Award-winning actor Sean Astin, known for his roles in “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Goonies,” “Rudy” and many other films, will be a keynote speaker at RootsTech 2023, FamilySearch announced Tuesday, Feb. 21, in a blog post.
Astin’s keynote address is scheduled to take place at the RootsTech general session on Saturday, March 4, at 11 a.m. MST.
RootsTech, the largest global family history gathering in the world, is set for March 2-4 and will be available both online and in-person at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Astin will be a valuable addition to the keynote lineup, said Jen Allen, director of events at FamilySearch.
“Sean Astin unites generations,” Allen said in a FamilySearch news release. “My mother is just as excited as my teenagers to see him at RootsTech 2023.”
“Sean has a rich history in the film industry, and as we’ve seen his characters come to life on screen, we look forward to getting to know the man behind all the characters we have come to love,” said Jonathan Wing, RootsTech creative manager.
Who is Sean Astin?
- Sean Astin is an actor, director, producer, runner, activist, writer, husband and father.
- He was born into a family of actors and raised in southern California. His parents, Patty Duke (“The Miracle Worker”) and John Astin (“The Addams Family”), are also known for various roles on the big screen and television.
- Astin started his acting career at age 10 and in four decades has amassed over 160 acting credits.
- Some of Astin’s most memorable roles include Samwise Gamgee in “The Lord of the Rings”; Mikey Walsh in “The Goonies”; and Daniel E. “Rudy” Ruettiger in “Rudy.”
- Astin’s motto is, “People will root for anyone who shows them their heart,” the blog post said.
Other keynote speakers at RootsTech 2023
Astin joins a list of other prominent keynote speakers coming to RootsTech.
- Jordin Sparks, a multiplatinum recording artist, winner of American Idol Season 6 and actress, has been announced as a keynote speaker for RootsTech 2023.
- Me Ra Koh, a prominent photographer widely known for her and her husband’s Fioria professional photography studio, will be a keynote speaker at RootsTech 2023 on Friday, March 3.
- Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, will be the featured keynote speakers at Family Discovery Day on Saturday, March 4.
Learn more about RootsTech 2023 at RootsTech.org.