Top 10 Darkest Things You Didn't Know About the Addams Family

Top 10 Creepy & Kooky Facts About the Addams Family

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today well be looking at the most interesting tidbits surrounding our favorite macabre family.

#10: The Addams Family House Was Real

The Addams Family (1964-66)

While the mansion the Addams family resided in definitely looked like it was built on a soundstage, it wasnt. The creepy dwelling was a real house! Located on 21 Chester Place in Los Angeles, the house was used solely for exterior shots. The crew did spook it up a bit with props and special effects, including a third floor tower, which gave it a more Victorian aesthetic. Sadly, you cant actually visit the house today. Since it was technically part of Mount St. Marys College, the school tore down the home in order to build a parking lot. They literally tore down spook-tacular paradise and put in a parking lot.

#9: The Addams Family Made Their First Animated Appearance on Scooby-Doo (1972)

Scooby-Doo Meets the Addams Family (1972)

Its pretty fitting that the members of Mystery Incorporated would be the ones to introduce the Addams family. Both groups are used to being around ghosts and creepy-crawlies, although admittedly in different contexts. In 1972, Hanna-Barbera presented the Addams to the Scooby-gang in a fun little narrative that gave Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby quite the mystery to solve. Where is Wednesday Addams? The crossover was such a hit that the Addams ended up getting their very own Saturday morning cartoon the following year in 1973.

#8: The Idea for the 1991 Live-Action Movie Came From a Car Ride

The Addams Family (1991)

Once you get The Addams Family theme song stuck in your head, its nearly impossible to get it out! Its so catchy that its actually the reason why the 1991 film exists in the first place. Scott Rudin, who was the head of production for 20th Century Fox at the time, was riding in a van with other company executives when one of the executives children started to sing the theme song. Everyone in the van joined in for a singalong, which sparked an idea: what if they brought The Addams Family back? And the rest is movie history.

#7: Anthony Hopkins Was Almost Uncle Fester in the 1991 Movie

The Addams Family (1991)

In an alternate timeline somewhere, Hannibal Lecter and Uncle Fester are one in the same. While we all know and love Christopher Lloyd as Fester, it was Anthony Hopkins who was originally tapped to play the character. Hopkins would have to turn down the role, though, opting instead to play Hannibal Lecter after none other than Sean Connery passed on it. So, the oddball character of Fester then went to Lloyd, who was better known at the time as Doc Brown from Back to the Future. Hopkins went on to win an Oscar for his performance as the sinister Lecter, and Lloyds take on Fester perfectly fit the character, so we figure things worked out for the best.

#6: Anjelica Huston Studied Grey Gardens to Play Morticia

The Addams Family (1991)

Although Huston had been acquainted with the Charles Addams comics, she didnt grow up watching the TV series, so she decided to turn to a rather different form of inspiration for her role as Morticia: Grey Gardens. The infamous 1975 documentary follows the aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy, who lived in a horribly filthy mansion. Their strange behavior certainly seemed to fit with the Addams, so its understandable why Huston would choose to do her homework on them. Interestingly, Cher was also looking to cop the role but producer Scott Rudin had his sights set on Huston.

#5: Gomezs Crazed Expression

The Addams Family (1964-66)

One of the most memorable parts of John Astins take on Gomez Addams was his manic expression. In the original comics, Gomez didnt have a frenzied face. The crazed look can be accredited to Astin himself, but he actually didnt come up with it exclusively for the role. Prior to becoming a hot-shot actor, Astin lived in a rather questionable area of New York City. His act insane bit was sort of a survival mechanism to get people to leave him alone on his walks home. Since Gomez is also a bit unbalanced, the actor drew from his NYC experiences for his characters signature look.

#4: Ted Cassidy Played Two Roles

The Addams Family (1964-66)

You rang? While Ted Cassidy is mostly known for playing the Addams solemn butler, Lurch, that wasnt the only character he played in the show. Cassidy also lent a hand - literally - and played Thing. So, whenever you see Thing on screen, yep, thats Cassidys hand! Unless, of course, Thing and Lurch were in the same scene together. When that was the case, associate producer Jack Voglin would substitute. While its rather tricky to give something like a hand so much life, Cassidy managed to do so expertly. His two characters also had very opposing personalities, which is quite the testament to the actors range.

#3: John Astins Suit Pockets Were Lined with Asbestos

The Addams Family (1964-66)

Another quirk of Gomez Adams was his penchant for cigars, which he never bothered to put out in an ashtray. Instead, they went in his suit pockets, still lit. Since this, first and foremost, is a fire hazard, the props department lined Astins suit pockets with asbestos to help out with the characters habit. While this bit of movie magic is definitely a little risky, its also brilliantly unconventional and seemed to work well enough. Interestingly, Astin himself was a cigar smoker, so perhaps having a convenient place to put them out was helpful for the actor.

#2: The Theme Song is Just Multiple Tracks of the Same Singer

The Addams Family (1964-66)

Vic Mizzy was the genius who wrote the iconic Addams Family theme song. And, not only did he write it, he also sang all three parts of it. The studio was eager to cut costs at every corner, so Mizzy was the only musician they hired. In order to solve this conundrum, the composer multi-tracked his voice to give the illusion of a trio of singers. The end results are crazy impressive and definitely had us fooled through the decades. Mizzy, if youre curious, is also responsible for the Green Acres theme.

#1: Teen Girls Loved Lurch

The Addams Family (1964-66)

Lurch, the Addams familys straight-faced butler, was originally supposed to be mute. One day, he ad-libbed the line you rang? which cracked up the director and got him a more prominent role in the show. Ted Cassidy would end up receiving endless fan letters and was even told that he was cuter than the Beatles! This had to have inspired the episode titled Lurch, the Teenage Idol, because its plot actually follows Lurch gaining fame. He becomes a pop star thanks to his skills on the harpsichord, but soon decides celebrity life isnt for him after being mobbed by adoring fans. Apparently, teen girls are drawn to the strong and not-so-silent type.

Did we miss any altogether ooky facts about the Addams Family? Let us know in the comments!