In national balloting tabulated Friday, the "Lord of the Rings'' cast member Sean Astin was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, one of Hollywood's most powerful labor unions.

Astin, 54, will lead the 160,000-member guild as the industry is still recovering from the 118-day strike in the summer of 2023 -- and has another round of contract negotiations with the major studios on tap next year.

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Astin collected 79% of the votes cast in the election, according to the actors guild. Voting closed Friday with Astin beating his opponent Chuck Slavin, a background actor and performer in indie movies.

Astin succeeds Fran Drescher, who declined to seek reelection aft

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