Susan Sarandon Biography

Susan Sarandon is an Academy Award-winning American film actress known for roles in films like Bull Durham, Thelma and Louise and Dead Man Walking.

“The only thing that gives me the courage to do things—because I'm a shy person—is the idea of living with myself afterward.”

—Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon - Versatile Actress (TV-14; 1:11) Watch a short video about Susan Sarandon and learn which role that this actress with more than 50 films under her belt cherished the most.

Synopsis

American film actress Susan Sarandon was born on October 4, 1946, in New York City. After college, Sarandon began acting, and in 1975 she landed a role in the cult classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. She won an Academy Award for her performance in Dead Man Walking (1995), and received Oscar nominations for her roles in Atlantic City (1980), Thelma and Louise (1991), Lorenzo's Oil (1992) and The Client (1994). Other notable films include The Witches of Eastwick (1987) and Bull Durham (1988).

Early Career

Actress and activist Susan Sarandon was born on October 4, 1946, in New York City, New York. Known as an actress and an activist, Sarandon has shared with the world her dramatic talents and personal convictions. She graduated the Catholic University of America in 1968 and not long after made her film debut in Joe (1970). After a few other film roles, Sarandon landed a part in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), a campy musical, which has developed quite a cult following over the years.

Career Highlights

Sarandon earned her first Academy Award nomination for Atlantic City (1980) starring opposite screen legend Burt Lancaster. But her career really seemed to pick up steam later that decade with appearances in The Witches of Eastwick (1987) and Bull Durham (1988). In The Witches of Eastwick, she played one of three women seduced by the devil (Jack Nicholson) and developed special powers. This comedic battle of good versus evil showed Sarandon’s talent for lighter fare. In Bull Durham, she played smart and sexy baseball groupie “Annie Savoy” who becomes involved with one of the players -- “Ebby Calvin ‘Nuke’ LaLoosh” played by Tim Robbins. Robbins would become her partner in real life.
With Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon made one of her most memorable films Thelma and Louise (1991), which centered on the friendship of two women on a road trip turned wrong. Her portrayal of the tough, protective, and somewhat broken Louise brought her another Academy Award nomination. Sarandon was also nominated for Lorenzo's Oil (1992) and The Client (1994). She played a nun in the gritty and powerful capital punishment drama Dead Man Walking (1995) and won her first Academy Award for her performance.

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Recent Work

More recently, Sarandon took to the stage to appear in a revival of Eugene Ionesco's Exit the King. She played Queen Marguerite to Geoffrey Rush's King Berenger in the critically acclaimed production. On the big screen, Sarandon took on a supporting role in The Lovely Bones (2009), a film adaptation of the best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, in addition to roles in various films and TV series, including The Big C (2012), Arbitrage (2012) and Cloud Atlas (2012).

Activism

Outspoken on many issues, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins included information on the plight of Haitian HIV-positive refugees during the 1993 Academy Awards ceremony where they appeared as presenters. In 2006, she was one of the celebrities that joined antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan in a fast against the war in Iraq.

Personal Life

Susan Sarandon has three children: a daughter from a relationship with writer Franco Amurri and two sons with actor Tim Robbins. She and Robbins split in the summer of 2009, they had been one of Hollywood's most enduring couples having been together for 23 years. She was also married to actor Chris Sarandon from 1967 to 1979.