Lord of the Rings Icon Elected New President of SAG-AFTRA

Sean Astin, beloved star of The Lord of the Rings, The Goonies, and Rudy, has officially stepped into one of Hollywood’s most powerful labor roles. On September 12, Astin was elected president of SAG-AFTRA, succeeding Fran Drescher at the helm of the 160,000-member union that represents actors, broadcasters, and recording artists across the country. Astin’s election marks both a symbolic and practical shift for the guild. He was part of “The Coalition,” a unity ticket that pulled together members from historically rival factions alongside unaffiliated voices. The result was a decisive win over Chuck Slavin, a New England board member who ran a dissident campaign challenging Hollywood’s influence within the union.