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Susan Sarandon

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Susan Sarandon
Sarandon at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival
Born
Susan Abigail Tomalin
Years active1970 - present
SpouseChris Sarandon (1967-1979)
PartnerTim Robbins (1988-)
AwardsNBR Award for Best Actress
1991 Thelma & Louise

Susan Sarandon (born Susan Abigail Tomalin; October 4, 1946) is an American actress. She has worked in films and television since 1970, and won an Oscar for her performance in the 1995 film, Dead Man Walking. She is also noted for her social and political activism for a variety of liberal causes.

Biography

Early life

Sarandon, the eldest of nine children, was born Susan Abigail Tomalin in New York City, the daughter of Lenora Marie (née Criscione) and Phillip Leslie Tomalin, who worked as an advertising executive, television producer, and nightclub singer during the big band era.[1][2] Sarandon's father was of English, Irish, and Welsh ancestry and her mother was of Sicilian/Italian descent;[3][1] the family was Roman Catholic. In 2006, Sarandon and 10 of her relatives (including her significant other Tim Robbins and her son Miles) traveled to Wales to trace her family's Welsh genealogy. Their journey was documented by the BBC Wales programme, Coming Home: Susan Sarandon.[3]

Sarandon graduated from Edison High School, in Edison, New Jersey, in 1964. She then attended The Catholic University of America from 1964 to 1968, earning a BA in drama, and working with noted drama coach and master teacher, Father Gilbert Hartke.

Career

In 1969, Sarandon went to a casting call for the motion-picture Joe with her then husband Chris Sarandon. Although he did not get a part, she was cast in a major role of a disaffected teen who disappears into the seedy underworld (the film was released in 1970). Five years later, she appeared in the cult favorite The Rocky Horror Picture Show. That same year, she also played the female lead in The Great Waldo Pepper, opposite Robert Redford. Her most controversial film appearance was in The Hunger in 1983, a modern vampire story which turned out to be a critical and box office flop. The film has gained some cult status for a rather graphic lesbian love scene between Sarandon and co-star Catherine Deneuve. It was the first mainstream American film to feature such a scene between two star actresses. However, Sarandon did not become a "household name" until her breakthrough in the 1988 film Bull Durham. which became a huge commercial and critical success.

Sarandon received five Academy Award nominations for best actress, in Atlantic City (1981), Thelma & Louise (1991), Lorenzo's Oil (1992), and The Client (1994), finally winning in 1995 for Dead Man Walking. Her other movies include Stepmom (1998), Anywhere but Here (1999), Cradle Will Rock (1999), The Banger Sisters (2002), Shall We Dance (2004), Alfie (2004), Romance & Cigarettes (2005) and Elizabethtown (2005).

Sarandon has appeared in two episodes of The Simpsons, one as herself ("Bart Has Two Mommies"), and another as a ballet teacher, "Homer vs. Patty and Selma". She has made appearances on the shows Friends, Malcolm in the Middle, Mad TV, Saturday Night Live, Chappelle's Show, and Rescue Me.

Sarandon has contributed the narration to some two dozen documentary films, many dealing with social and political issues; in addition, she has served as the presenter on many installments of the PBS documentary series, Independent Lens.In 2006 Sarandon appeared in an award winning documentary film about New York called 'Home' by Irish Actor and Film Maker Alan Cooke and New York Director Dawn Sciblia, in it she talked about her own life and experiences as a resident of New York City. Home also starred a number of other well known celebrities. In 2007 she hosted and presented Mythos, a series of lectures by the late American mythology professor Joseph Campbell.[4]

Sarandon joined the cast of the adaptation of The Lovely Bones, opposite Rachel Weisz, and appeared with her daughter, Eva Amurri, in Middle of Nowhere; both of the movies were filmed in 2007.[5][6]

Most recently, Sarandon joined the cast of "Peacock" starring opposite Ellen Page, Cillian Murphy, Bill Pullman and Josh Lucas. Filming will take place in Des Moines, Iowa.

Personal life

While in college, she met and married fellow student Chris Sarandon in 1967. They divorced in 1979 and she retained her married name as her stage name.[7]

In 1981, readers of Playboy magazine voted hers the Best Celebrity Breasts of the Summer of 1981. In response, she said, "It must seem to a lot of people that I am always naked or making love in my films. I think it's very hard to be in a scene and not be upstaged by your nipples".[8]

In the mid-1980s, Sarandon dated director Franco Amurri, with whom she had a daughter in 1985, actress Eva Amurri.[7] Since 1988, Sarandon has been in a relationship with actor Tim Robbins, whom she met while filming Bull Durham. The couple have two sons: Jack Henry (born 1989) and Miles Guthrie (born 1992).[7] Sarandon and Robbins are often involved in the same social and political causes. They live in New York City.[9]

Political activism

File:Susan Sarandon Tnz.jpg
Susan Sarandon with Tanzanian Children in Dar es Salaam, 2000

Sarandon is noted for her active support of progressive and left-liberal political causes, ranging from donations made to organizations such as EMILY's List[10] to participating in a 1983 delegation to Nicaragua sponsored by MADRE, an organization that promotes "social, environmental and economic justice."[11] Sarandon has also expressed support for various tolerance and human rights causes that are similar philosophically to ideas found among the Christian left.[12]

In 1995 Sarandon was one of many Hollywood actors, directors and writers who were interviewed for the documentary, The Celluloid Closet, which looked at how Hollywood films have depicted homosexuality.

In 1999, she was appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and in that capacity has actively supported the organization's global advocacy, as well as the work of the Canadian UNICEF Committee.

Susan Sarandon in April 2007

During the 2000 election, Sarandon supported Ralph Nader's run for President, serving as a co-chair of the National Steering Committee of Nader 2000.[13] However, during the 2004 election campaign, she withheld support for Nader's bid, being among several "Nader 2000 Leaders" who signed a petition urging voters to vote for Democratic Party candidate John Kerry.[14]

Sarandon and Robbins both took an early stance against the 2003 invasion of Iraq, with Sarandon stating that she was firmly against the concept of the war as a pre-emptive strike.[15] Prior to a 2003 protest sponsored by the United for Peace and Justice coalition, she said that many Americans "do not want to risk their children or the children of Iraq."[16] Sarandon was one of the first to appear in a series of political ads sponsored by TrueMajority, an organization established by Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream founder Ben Cohen.[17][18] Also in 2003, Sarandon appeared in a "Love is Love is Love" commercial, promoting the acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals.

In 2004, she served on the advisory committee for the group 2004 Racism Watch[19].

She hosted a section of the Live 8 concert in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2005.

Along with anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, Sarandon took part in a 2006 Mother's Day protest sponsored by Code Pink[20]; she has expressed interest in portraying Sheehan in a movie.[21] In January 2007, she appeared with Robbins and Jane Fonda at an anti-war rally in Washington, D.C. in support of a Congressional measure to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq.[22]

In 2006 she was one of eight women selected to carry in the Olympic flag at the Opening Ceremony of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy

On May 29, 2008 Sarandon announced that she would move to Canada or Italy if John McCain is elected President of the United States.[23][24]

Body of work

Filmography

Year Film Role Other notes
1970 Joe Melissa Compton
1971 Lady Liberty Sally
The Apprentice Elizabeth Hawkins
1974 Lovin' Molly Sarah
The Rimers of Eldritch Patsy Johnson
The Front Page Peggy Grant
1975 The Great Waldo Pepper Mary Beth
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Janet Weiss
1976 Dragonfly Chloe 
  " One Summer Of Love"
1977 Checkered Flag or Crash C.C. Wainwright
The Other Side of Midnight Catherine Alexander Douglas
The Last of the Cowboys Ginny
1978 Pretty Baby Hattie
King of the Gypsies Rose
1979 Something Short of Paradise Madeline Ross
1980 Atlantic City Sally Matthews Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actress
Loving Couples Stephanie
1982 Tempest Aretha Tomalin
1983 The Hunger Dr. Sarah Roberts
1984 The Buddy System Emily
1985 Compromising Positions Judith Singer
1986 Women of Valor Col. Margaret Ann Jessup
1987 The Witches of Eastwick Jane Spofford
1988 Bull Durham Annie Savoy Nominated - Golden Globe
Sweet Hearts Dance Sandra Boon
1989 The January Man Christine Starkey
A Dry White Season Melanie Bruwer
1990 White Palace Nora Baker Nominated - Golden Globe
1991 Thelma & Louise Louise Elizabeth Sawyer Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actress;
Nominated - BAFTA Award; Nominated - Golden Globe
1992 The Player Herself
Light Sleeper Ann
Bob Roberts Tawna Titan
Lorenzo's Oil Michaela Odone Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actress; Nominated - Golden Globe
1994 The Client Regina 'Reggie' Love BAFTA Award; Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actress
Little Women Abigail 'Marmee' March
Safe Passage Margaret 'Mag' Singer
1995 Dead Man Walking Sister Helen Prejean Academy Award for Best Actress; Nominated - Golden Globe
1996 James and the Giant Peach Miss Spider voice
1998 Twilight Catherina Ames
Illuminata Calimene
Stepmom Jackie Harrison Nominated - Golden Globe
1999 Our Friend, Martin Mrs. Clark voice (direct-to-video)
Cradle Will Rock Margherita Sarfatti
Anywhere but Here Adele August
2000 Joe Gould's Secret Alice Neel
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie Coco LaBouche voice
2001 Cats & Dogs Ivy voice
Goodnight Moon Narrator voice (short subject)
2002 Igby Goes Down Mimi Slocumb Nominated - Golden Globe
The Banger Sisters Lavinia Kingsley
Moonlight Mile Jojo Floss
Little Miss Spider Narrator short subject
2003 Ice Bound Dr. Jerri Nielsen
2004 Noel Rose Collins
Jiminy Glick in Lalawood Herself Cameo
Shall We Dance Beverly Clark
Alfie Liz
2005 Elizabethtown Hollie Baylor
Romance & Cigarettes Kitty
2006 Irresistible Sophie
2007 Mr. Woodcock Beverly Farley
In the Valley of Elah Joan Deerfield
Enchanted Queen Narissa
Emotional Arithmetic Melanie Lansing Winters
Bernard and Doris Doris Duke
2008 Speed Racer Mom Racer
Middle of Nowhere Rhonda Berry awaiting release
2009 The Lovely Bones Grandma Lynn post-production
Peacock TBA post-production
The Greatest TBA post-production
Leaves of Grass TBA filming

Television

Year Film Role Other notes
1970-1971 A World Apart Patrice Kahlman
1971 Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Joyce 1 episode
1972 Search for Tomorrow Sarah Fairbanks unknown episodes
1973 Wide World Mystery episode The Haunting of Rosalind
1974 F. Scott Fitzgerald and 'The Last of the Belles' Ailie Calhoun
The Satan Murders Kate TV movie
June Moon Eileen TV movie
The Rimers of Eldritch Pasty Johnson TV movie
1982 Who Am I This Time? Helene Shaw TV movie
1984 Oxbridge Blues Natalie TV mini-series
Faerie Tale Theatre Beauty 1 episode
1985 A.D Livilla TV mini-series
Mussolini: The Decline and Fall of Duce II Edda Mussolini Ciano TV movie
1986 Women of Valor Col. Margaret Ann Jessup TV movie
1994 All Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! Bitsy
1995 The Simpsons voice of The Ballet Teacher 1 episode
1999 Earthly Possessions Charlotte Emory TV movie
2001 Friends Jessica Lockhart Nominated Emmy Award, Outstanding Guest Actress
Cool Women In History The Host Season 1
2002 Malcolm in the Middle Meg Nominated Emmy Award, Outstanding Guest Actress
2003 Frank Herbert's Children of Dune Princess Wensicia Corrino TV mini-series
2004 Chappelle's Show Herself Season 2
Troy: The Passion of Helen The Host
2005 The Exonerated Sunny Jacobs TV movie
Mad TV 2 episodes
2006 - 2007 Rescue Me Alicia

Documentaries

Year Film Role
1983 When the Mountains Tremble
1990 Through the Wire narrator
1993 Wildnerness: The Last Stand narrator
1995 The Celluloid Closet
1996 Tell the Truth and Run: George Seldes and the American Press narrator
1997 The Need to Know narrator
Father Roy: Inside the School of Assassins narrator
187: Documented narrator
1999 For Love of Julian narrator
2000 Light Keeps Me Company
Iditarod: A Far Distant Place narrator
This Is What Democracy Looks Like narrator
Dying to be Thin narrator
2001 Uphill All the Way narrator
900 Women narrator
The Shaman's Apprentice narrator
Rudyland narrator
Ghosts of Attica narrator
Last Party 2000
2002 The Next Industrial Revolution narrator
Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion narrator
2003 XXI Century
The Nazi Officer's Wife narrator
Burma: Anatomy of Terror narrator
Journey of the Heart: The Life of Henri Nouwen narrator
2004 Fragile Hopes from the Killing Fields narrator
2005 A Whale in Montana narrator
On the Line: Dissent in an Age of Terrorism
2006 Secrets of the Code narrator
Christa McAuliffe: Reach for the Stars narrator
2007 This Child of Mine narrator
World Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & the Movies
Awards and achievements
Preceded by BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
1995
for The Client 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Academy Award for Best Actress
1995
for Dead Man Walking 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Donostia Award, San Sebastian International Film Festival
1995 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture
1995
for Dead Man Walking 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ a b A fine romancer. The Guardian. 18 March 2006.
  2. ^ Susan Sarandon biography. Film Reference.com.
  3. ^ a b Sarandon learns about Welsh roots News.bbc.co.uk. 28 November 2006
  4. ^ http://www.jcf.org/works.php?id=680
  5. ^ "Susan Sarandon set to star in 'The Lovely Bones' ". DailyIndia.com. 27 July 2007.
  6. ^ Chupnick, Steven. "Susan Sarandon on Speed Racer". Superhero Hype.com. 25 August 2007.
  7. ^ a b c Susan Sarandon. Hollywood.com.
  8. ^ Susan Sarandon Biography
  9. ^ "Even at Fancy French Store Openings, Michael Bloomberg's Power Play Is the Talk of the Town". {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help) The New York Observer
  10. ^ "Susan Sarandon's Federal Campaign Contribution Report". Newsmeat.com. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  11. ^ "Mission and History". Madre.org. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  12. ^ Sheahen, Laura. "'The Power of One': Interview with Susan Sarandon". BeliefNet. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ "Becker Complaint: Becker, et al. vs. Federal Election Commission". NVRI.org. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  14. ^ "Nader 2000 Leaders United to Defeat Bush". Truthout.org press release, September 14, 2004. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  15. ^ Iraq: Antiwar Voices. Washington Post, February 13, 2003.
  16. ^ "Sarandon To Bush: Get Real On War", CBS News, February 14, 2003.
  17. ^ Brennan, Charlie (February 8, 2003). "Cry for peace heard on web: Activists using Internet to spread word against war". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2008-01-11. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  18. ^ "Anti-Iraq Ad Features Leader of Bush's Church". Fox News. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  19. ^ "2004 Racism Watch Calls On Bush-Cheney Campaign to Change or Pull Offensive Ad". Common Dreams. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  20. ^ "Susan Sarandon Joins Cindy Sheehan to Protest Iraq War". Fox News, May 15, 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  21. ^ Asthana, Anushka. Sarandon tells of Iraq death threat. The Observer. 30 April 2006.
  22. ^ Hunt, Kasie. Anti-War Actress Bored by Iraq Pitch. CBS News. January 24, 2007.
  23. ^ AdaEveningNews.com - Ada, Oklahoma - Sarandon vows to “quit” America
  24. ^ by Liz Smith, New York Post, 5/29/08
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