Born in Baltimore in 1930, John Astin is an American actor who gained fame as the quirky Gomez Addams on television. His film work includes Viva Max! (1969), where he showcases his comedic flair, and the cult classic Return of the Killer Tomatoes! (1988), where his eccentricity shines. Astin's performances in Get to Know Your Rabbit (1972) and Killer Tomatoes Strike Back! (1991) further cement his status in the realm of cult and exploitation cinema, making him a notable figure in the SassyFlix catalog.
Killer Tomatoes Strike Back!
Police assistant Lance Boyle is a childish detective who is lumbered with worthless police cases. However, after several murders in a nearby wood that concern Killer Tomatoes, Lance finds himself working alongside Kennedy Johnson, a Tomatologist, to solve the murders. Nearby, Professor Mortimer Gangreen (John Astin) has begun using subliminal mind control on his talk show, disguised as talk show host Jeronahew. After kidnapping members of the Press and Media, Gangreen and his assistant Igor plot to use his brainwashed Press members, as well as the Subliminal Mind control, to overpower the human race and make the world a planet run by himself and his killer tomatoes. Following countless killer tomatoes attacks, Lance and Kennedy finally reach Gangreen's hideout, where they must pit themselves against killer tomatoes, brainwashed newsreaders and a giant Bacon, Lettuce and Human sandwich, of which Kennedy may be a part. With help from FT, (Fuzzy Tomato, from Return of the Killer Tomatoes) Lance rescues Kennedy and Gangreen is defeated, left at the mercy of the hungry killer tomatoes.
