Actor Sean Astin, who starred as Samwise Gamgee in the LOTR cinematic trilogy, has been announced as a special guest of this year's Phoenix Comicon.
Organizers of the annual event announced the news on Monday morning via Facebook, which we're guessing will result in a squee or two from the local geek crowd.
Astin joins a loaded lineup of special guests that are scheduled to appear at Phoenix Comicon in June, including Billie Piper and Alex Kingston from Doctor Who, Buffy the Vampire Slayer's James Marsters, Gates McFadden from Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Six Million Dollar Man star Lee Majors.
In addition to playing Samwise Gamgee, the BFF and traveling companion of Lord of the Rings protagonist Frodo Baggins, Astin is equally famous for starring as treasure-seeking pre-teen Mikey Walsh in 1985's The Goonies and as the pint-sized underdog Daniel Ruettiger in the 1993's heartwarming football flick Rudy.
We're certain that Astin will probably field questions about all three roles during his appearance at Phoenix Comicon, which will likely include a Q&A panel, autograph sessions, and photo opportunities. But whatever you do, don't ask him to be involved in any kind of goofy stunt like helping you ask your S.O. for their hand in marriage. As the actor told our sister publication Miami New Times last year, that sort of thing has happened to him before.
“I’ve been asked to participate in marriage proposals,” Astin says over the phone with a laugh. But his first instinct is to decline. “Because I’m a father of daughters,” he explains, “And I don’t know the person — I mean, what if the guy is a jerk? — I want to say ‘no.’” But sometimes the requestor starts filming video, so, Astin has developed a go-to response. Looking straight at the recording device, he’ll say, “Listen, this person clearly seems to love you, but use your better judgment, and if you’re in any way skeptical about him, then you have my approval to run like hell!”Consider yourself warned, geeks.
Phoenix Comicon 2016 will take place from Thursday, June 2, to Sunday, June 5, at the Phoenix Convention Center. Daily admission is currently $15 to $40 and a full event pass is $60.
