Chris Sarandon

Christopher Sarandon (; born July 24, 1942) 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’s speaking voice 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).

Early life

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

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

Career

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. In the summer of 1968 he and his then-wife, Susan Sarandon, worked as actors at the Wayside Theatre in Middletown, Virginia. 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 films ''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 film ''Lipstick'' (1976) and as a demon in the film '' 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 television film '' The Day Christ Died'' (1980). He received accolades for his portrayal of Sydney Carton in a TV-film version of ''A Tale of Two Cities'' (1980), co-starred with Dennis Hopper in the 1983 film '' The Osterman Weekend'', which was based on the Robert Ludlum novel of the same name, and co-starred with Goldie Hawn in the film '' Protocol'' (1984). These were followed by another mainstream success as the vampire Jerry Dandrige in the horror film '' Fright Night'' (1985). He starred in the 1986 TV film ''Liberty'', which addressed the making of the Statue of Liberty.

Chris Sarandon's other film roles include Prince Humperdinck in '' The Princess Bride'' (1987) and Mike Norris in '' 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 the animated film ''The Nightmare Before Christmas'' (1993), and has since reprised the role in other productions, including the video games '' Kingdom Hearts'' and '' The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge''. Sarandon also reprised his role as Jack 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.

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 film ''The Thin Man'') with Joanna Gleason, the daughter of Monty Hall. Sarandon married Gleason in 1994. They have appeared together in a number of films, 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

Sarandon has been married three times: he married actress Susan Tomalin in 1967, who took his surname and became Susan Sarandon. 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. After his divorce from Susan, he married his second wife, fashion model Lisa Ann Cooper, in 1980. The couple had two daughters and one son: Stephanie (born 1982), Alexis (born 1984), and Michael (born 1988). After nine years, the marriage ended in divorce in 1989.

In 1994, he married his third wife, actress and singer Joanna Gleason. 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''. 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.

Acting credits

Film

Television

Theatre

Video games

Theme parks and live attractions

* ''Haunted Mansion Holiday'' – Jack Skellington
* '' Halloween Screams'' – Jack Skellington
* '' Frightfully Fun Parade'' – Jack Skellington
* '' Disney on Ice'' – Jack Skellington

Music videos

* '' Hands Clean'' — Alanis Morissette

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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Chris Sarandon
– ''Downstage Center'' interview at American Theatre Wing.org
* The West Virginia & Regional History Center at West Virginia University houses th
papers of Chris Sarandon
as a part of the Distinguished West Virginians Archive

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarandon, Chris
1942 births
Living people
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
Actors from Raleigh County, West Virginia
American male film actors
American male musical theatre actors
American male voice actors
American people of Greek descent
American male stage actors
American male television actors
American male video game actors
Catholic University of America alumni
Male actors from West Virginia
People from Beckley, West Virginia
Woodrow Wilson High School (Beckley, West Virginia) alumni