Sean Astin elected SAG-AFTRA president

Sean Astin at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival Image Credit: Rodin Eckenroth, Getty Images via The Detroit News

American actor and activist, Sean Astin, famous for his roles as the titular character in Rudy, loveable Mikey in The Goonies, and noble adventurer Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, has been elected the President of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists.

SAG-AFTRA is the union that represents a vast number of screen actors, broadcasters, singers, and dancers across film, television, and even video games. Astin succeeds Fran Drescher (The Nanny) as SAG-AFTRA president as a part of her leadership slate. Drescher served in the role from 2021-2025, most notably steering the union through the July-November Strike in 2023.

“People keep saying to me, ‘I hope you have time to celebrate’ and celebrating feels like a foreign thought. This doesn’t feel like a moment for celebration. It feels like a moment to say thank you and get to work.” -Sean Astin to the Los Angeles Times

Astin's opponent was actor Chuck Slavin (27 Dresses), whom he defeated in a 79% to 21% vote. Joining Astin on the leadership team of the union is actress Michelle Hurd (Star Trek: Picard) who was elected as the union's new secretary-treasurer. The challenges the both of them are expected to face include an industry constantly consolidating, outsourcing production overseas, and the growing concern of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry.

The 54-year-old actor's win also represents a familial calling. His mother, Academy Award®-winner Patty Duke, was the SAG president from 1985-1988. Now, Astin will assume leadership of a 160,000-member organization serving as the first line of defense for actors and their livelihood in Hollywood and beyond.