LOS ANGELES – Actor Sean Astin,known for his roles in “The Lord of the Rings” and “Rudy,” has been elected president of SAG-AFTRA,the union representing over 160,000 media professionals.
Astin’s election on Friday marks a transition in leadership for the union, succeeding Fran Drescher. He secured the position with 79% of the vote, defeating Chuck Slavin, who received 21%. Michelle Hurd was elected secretary-treasurer. The election comes after a period of significant labor action for SAG-AFTRA, and positions the union for continued advocacy in a rapidly evolving entertainment landscape.
SAG-AFTRA was formed by the merger of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. It represents a broad range of performers, including actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, program hosts, and recording artists.
Astin’s mother, Patty Duke, previously served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985 to 1988, establishing a family legacy of leadership within the organization.
During drescher’s tenure, SAG-AFTRA successfully navigated a pair of strikes involving film and television actors, as well as a separate strike concerning video game and interactive media performers. These actions addressed concerns surrounding fair compensation and the impact of artificial intelligence on performers’ livelihoods.
