10 Mysterious and Macabre Secrets of the Original 'Addams Family'

The Addams Family has a history filled with fascinating facts and behind-the-scenes stories that make this iconic show even more intriguing. From the quirky set designs to the improvisations that shaped the characters, each detail adds a layer to their spooky charm. Whether it's Gomez and Morticia's groundbreaking romance, Lurch's unexpected catchphrase, or Uncle Fester's role in shaping child actor laws, there's so much more to this mysterious and kooky family than meets the eye. Here are 10 surprising facts that highlight the legacy of The Addams Family, a show that continues to captivate audiences with its macabre humor and dark allure.

[richardlangdon]

It wasn't "the thing." It was "thing." The hand was considered a member of the family. Not an object.

[Unclebillyr]

Destroying the Adams family house should have been a crime.

[kayreeve.author]

Myself, my children, now my grandchildren have all loved the Adam's Family. Yet I never knew Thing was Lurch's hand. As for Mr Coogan, what a legend for creating positive change out of his own setbacks with family.

[wzmskzq]

I had a crush on Carolyn, She still stops me in my tracks.

[ozzymandius]

Sad that Hollywood can't make anything like this now.

[boydmaddocks]

Caroline jones was a beautiful woman !

[MarksArk]

I'm 69 years old and watched the Addams Family in primetime. Uncle Fester was my favorite. His catch phrase was, "Shoot 'em in the back" while holding a blunderbuss gun.

[johnmortison]

This cast was the definitive one and really made the series. Subsequent casts used in the theater films never matched them.

[Roscoe-pigq]

Despite wearing suits lined with deadly asbestos, John Aston is the only actor from the series who survives.

[hazystudios]

I don't accept anyone else's role as Gomez Addams... John Astin did that role too well.

They were all great in their respective roles and IMO no one has done any justice to these characters since.

[ThunderOcelot]

I will always be in awe of the passion Gomez and Mortisha have for each other.

[Torgo-and-the-Lucifer-Cat]

Thanks, but did you have to have a fake of her like that in the thumbnail? Seems disrespectful, IMO...😢

[andrewd]

I’m in Australia & being a kid of the 60’s I loved this show! Coincidentally as I write this, I’m watching it on tv for about the millionth rerun! 🥰🤣👏🏼🇦🇺

[robcreel]

I was way more a Addams Family kid than the Munsters. Still am today.

[davepov]

One of the greatest TV shows of the past...my favorite. Severals years ago, before retiring from a career in television production, I created a TV commercial for a car dealership in the month of October leading up to Halloween. In it, I had the female spokesperson dress as Morticia Addams and she started the spot with Thing opening his box and handing her the information on the car featured in the commercial. The owners of the dealership later told me the spot was so popular, people stopped in because they saw it on TV and thought it was such a better TV spot that most car dealers did. We had a blast shooting the spot. In the editing via special effects graphics we even made the inside of the dealership look like the Addams family's living room with cars parked in it.

[David-ywlv]

I was a huge fan of The Munsters and The Addams Family

[michaelmeyer]

I loved this series. It was always loads of fun to watch. I also loved Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston's interpretation of Gomez and Morticia. (Nevermind that the movies weren't all that great). The original is still what you come back to.

[Talldude]

I watched the original TV shows in 1964 after school and Fester was my favorite character. Morticia and Gomez were the perfect couple, even better than the movie version in 1991 although I liked them in the movies too.

[MikeSamuelsII-vegp]

BTW, Cassidy's hand was called "Thing", not "The Thing".

[JDfromWitness]

Favorite character? John Aston. His version of Gomez far outshines others that have played the role. The show was my favorite as a kid. Though all the characters were great, and Morticia probably influenced my choice of a wife later in life!