Years active 1999–present Name Ali Astin | Website aliastin.com | |
Full Name Alexandra Louise Astin Born November 27, 1996 (age 27) ( 1996-11-27 ) Los Angeles, California, US Occupation Actress
Singer-songwriter
Voice Artist
Model Family Christine Harrell (mother)
Sean Astin (father) | ||
Ali Astin (born Alexandra Louise Astin; November 27, 1996) is an American actress, singer-songwriter, voice artist and model. She began her career in 1999 at the age of two in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King which was released four years after her part was filmed. She recently enrolled at Harvard University to study English and Drama while still working as an actress and musician. Recent work includes the animated feature Ribbit and the upcoming feature film Where the Bad Kids Go.
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Early life
Astin is a member of a family of well-known American screen actors. Her father is Academy Award-nominated actor/director Sean Astin and her mother is Christine (Harrell) Astin, an Academy Award-nominated producer who began her career as a model and was Miss Indiana Teen USA in 1984.
Astin has two younger sisters, Elizabeth and Isabella. She is a niece of actor Mackenzie Astin. She is a granddaughter of Academy Award winner Patty Duke and actor John Astin.
Acting
Astin's first film appearance was as Elanor Gamgee, the daughter of Sam Gamgee (played by her father) in The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. She grew up on the set of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and traveled around the world with her family during press tours, living in 16 countries before age 12. She returned to the U.S. periodically to appear on stage with a California theatre company until 2007 when she began touring with the first cast of Disney’s High School Musical on stage.
Astin made her voiceover debut as the Princess in United Studios’ Ribbit alongside her father and Tim Curry. In 2015 she appeared in Where the Bad Kids Go as the young troublemaker Ethel Banducci. The film features music written and performed by her.
Musical career
Astin began her vocal career on stage at age 6 after recording with producer Michael “Fish” Herring. By age 15, Astin was performing in four bands. She sang in Carnegie Hall in April 2013 with composer Z. Randall Stroope. Her music is currently featured in her latest film Where the Bad Kids Go.
Personal life
While her travels took her away from her hometown throughout her childhood, Astin has often been involved in her community. A Girl Scout from age 5, she has earned her Silver Award and completed her Gold Award Project in mid 2015. She spearheaded a campaign to promote child literacy throughout schools in Los Angeles in her early teens, and in the summer of 2015, Ali designed and painted a mural involving over 150 volunteers at the Guadalupe Center in Canoga Park, California.
Astin served as Queen Shenandoah LXXXVII at the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia in 2014 where she was crowned by grandfather, John Astin, and her parents.
Astin graduated with honors from Oaks Christian High School as a captain in both Varsity Cheer and Mock Trial. She will be attending Harvard University as a member of the class of 2019.