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Chris Sarandon

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Chris Sarandon
Sarandon in 2019
Born
Christopher Sarandon[1]

(1942-07-24) July 24, 1942 (age 82)[1]
EducationWest Virginia University (BA)
Catholic University (MFA)
OccupationActor
Years active1965–present
Spouses
  • (m. 1967; div. 1979)
  • Lisa Ann Cooper
    (m. 1980; div. 1989)
  • (m. 1994)
Children3

Christopher Sarandon[1] (/səˈrændən/; born July 24, 1942)[1] is an American actor. He is well known for playing Jerry Dandrige in Fright Night (1985), Prince Humperdinck in The Princess Bride (1987), Detective Mike Norris in Child's Play (1988), and Jack Skellington in The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Leon Shermer in Dog Day Afternoon (1975).He played Barry Krumble on Judging Amy.

Early life

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Chris Sarandon was born and raised in Beckley, West Virginia, the son of Greek-American restaurateurs Chris and Cliffie (née Cardullias) Sarandon.[2][1] His father, whose surname was originally "Sarondonethes", was born to Greek parents in Istanbul, Turkey.[3]

Sarandon graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley. He earned a degree in speech at West Virginia University. He earned his master's degree in theater from Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C.

Career

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Sarandon at a convention panel in November 2008.

After graduation, he toured with numerous improvisational companies and became much involved with regional theatre, making his professional debut in the play The Rose Tattoo during 1965.[1] In the summer of 1968 he and his then-wife, Susan Sarandon, worked as actors at the Wayside Theatre in Middletown, Virginia.[4][5] Later that year Sarandon moved to New York City, where he obtained his first television role as Dr. Tom Halverson for the series The Guiding Light (1973–1974). He appeared in the primetime television movies The Satan Murders (1974) and Thursday's Game before obtaining the role in Dog Day Afternoon (1975), a performance which earned him nominations for Best New Male Star of the Year at the Golden Globes and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Sarandon appeared in the Broadway play The Rothschilds and The Two Gentlemen of Verona, as well making regular appearances at numerous Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw festivals in the United States and Canada. He also had a series of television roles, some of which (such as A Tale of Two Cities in 1980) corresponded to his affinity for the classics. He also had roles in the thriller movie Lipstick (1976) and as a demon in the movie The Sentinel (1977).

To avoid being typecast in villainous roles, Sarandon accepted various roles of other types during the years to come, portraying the title role of Christ in the made-for-television movie The Day Christ Died (1980). He received accolades for his portrayal of Sydney Carton in a TV-movie version of A Tale of Two Cities (1980), co-starred with Dennis Hopper in the 1983 movie The Osterman Weekend, which was based on the Robert Ludlum novel of the same name, and co-starred with Goldie Hawn in the movie Protocol (1984). These were followed by another mainstream success as the vampire-next-door in the horror movie Fright Night (1985). He starred in the 1986 TV movie Liberty, which addressed the making of New York City's Statue of Liberty.

Sarandon in 2012.

One of his most endearing roles onscreen is that of Prince Humperdinck in Rob Reiner's 1987 movie The Princess Bride, though he also has had supporting parts in many other successful films, including his lead turn in the original horror classic Child's Play (1988). In 1992, he played Joseph Curwen/Charles Dexter Ward in The Resurrected. He also played Jack Skellington, the main character of Tim Burton's animated Disney movie The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), and has since reprised the role in other productions, including the Disney/Square video games Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II and the Capcom sequel to the original movie, Oogie's Revenge. Sarandon also reprised his role as Jack Skellington for several Disneyland Halloween events and attractions including; Halloween Screams, the Frightfully Fun Parade, and the Haunted Mansion Holiday, a three-month overlay of the Haunted Mansion, where Jack and his friends take control of a mansion in an attempt to introduce Christmas, much as his character did in the movie.

Sarandon appeared in TV again with a recurring role as Dr. Burke on NBC's long-running medical drama ER.

In 1991 he performed on Broadway in the short-lived musical Nick & Nora (based on the movie The Thin Man) with Joanna Gleason, the daughter of Monty Hall. Sarandon married Gleason in 1994. They have appeared together in a number of movies, including Edie & Pen (1996), American Perfekt (1997), and Let the Devil Wear Black (1999). During the 2000s he made guest appearances in several TV series, notably as the Necromancer demon, Armand, in Charmed, and as superior court judge Barry Krumble for six episodes of Judging Amy.

In 2006 he played Signor Naccarelli in the six-time Tony award-winning Broadway musical play The Light in the Piazza at Lincoln Center. Most recently he appeared in Cyrano de Bergerac as Antoine de Guiche, with Kevin Kline, Jennifer Garner, and Daniel Sunjata.

In 2016 he performed in the Off-Broadway production of the Dave Malloy musical Preludes as Anton Chekhov, Tchaikovsky, Alexander Glazunov, Leo Tolstoy, Tsar Nicholas II, and The Master.

He is on the advisory board for the Greenbrier Valley Theatre in Lewisburg, West Virginia.

Personal life

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Sarandon has been married three times: he married actress Susan Sarandon in 1967.[1] The two met while attending Catholic University of America together in Washington, D.C. The marriage lasted for twelve years; the pair divorced in 1979.[1][6][7] After his divorce from Susan, he married his second wife, fashion model Lisa Ann Cooper, in 1980.[1] The couple had two daughters and one son: Stephanie (born 1982), Alexis (born 1984), and Michael (born 1988).[1] After nine years, the marriage ended in divorce in 1989.[1]

In 1994, he married his third wife, actress and singer Joanna Gleason.[1][8] The couple met while performing in Broadway's short-lived 1991 musical Nick & Nora; they returned to the stage together in 1998's Thorn and Bloom.[8] They also collaborated in several films together, such as Road Ends, Edie & Pen, Let the Devil Wear Black, and American Perfekt.

Sarandon is a member of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes/Awards
1974 Thursday's Game Tom (The Counsellor)
1975 Dog Day Afternoon Leon Shermer Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor
Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor
1976 Lipstick Gordon Stuart
1977 The Sentinel Michael Lerman
1979 Cuba Juan Pulido
You Can't Go Home Again George Webber
1980 The Day Christ Died Jesus Christ
A Tale of Two Cities Sydney Carton
Charles Darnay
1981 Broken Promise Bud Griggs
1983 The Osterman Weekend Joseph Cardone
1984 Protocol Michael Ransome
1985 This Child Is Mine Craig Wilkerson
Fright Night Jerry Dandridge Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actor
1986 Liberty Jacque Marchant
1987 The Princess Bride Prince Humperdinck
Mayflower Madam Matt Whittington
1988 Child's Play Detective Mike Norris
Goodbye, Miss Fourth of July George Janus
1989 Collision Course Philip Mandras
Slaves of New York Victor Okrent
Tailspin: Behind the Korean Airliner Tragedy John Lenczowski
Forced March Ben Kline
1990 The Stranger Within Dan
Whispers Tony
1991 The Resurrected Joseph Curwen
Charles Dexter Ward
1993 Dark Tide Tim
The Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington (voice) Speaking voice
1994 David's Mother Philip
1995 Just Cause Lyle Morgan
When the Dark Man Calls Lloyd Carson
1996 Terminal Justice Reginald Matthews
No Greater Love Sam Horowitz
Edie & Pen Max
Bordello of Blood Rev. J.C. Current
1997 American Perfekt Deputy Sammy
Road Ends Esteban Maceda
1998 Little Men Fritz Bhaer
1999 Let the Devil Wear Black Mr. Lyne
2000 Race Against Time Dr. Anton Stofeles
Reaper Luke Sinclair
2001 Perfume Gary Packer
2005 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Kurotowa (voice) English dub by Walt Disney Pictures; originally released in Japanese in 1984
Loggerheads Rev. Robert Austin
2007 The Chosen One Zebulon 'Zeb' Kirk (voice)
2008 My Sassy Girl Dr. Roark
2010 Multiple Sarcasms Larry
2011 Fright Night "Jay Dee" Cameo appearance
2012 Safe Mayor Danny Tremello
2013 Curse of Chucky Detective Mike Norris Archive footage
Frank the Bastard Tristan Pace
2014 Big Stone Gap Mario Barbari
2015 I Smile Back Roger

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1969–1973 Guiding Light Dr. Tom Halverson
1978 You Can't Go Home Again George Webber CBS TV movie based on the novel by Thomas Wolfe
1980 A Tale of Two Cities Sydney Carton
Charles Darnay
TV movie
1993 Picket Fences Cole Episode: "The Dancing Bandit"
1994 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Martus Mazur Episode: "Rivals"
1995 The Outer Limits Dr. Pallas Episode: "Corner of the Eye"
1998 The Practice Dr Jeffrey Winslow Episodes: "The Trial", "Cloudy with a Chance of Membranes"
Chicago Hope Dr. Gordon Mays Episodes: "Austin, We Have a Problem", "Wag the Doc", "Austin Space"
1999 Felicity Dr. Peter McGrath Episodes: "Todd Mulcahy: Part 1", "Todd Mulcahy: Part 2", "Docuventary", "Connections", "The Force", "Felicity Was Here"[9]
1999–2000 Stark Raving Mad Caesar Radford Episodes: "Fish Out of Water" and "The Big Finish"
2000–2002 ER Dr. Burke Episodes: "The Greatest of Gifts", "Piece of Mind", "It's All in Your Head"
2002, 2004 Law & Order Howard Pincham Episode: "Gov Love" and "The Wheel"
2002 The Court Justice Vorhees 3 episodes
2003 The Wild Thornberrys Myka (voice) Episode: "Look Who's Squawking"
Skin Mayor Coolidge Episode: "Endorsement"
Charmed Necromancer
Armand
Episode: "Necromancing the Stone"
2004 Cold Case Adam Clarke Episode: "Volunteers"
2005 Danny Phantom Matt (voice) Episode: "Pirate Radio"
2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Wesley Masoner Episode: "Choreographed"
2010 Psych Ashton Bonaventure Episode: "Think Tank"
The Good Wife Judge Howard Matchick Episode: "Taking Control"
2016 Orange Is The New Black Kip Carnigan Episode: "We'll always have Baltimore"
2017 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Count Dracula (voice) 3 episodes
2020 Prop Culture Himself Episode: "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas"

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Kingdom Hearts Jack Skellington (voice)
2005 The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge
2006 Kingdom Hearts II
2013 Disney Infinity
2013 Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix
2014 Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix
2015 Disney Infinity 3.0 [10]
2023 Disney Dreamlight Valley
2024 Disney Speedstorm

Theme parks and live attractions

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Music videos

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Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
1965 The Rose Tattoo Jack Hunter Broadway[1]
1970 The Rothschilds Jacob Rothschilds
1971 Two Gentlemen of Verona Proteus
1977 Marco Polo Sings a Solo Tom Wintermouth Off-Broadway[1]
1978 Broadway Performer Broadway[1]
1979 The Woods Nick Off-Broadway[1]
1980 Censored Scenes From King Kong Benchgelter Broadway[1]
1985 The Voice of the Turtle Bill Page Off-Broadway[1]
1991 Nick & Nora Performer Broadway[1]
2005 The Light in the Piazza Signor Naccarelli Broadway
2007 Cyrano de Bergerac Comte de Guiche Broadway Revival
2011 Through a Glass, Darkly Performer Off-Broadway
2012 The Exonerated Karry Max Cook Broadway
2015 Preludes Chekhov, Tchaikovsky, Tolstoy, Glazunov, Tsar Nicholas II, The Master Off-Broadway

Awards and nominations

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Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Title Result
1975 NYFCC Award Best Supporting Actor Dog Day Afternoon Nominated
Golden Globe New Star of the Year – Actor Nominated
1976 Academy Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated
1986 Saturn Award Best Actor Fright Night Nominated
1992 Chainsaw Award Best Supporting Actor The Resurrected Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Chris Sarandon Biography (1942-)". www.filmreference.com. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  2. ^ "WHEN IT COMES TO FILMS, SARANDON IS JUST PLAIN PICKY". Sacramento Bee. August 4, 1985. Retrieved December 9, 2007.
  3. ^ "Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley WV, Alumni Page". Jeff560.tripod.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  4. ^ Laster, James H. "Slavet: Production Chronology". allaboutwayside.com. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  5. ^ Eller, Charlotte J. (June 14, 1968). "'The Private Ear and The Public Eye' - An Evening of Superb Theater At Wayside". The Northern Virginia Daily. p. 8.
  6. ^ King, Susan (25 September 2015). "How Chris Sarandon looks at 'Dog Day Afternoon' 40 years later". latimes.com. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  7. ^ Harding, Laura (16 February 2017). "Susan Sarandon says her sexuality is 'up for grabs'". Independent. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Simonson, Robert (July 9, 1988). "Joanna Gleason and Chris Sarandon Pluck L.A. Thorn & Bloom July 9". Playbill. Brightspot. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Chris Sarandon". IMDb. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  10. ^ Avalanche Software. Disney Infinity 3.0. Scene: Closing credits, 5:39 in, Featuring the Voice Talents of.
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