In 1994, he received an Academy Award nomination and won a Jury Prize
at the Texas Film Festival for his short film Kangaroo Court, which he
co-produced with his wife Christine. In addition to this short film, Astin has
also directed an episode of the television hit Angel, and an episode for the
HBO anthology Perversions of Science.

Since 1995, he has been the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army. He is also an active supporter of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and The Wildlife Waystation. He recently took an oath of office with the White House Chief of Staff to serve on The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, working alongside such prominent public figures as Senator Bob Dole and Astronaut John Glen.