Sean Astin Elected SAG-AFTRA President, Pledges Optimism and Advocacy

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Sep 13

The Lord of the Rings actor succeeds Fran Drescher, winning nearly 80% of the vote in a pivotal election for Hollywood labor.

Sean Astin, best known for his role as Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, has officially been elected president of SAG-AFTRA, the 160,000-member actors union, following a decisive win on Friday. Astin received nearly 80% of the vote, defeating rival candidate Chuck Slavin. His running mate, Michelle Hurd (Star Trek: Picard), was elected secretary-treasurer with about 65% of the vote, continuing a leadership lineage shaped by Fran Drescher's administration.

The election comes during a transformative time for the entertainment industry, with issues like AI regulation, health plan access, and streaming residuals dominating the union’s agenda. Voter turnout was low, however, with just 17.34% of ballots cast—a sharp drop from previous years (22.84% in 2023 and 26.49% in 2021).

Astin follows in the footsteps of his mother, Patty Duke, who served as SAG president nearly four decades ago. In a post-election statement, Astin emphasized optimism and forward momentum: “I am thrilled that the members have allowed me to lead our storied organization out of this challenging moment and into a future defined by confidence, progress and fierce advocacy.”

Hurd echoed that sentiment, pledging to “guard and grow” union resources. She noted, “Our industry is at a transitional moment, and we are facing real challenges, but I am optimistic and ready to fight.”

Both Astin and Hurd campaigned under the Coalition 2025 banner—a slate that bridges previously rival union factions, including Astin’s former Membership First and Hurd’s former Unite for Strength. The duo promised to prioritize domestic production, secure stronger residuals, enhance AI protections, and expand access to health and pension plans.

Their opponents, Chuck Slavin and Peter Antico, had positioned themselves as reformers seeking to disrupt what they described as entrenched union politics. Slavin criticized COVID-19 vaccine mandates and questioned Astin's past non-union work on The Lord of the Rings. Antico, meanwhile, called for an overhaul of AI policy and more robust healthcare coverage.

Despite their loss, Slavin issued a post-election statement thanking supporters and claiming his campaign faced challenges from “the powerful Hollywood elite who wield influence to maintain their grip on power.”

At the local level, Joely Fisher was elected Los Angeles Local President, while Ezra Knight secured the same role in New York.

Astin and Hurd will soon face their first major test: preparing for the next round of film and television contract negotiations, set to begin in 2026. The 2023 actors' strike remains fresh in the industry's memory, and union leaders are expected to begin strategizing next year ahead of the current contract's June 30, 2026 expiration.

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The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) acknowledged the election results, saying, “We look forward to working with President Astin to address the issues most important to SAG-AFTRA performers while promoting stability and opportunity across our industry.”

Astin’s leadership will now be closely watched as the union enters another era of transformation, tasked with protecting performers’ rights in an industry increasingly defined by new technologies and economic pressures.