitcom I'm Dickens, He's Fenster.
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Although The Addams Family concluded its run in 1966, it was far from out of his life. In 1977 he reprised the part of Gomez in the TV film Halloween and the New Addams Family, the 1992-1993 blithe The Addams Family unit and, in the part of Grandpapa Addams, the 1998-1999 series The New Addams Family. Many recurring and starring roles on TV shows followed, including The Pruitts of Southampton, McMillan & Married woman, Welcome Back, Kotter, Functioning Petticoat, Mary, Nighttime Court, Assault of the Killer Tomatoes, Eerie Indiana and The Adventures of Brisco Canton, Jr. On pinnacle of that he made guest star appearances (including a 2-episode stint as The Riddler on the Adam West version of Batman). Plus, many moves on the big screen and the small.
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One of the about personally satisfying roles that John has played was in the one-man stage show, Edgar Allan Poe: Once Upon a Midnight, written by Paul Day Clemens and Ron Magid. Describes Wikipedia, "The story is told through Poe's eyes, equally he narrates his own life to the audition. He tells of his childhood, his time in the military and the troubles he caused while at West Point; his spousal relationship and his struggles to make his marking as a poet, publisher and author."
While he was doing the evidence, he was interviewed by wolerton-mountain.com, which wondered if playing Gomez had become a hindrance when seeking projects similar Edgar Allan Poe. "My work is to reach people with ideas," he replied, "hopes, dreams, encouragement, insight and revelation. That's what an histrion wants to practise. The feedback that I get from my association with Gomez is heartwarming.
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"It is very difficult for me to take anything only a positive view of the Gomez phenomenon," he adds. "Probably, it had kept me out of roles that I might otherwise take played, because of the extremely intense identification with that character. But there is no way that I can diminish my indebtedness to that program. Merely your grinning now is an indication that there is something good virtually the graphic symbol of Gomez. I wouldn't trade the association with him for anything or any role that I might have missed."
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In addition to acting, John is the director of the Theater Arts and Studies Department and Homewood Professor of the Arts at John Hopkins University. In his personal life, he has 5 sons, iii — David, Allen and Tom — from his spousal relationship with Suzanne Hahn (married from 1956-1972), and two (Sean, who he adopted; and Mackenzie) with second wife Patty Duke (1972-1985). He is currently married to Valerie Ann Sandobal, whom he wed in 1989.
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Jackie Coogan (Uncle Fester)
Of all the cast members of The Addams Family, it would seem that Jackie, who played Uncle Fester, had in many means the most challenging life, but somehow managed to keep pushing forward. He was born John Leslie Coogan on October 26, 1914 in Los Angeles. Every bit an baby he started his career performing in vaudeville and picture. Discovered by legendary comedian Charlie Chaplin, Jackie plant himself cast in 1919'southward A Mean solar day'due south Pleasance and so costarred with him in The Kid (1921). The next year he played the title role in an adaptation of Oliver Twist, and every bit a effect of all of that found himself Hollywood'south start child superstar. Additionally, he was heavily merchandised on a broad variety of products.
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Although things were going well for Jackie, past the early '30s life definitely took a downturn. In 1933, one of his friends, Brooke Hart (22-year-old heir to a successful San Jose department shop) was kidnapped and murdered. The killers were taken from jail by an angry mob, who hung both of them from a tree. Past all reports, Jackie was there, holding the rope used to hang them. And then, ii years later, he was the sole survivor of a motorcar crash that claimed the life of his father, actors Junior Durkin and Robert J. Horner, and Coogan ranch foreman Charles Jones.
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Sadly, the bad news continued for Jackie when he turned 21 in 1935, discovering that his $4 million trust from his childhood acting career (the equivalent of $75 million today) had pretty much been squandered past his mother and stepfather she'd married in the aftermath of his father's decease. He ultimately sued them (and they, in turn, showed absolutely no remorse for what they'd washed), and he ended up with a paltry amount later on legal fees were paid. Notwithstanding, in the aftermath of what had happened, in 1939 the state passed The California Child Role player'south Neb (too known as the Coogan Human activity) which would forbid the same affair from happening to whatever other young performer.
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During Globe War II, Jackie (who had been doing some moving-picture show and radio work in the interim) joined the U.S. Ground forces but, post-obit the assault on Pearl Harbor, he requested and was switched to the Regular army Air Forces. Post-obit the state of war he made numerous appearances on television, only battled his personal demons with alcohol and drugs. He was also married four times, to actress Betty Grable (1937-1939), Flower Parry (1941-1943), Ann McCormack (1946-1951) and Dorothea Lamphere (married in 1952 and remained together until his death). He fathered four children over the years. Suffering from eye and kidney ailments, he passed away on March 1, 1984 at the historic period of 69.
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Jackie'due south daughter, Leslie, related to author Stephen Cox ane particular Addams Family unit-related retentiveness concerning her male parent: "He had been doing the part for a while, I judge, and he came home crying-sober. He said, 'I used to be the most beautiful child in the earth and now I'm a hideous monster.' That was heavy. Something simply dawned on him one day. Information technology hit him. He'd let get of it later on, but it really had to do with his lost babyhood. Later he came to cope with the Fester character and loved doing the character and loved doing the show. And then he cherished it."
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Ted Cassidy (Lurch)
He'south the Addams' zombie butler, but Ted'southward Lurch is probably one of the most iconic characters to come out of '60s television set. The 6-pes-9 role player was born Theodore Crawford Cassidy on July 31, 1932 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In high school and college, Ted'due south passion was sports, though he did end up graduating from Stetson Academy in DeLand, Florida with a degree in spoken communication and drama. His career in show business concern began as a disc jockey on a Dallas radio station (his deep bass voice was undoubtedly perfect for that chore).
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That unique voice was put to expert use on animated series like the Sabbatum morning cartoon Frankenstein, Jr. and The Impossibles and Meteor Human in Birdman and the Galaxy Trio. He appeared in one episode of Star Trek and voiced characters in two others, and on shows similar I Dream of Jeannie, Mannix, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Six Million Dollar Man andThe Bionic Woman (as Bigfoot on both!) besides as The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Between 1959 and 1978, he appeared in a full of xiv movies, among them Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Child (1969), The Harrad Experiment (1973), Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976), The Concluding Remake of Beau Geste (1977) and the Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond film, Goin' Coconuts (1978).
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Unfortunately, Ted felt trapped by the function of Lurch and, while he didn't do many interviews, he did admit to announcer Joel Eisner in 1970, "It was terrific until the second year, and so I began to come across that playing that guy, who actually didn't practice anything besides this schtick, was no fun. I began to react badly, non to the cast, the producer or director — because they were good folk — just to myself. I thought, 'I must become out of this show. This is terrible. I desire nothing to do with this character, it's ruining me.' Everybody began to know me by the graphic symbol name instead of my proper noun. I really began to panic, because if that keeps up, you never work again … so I was actually glad when The Addams Family was cancelled." He all the same voiced the graphic symbol in an episode of the animated The New Scooby-Doo Movies (1972), the blithe series of The Addams Family the next twelvemonth, and in the 1977 reunion pic Halloween with the New Addams Family unit.
Ted would end up dying on January sixteen, 1979 at the age of 46, following an operation to remove a non-malignant tumor from his heart.
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Bloom Rock (Grandmama)
Although her career spanned from vaudeville to stage, film and television, Blossom Rock (born Edith Marie Blossom MacDonald on August 21, 1895 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was all-time known for her Addams Family role of Grandmama. She initially performed on the vaudeville stage and had roles in the films Mannequin (1937), Rich Man, Poor Girl (1938), Jennie (1940) and Skilful Morning, Judge (1943). She recurred in the Dr. Kildare film serial of the '30s and '40s every bit switchboard operator Sally. Blossom was married to Clarence Warren Rock from 1926 until his decease in 1960). Sadly, she suffered a stroke in 1966 that prevented her from interim. She died on Jan 14, 1978 at the age of 82.
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Ken Weatherwax (Pugsley)
Morticia and Gomez' just son is Pugsley, played by actor Ken Weatherwax, who had previously spent three seasons on Lassie (he was nephew to the trainers and owners of the show'southward original Collie). Ken was born September 29, 1955 in Los Angeles and got his start acting at the age of nine when he starred in a toothpaste commercial. Following the two-year run of The Addams Family, he left acting and joined the U.South. Army when he turned 17. When he was 21, he reprised the role of Pugsley in the TV movie Halloween with the New Addams Family. He suffered a fatal heart assault on December 7, 2014 at the age of 59.
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Lisa Loring (Wednesday)
The career of Lisa Loring — who was built-in Lisa Ann DeCinces on February 16,1958 in Kwajalein, Republic of the marshall islands — was a adequately limited 1. It began at the age of three with an episode of Dr. Kildare and was followed by The Addams Family the adjacent year. The Pruitts of Southampton was next in 1966, and she was bandage in the role of Cricket Montgomery on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns from 1980 to 1983.
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Her personal life has not been an like shooting fish in a barrel one. Her female parent died as a result of alcoholism in 1974 at the age of 34. A year before, Lisa married Farrell Foumberg, her childhood sweetheart, and gave birth to their girl when she was only sixteen. They divorced in 1974, and she married husband No. 2, player Doug Stevenson, in 1981. That spousal relationship ended in 1983. Four years subsequently that, she married adult pic star Jerry Butler, though his vocation ultimately destroyed the union and they divorced in 1992. Fast-forward to 2003, and she married Graham Rich and, by final reports, had gotten divorced. In 1991, she spent a year fond to heroin, just successfully completed handling.
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