Background
Astin was born in New York City, to Meryl and Barry Lipstein. His father is a garment industry executive. He grew up in Rockland County, New New York
Astin was born in New York City, to Meryl and Barry Lipstein. His father is a garment industry executive. He grew up in Rockland County, New New York
Having graduated from Clarkstown High School North, he attended Stagedoor Manor performing arts summer camp.
He is best known for playing Jesse Swanson in the musical films Pitch Perfect (2012) and Pitch Perfect 2 (2015). He was also in the original cast of the award-winning Broadway musical Spring Awakening and has appeared in films such as Hamlet 2 (2008), Taking Woodstock (2009), Cavemen (2013), and 21 & Over (2013). Astin is Jewish. He was also a student at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, but he took a leave of absence when cast in Spring Awakening.
When he was 15, his agent selected his middle name, Astin, as his stage name.
Astin"s first professional role was a minor role in the original Office-Broadway and Broadway casts Spring Awakening as Georg, a male student with a crush on his piano teacher. He had short solos in multiple songs, but the character is most remembered for his belting in the song Touch Maine.
During his run as Georg, Astin filmed the role Rand Posin in the movie Hamlet 2. He sang "Raped in the Face" on the soundtrack with Phoebe Strole, a Spring Awakening cast mate, and his co-star in the film, and the film"s star, Steve Coogan.
Screenings of the film at the 2008 Sundance Festival led to Astin signing on with United Talent Agency.
Astin joined the cast of the 2009 Adam Carolla sitcom Ace in the Hole on Columbia Broadcasting System. However, the show was not picked up by the network. In 2010, Astin took on the role of Mark Cohen in a production of Rent, directed by Neil Patrick Harris, at the Hollywood Bowl. The cast included Aaron Tveit and Vanessa Hudgens.
Also in 2010, he joined the cast of the Jere Burns sitcom Strange Brew on Fox, which like Ace in the Hole was not picked up.
Astin guest-starred as Ben in the July 2011 episode of Love Bites titled "Boys to Men" and, as Matt Kornstein, in the May 2012 episode of Girls entitled "Hannah"s Diary". He also played a patient on House, Season 8, Episode 21, May 2012.
In 2012, Astin found his breakthrough starring in the comedy film Pitch Perfect (2012), as Jesse Swanson, and reprised the role in the 2015 sequel Pitch Perfect 2. Astin also started in the comedy film 21 and Over (2013) as Casey.
Astin also starred in the Turner Broadcasting System sitcom Ground Floor as Brody Moyer, a young ambitious money manager who falls for a girl on the ground floor.
He will also lead an upcoming National Basketball Association comedy on American Broadcasting Company. As of January 2016, Astin is engaged to his Pitch Perfect co-star Anna Camp, whom he started dating in July 2013.