Sean Astin (placeholder)

When he was in Cedar Rapids in 2006 filming “The Final Season” a friend and co-worker of mine went to the movie set because her husband was part of the baseball program whose story was being depicted in this film. She knew how much I liked Sean because of his roles in Rudy and the Lord of the Rings trilogy so she promised to try to get his autograph for me if she had the chance. She didn’t get to, but when she left, her husband stayed to catch up with some of his teammates. The former players went to a local bar to get some food, have a beer and hang out. My friend passed on the request for an autograph to her husband. Later that evening Sean Astin showed up at the bar to meet the players, he paid for everyone’s dinners, bought a round of drinks and then stuck around chatting with everyone. My friend’s husband hesitantly asked Mr. Astin for a couple of autographs, one for me and one for my friend. Sean graciously agreed and autographed a couple of blank guest checks from the bar for each of us. I was so pleased. It’s amazing how much fun a little scrap of paper with a note and a signature can provide. I was nearly overjoyed. But it is the story that goes with that autograph just proves to me that Sean Astin is as warm, generous and purposeful as two of his most lovable characters. He’s a good guy!

RUDY RUDY!

I met him at a book signing/LOTR exhibit at the Museum of Science in Boston. He signed a bunch of stuff for me and said he liked my shirt :). (It had a picture of the 4 hobbit actors on the front and on the back said “I brake for hobbits”)

Sean was having a book signing in Chicago at Borders. My best friend Ashley and I went up there to go to the book signing and we got meet him. There were so many people there and we ended up getting there early enough to sit in the front seating. He had great stories to tell and we had a great trip there.

I got to play a teacher (as an extra) during the filming of Toy Soldiers. Sean, more than any other star in the movie, was always very nice to us lowlies, with his behavior saying both “I’m just happy to be here” and “I am no better than anyone.” Not all the “stars” had such humility, and I have always cheered his every success. His parents are, of course, awesome.

He deserves his great success.

I was walking through the DNC, and he’s just gotten done talking with Chairman Terrence McAuliffe, and Sean came up to me. I introduced myself, and he said, “Hi, I’m Sean Astin.”

I was thinking, Sean Astin, Sean Astin, sounds familiar, and then I said, “OH! You’re the Goonie!”

Then he asked to borrow my brain for a day because I’m the computer guy, and he doesn’t know much about computers apparently.