Born:
February 25, 1971
in
Santa Monica, California
Best Known For:
Playing Sam in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Early-life:
Sean Patrick Duke was born in Santa Monica, California on February 25, 1971. He's the son of actress Patty Duke and her second husband Michael Tell, although he didn't know Tell was his biological father until a blood test proved it in 1990. Tell and Duke's marriage was annulled after just one month and Sean was adopted at the age of three by Addams Family star John Astin. Sean has four half-brothers, one of whom, Mackenzie, is also an actor. After leaving school he gained a degree in history and English from the University of California.
Career:
At the age of nine, Sean made his acting debut opposite his mother in TV movie Please Don't Hit Me Mom. Other early roles include The Goonies, Like Father Like Son and The War of the Roses. More mature parts came in the 1990s in Memphis Belle, Bulworth and Courage Under Fire, but didn't become a famous name until The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was released in 2001; he starred in the trilogy's second and third films too. He's worked almost non-stop since; his CV includes 50 First Dates, 24, Click, Forever Strong and The Witches of Oz. He's also in demand for voiceover work and has branched out into directing.
Quote:
"I'm not really Sam. Nobody could be that good, that noble. He's just better than the rest of us. I'm a lot more Hollywood than Sam would ever be."
Trivia:
He received an Oscar nomination for producing and directing acclaimed short film Kangaroo Court in 1994.