The Addams Familyis the first family of horror. They’re creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky… and they’ve been around in one medium or another since 1938. Starting out as a comic strip by cartoonist Charles Addams, the family was made famous on the small screen in 1964 with the emergence of their iconic self-titled TV show. From film and cartoon appearances tofan-favorite offshoots likeWednesday, this family has lasted in some form or other for nearly a century.
One thing about them that’s not nearly so well known, however, is their lineage. The Addams Family, not to be mistaken for the iconic American ancestors, are a proud and rambunctious breed, many of whom reside just within or outside the confines of the family home. From the famous nuclear family to the staff they treat like family and everyone in between, here is an overview of the twists and turns in their gnarled family tree.
The Addams Family Tree
The Nuclear Addams Family
The first family of horror centers first and foremost around a singular nuclear family – The Addams Four. At the helm are husband Gomez and wife Morticia, a pair whose undying love for each other and disdain for all things suburbia easily sets them apart from thetypical nuclear family. Their primary offspring are goth girl extraordinaire Wednesday and riff-raff son, Pugsley. Together, this foursome proves a delightfully decadent pairing.
Gomez Addams — Husband
Ever the mischievous scrap,Gomez is the patriarch of the family. Fun-loving with a macabre streak, he is a bit of a Renaissance man, indulging in golf, juggling, and model train wrecks. He is an eclectic business owner of crocodile farms and tombstone factories, as well as an accomplished lawyer with an impressive no-win, no-loss record.His love for his wife, Morticia, borders on hero worship, which might come from the fact that her appearance in his life took him from a sickly young lad to a strapping young man. The character has been played by a whole host of Hollywood greats, starting with John Astin, and including Tim Curry, Oscar Issac, Raul Julia, and Luis Guzmán.
Morticia Addams — Wife
Morticia Addams is the cool, demure, and utterly irresistible wife of Gomez Addams. Mother to Wednesday and Pugsley, she is known for her snark, her sarcasm, and her dark, long, and lean ensemble and piercingly pale features. Her background implies witchcraft, but she’s equally talented at music, gardening, and languages (a fact that Gomez, of course, finds irresistible). While Carolyn Jones took up the initial helm, she has also been played by heavy hitters like Anjelica Houston, Charlize Theron, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Wednesday Addams — Daughter
Wednesday Addams is the daughter of the clan, combining the best of traits from both father and mother. She is as mischievous as her father but with the outward stoniness of her mother (with some impressive dance skills to boot). She has been played by several actresses over the years, from Christina Ricci to Jenna Ortega. An icon in her own right, she’s even gone on to inspireher own highly-rated spin-offon Netflix.
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Pugsley Addams — Son
Pugsley Addams is the son of Morticia and Gomez. Pugsley is perhaps known best for his penchant for boyhood pranks like cutting off the heads of his sister’s dolls. A pre-pubescent henchman in training, he is easily led by his father and sister into just about any one of their schemes.Pugsley has been played byany number of actors over the years, including Ken Weatherwax, Jimmy Workman, and Isaac Ordonez.
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The Addams Family Grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles, Oh My!
While the Addams Family is known for their dysfunctional extended family, there are a few among these potential characters who share the spotlight with ongoing regularity. These include the mothers of both Gomez and Morticia, as well as their respective siblings, and even an iconic uncle. It is also worth noting that not one Grandfather makes an appearance. Could this be as a result of a pair of merry widows?
Grandmama Addams — Gomez’s Mother
Grandmama Addams, Gomez’s mother, is portrayed as a classic doom and gloom spell-caster, though she also specializes in potions, hexes, and fortune-telling. She comes froma long lineage of witchesand is just as likely to help with the dishes as cheat someone out of house and home over a game of cards. Her nicknames and aliases are about as fluid as they come, from Granny to Eudora Addams. Her aliases include the acclaimed Madame Bovary, Madame de Pompadour, and Madame X. She has been portrayed by several actors onscreen, including Blossom Rock, Jane Rose, and Betty Phillips.
Granny Frump — Morticia’s Mother
This cast is notorious for name changes, starting with this very character. At first onset, Grandmama Addams was Morticia’s mother, Granny Frump. This was later retconned for the television series.Now Grandmama Addamsis the mother to Gomez, whileGranny Frump is Morticia’s mother, though it is fair to say the two look rather similar. Her daughters Morticia and Ophelia became a vital part of the series. She has been played by the likes of Carol Channing, Carol Kane, and Margaret Hamilton.
Uncle Fester — Gomez’s Brother
Uncle Fester is the gloomy undertaker of the group. At first, considered an Uncle to Morticia, but his role changed to that ofGomez’s brotherin a later series. Balding with sunken eyes, he is shown to have the power to generate electricity, which comes in handy when reviving the dead or nearly so. A mashup of Igor meets an evil scientist, he doesn’t speak much, and would much rather hide in the shadows. He might have remained either missing or a Bachelor were it not for the family. Past actors for Uncle Fester include Christopher Lloyd, Jackie Coogan,and Fred Armisen.
Ophelia Frump — Morticia’s Sister
Flighty sister to Morticia, Opheliais portrayed as the flower-power child to Morticia’s gloom. Flighty and fond of daisies, her moods are known to change at the best of times. She nearly married Gomez in an arranged marriage before falling for Cousin Itt. In a later series, she marries Gomez’s barely talked-about brother, Pancho. Still, she is perhaps the closest to ‘normal’ of the clan. She has been played by Carolyn Jones (who also played Morticia), Allegra Kent, Laura Esterman, and Lisa Calder.
Cousin Itt — Gomez’s Cousin
Cousin Ittcomes from somewhere along the Addams Family line. They are likelycousins to Fester and Gomez. Known for theiriconic floor-length hair, their high-pitched speech can only be understood by other members of the Addams Family. One of the few family members to not be created by Charles Addams, he was instead brought into this world thanks to a producer on the original series. Felix Silla and Snoop Dog have both played this iconic role.
The Unrelated (But Still Cherished) Members of the Addams Family
Perhaps two of the most iconic characters in the whole series arehousemates Lurch and Thing. While neither is closely related by blood (so far as we know), their ghastly natures are exceedingly helpful in and around the house. Whether they are lending a hand in the kitchen or burying a corpse in the backyard, these two are just as, if not more beloved than the family they work for, according to audiences at least.
Thing — Handservant
A glorified ‘handservant’,Thing is literally a disembodied handwho stumbles about the mansion performing various household tasks. Mysterious, helpful, and surprisingly charismatic for a living, breathing body part, Thing was iconically brought to life using a wide variety of special effects sleights of hand over the years, most recently using an actor in a blue-chroma suit. As their presence on screen has grown, they’ve become a more integral part of the plot.
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Lurch — Butler
At nearly seven feet tall, it’s nearly impossible to miss the iconic Lurch. His voice is deep, and he communicates with little more than moans, though the family is, of course, still able to understand him well enough.Lurch serves as a butler for the household, a henchperson who can and will do just about anything for the family. This ghoulish giant has been played over the years by many, including Ted Cassidy, John DeSantis, and George Burcea.
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