• Chris Sarandon is an American Academy Award-nominated actor, best known for his role in “Dog Day Afternoon” (1975) and as the voice of Jack Skellington in “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993).
• His latest projects include the lead role in the upcoming film “The Grotto” and starring in the TV horror series “Chucky”.
• He was born in Beckley, West Virginia in 1942 and attended West Virginia University and the Catholic University of America.
• He married three times and has three children.
• His net worth is estimated to be over $5 million.
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Who is Chris Sarandon?
Chris Sarandon is an American Academy Award-nominated actor, who gained recognition as Leon in the film “Dog Day Afternoon” (1975), and is also known as the voice of Jack Skellington in the animated film “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993), in addition to numerous other roles that he has secured in a career that spans over 50 years.
What is Chris Sarandon Doing Now?
Although in his late 70s, Chris, is still active as an actor – his latest projects include the lead role in the upcoming film “The Grotto”, written and directed by Joanna Gleason, which is currently in pre-production; no release date has been set. Furthermore, he is also set to star in the TV horror series “Chucky”, which will premiere on 12 October 2021.
Chris Sarandon Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education
Christopher Sarandon Jr. was born on 24 July 1942 under the Leo zodiac sign, in Beckley, West Virginia USA, to Greek parents Christopher Sarandonedes and his wife Cliffie who were both restaurateurs. He attended Woodrow Wilson High School in his hometown, and later enrolled at West Virginia University, from which he obtained a degree in speech. He then furthered his studies at the Catholic University of America (CUA), earning a master’s degree in theater.
Career Beginnings
Chris launched his career in theater, as he joined a couple of regional theatre groups, and made his professional debut in 1965 with a role in the play “The Rose Tattoo”.
Three years later Chris moved to New York City, and began auditioning for on-screen roles, almost immediately securing the role of Dr. Tom Halverson in the soap opera “The Guiding Light” (1969-1973). In 1974, Chris portrayed George in the TV series “The Wide World of Mystery”, and also appeared in the television movie “Thursday’s Game”.
Rise to Stardom
1975 was his breakthrough year, as he was selected for the part of Leon in the dramatized biopic about a money heist gone wrong – “Dog Day Afternoon” – which starred Al Pacino, John Cazale and Penelope Allen. The film was a box office hit and a critical success, as it won an Academy Award, while Chris was nominated for an Academy Award in the category for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, then a Golden Globe Award nomination in the category for Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture – Male, and the New York Film Critics Circle Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
He continued his career quite successfully, first as Perry King’s co-star in the thrilling crime-drama film “Lipstick” in 1976, and then in 1977 Chris co-starred next to the legendary Ava Gardner and Christina Raines in the horror film “The Sentinel”.
1980 brought one of his many eponymous roles, as Jesus Christ in the drama film “The Day Christ Died”, and he also starred as Sydney Carton in the Primetime Emmy Award-nominated television historical romantic-drama movie “A Tale of Two Cities”, co-starring Peter Cushing and Kenneth More.
Three years later, he and Dennis Hopper completed the main cast of the thriller film “The Osterman Weekend”, alongside Rutger Hauer and John Hurt.
He continued into the ‘80s with leading roles in several films, including Tom Holland’s award-winning fantasy horror film “Fright Night” in 1985, and then as Prince Humperdinck in the cult classic fantasy adventure film “The Princess Bride”, also starring Robin Wright and Cary Elwes. Before the end of the ‘80s, Chris had another prominent role, as Mike Norris in the fantasy horror film “Child’s Play” in 1988, co-starring Catherine Hicks and Alex Vincent.
He started the ‘90s with the lead role in the television movie thriller “The Stranger Within”, while in 1991 he starred in the horror film “The Resurrected”, based on the story “The Case of Charles Dexter Ward” written by H.P. Lovecraft.
#ChrisSarandon #motivationmonday #MondayMoods #MovieMonday #MotionPictureMemories pic.twitter.com/a0vdEQPaMS
— Chris Sarandon (@sarandon_chris) December 6, 2021
Two years later, he was selected as the voice of Jack Skellington, the lead protagonist of the animated fantasy film “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, while in 2004 he portrayed Philip in the Primetime Emmy Award-winning television drama film “David’s Mother”, starring Kirstie Alley, Sam Waterston and Stockard Channing.
Chris carried on with film roles in the second half of the ‘90s, appearing in such films as “Just Cause” (1995), with Laurence Fishburne and Sean Connery in the lead roles, then “Bordello of Blood” in 1996, while in 1997 he worked again with Dennis Hopper, this time on the film “Road Ends”. He finished the decade with the guest role as Dr. Peter McGrath in the Primetime Emmy awarded romantic drama series “Felicity” (1999).
The 2000s and Career Decline
The new millennium started with another lead role, this time in the horror film “Reaper”, while in 2002 he guest-starred as Judge Barry Krumble in the Primetime Emmy Award-winning drama series “Judging Amy”, with Amy Brenneman in the lead role. In 2003 he was the Necromancer/ Armand in the widely successful fantasy series “Charmed”, and in 2004 he co-starred in the television thriller-mystery film “The Dead Will Tell”, with Anne Heche and Kathleen Quinlan.
The following year, Christ appeared in the award-winning independent drama film “Loggerheads”, directed by Tim Kirkman, with Kip Pardue, Michael Kelly and Tess Harper in the lead roles, while his next prominent role was as Dr. Roark in the romantic comedy-drama film “My Sassy Girl” in 2008, which starred Elisha Cuthbert, Jesse Bradford, and Austin Basis.
In 2012, he worked with Jason Statham on the film “Safe”, but since then Chris hasn’t been seen on the screen very often, appearing in minor roles in such films as “Big Stone Gap” in 2014 and “I Smile Back” in 2015. He guest-starred in the TV series “Orange Is the New Black” in 2016, and lent his voice to Count Dracula in the animated series “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” in 2017.
Theater Career
Although his career on screen took an upswing in the ‘70s, he still kept his theater career active. He was Jacob Rothschild in the musical “The Rothschilds”, which had its premiere on Broadway in 1970. The following year, he was Proteus in the play “Two Gentlemen of Verona”, also performed on Broadway. Some other notable appearances include the part of Nick in the play “The Woods” in 1979, then an appearance in the Broadway musical “Nick & Nora” in 1991, while in 2007 he was Comte de Guiche in the play “Cyrano de Bergerac”.
Since then he’s appeared on Broadway in the role of Karry Max Cook in the play “The Exonerated” (2012), and in 2015 he featured in the Off-Broadway musical “Preludes”.
Personal Life, Marriage, Spouse, Children
Chris met Susan Tomalin in the ‘60s when they were both students at the Catholic University of America. The two married in 1967, and she went on to become the famed actress Susan Sarandon. The two divorced in 1979 – they didn’t have children. His second wife was fashion model, Lisa Ann Cooper; the two married in 1980 and welcomed three children, Stephanie, Alexis, and Michael, born in 1982, 1984, and 1988 respectively, but the two divorced in 1989.
Chris married his third wife, actress Joanna Gleason in 1994. The two met while working together on the musical “Nick & Nora”, which sparked romance between them, and have since enjoyed their marriage, but also careers, collaborating on several projects, including films “Edie & Pen”, “American Perfekt”, and many others.
Net Worth
As of mid- 2021, Chris Sarandon’s net worth has been estimated to be over $5 million, earned through his successful career as an actor, during which hes appeared in more than 100 film and TV titles, all of which have added to his wealth.
Appearance and Vital Statistics
This prominent actor has light brown eyes, while his hair has gone grey over the years though it was dark brown. He stands at a height of 6ft 1ins (1.85m), while he weighs approximately 165lbs (75kgs). His vital statistics are unknown, though he has an average figure.
