• Christopher Sarandon Jr. was born on 25 July 1942 in Beckley, West Virginia, USA.
• He has a net worth estimated to be over $5 million.
• He attended Woodrow Wilson High School and later studied for a degree in speech at West Virginia University.
• He then enrolled at The Catholic University of America (CUA) to gain a master's degree in theatre.
• His notable works include the role of Prince Humperdinck in “The Princess Bride”, voicing Jack Skellington in “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, and appearing in the television series “ER”.



Known for movies

Short Info

SpouseJoanna Gleason, Lisa Ann Cooper, Susan Sarandon
MarkOften plays doctors
FactSon-in-law of Monty Hall.

Who is Chris Sarandon?

Christopher Sarandon Jr. was born on 25 July 1942, in Beckley, West Virginia, USA. He’s an actor as well as a voice actor, perhaps best known for his role in “The Princess Bride” – in which he played Prince Humperdinck –  and for voicing the character Jack Skellington in the animated film “The Nightmare Before Christmas”.

The Riches of Chris Sarandon

Chris Sarandon has a net worth estimated to be over $5 million, as of mid-2024, earned through success in the entertainment industry. He’s been taking acting and voice acting roles since 1965, all of which have helped establish his wealth.

Early Life and Education

Chris is of Greek ancestry, with both of his parents migrating to the US, and becoming restaurateurs. His father’s original surname was Sarondonethes, changing it later to Sarandon. At a early age, Chris developed an interest in pursuing a career in acting, and he attended Woodrow Wilson High School. After matriculating, he enrolled at West Virginia University where he studied for a degree in speech. The university has a lot of notable alumni in the field of athletics and academics.

Following the completion of his degree, he enrolled at the private Catholic University of America (CUA) to gain a master’s degree in theatre, committing fully to the craft. The  university was founded by the US Catholic bishops in 1887, though it did not offer undergraduate programs until 1904.  It has been described by the Cardinal Newman Society as one of the most underrated higher educational institutions in the country.

Chris Sarandon

The school is closely connected to the Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. Their programs focus on personal development, liberal arts, and professional education.

Career Beginnings

After graduating, Sarandon started working on stage in theatrical projects and improvisational companies. He became involved in regional theatre, making his debut in “The Rose Tattoo” in 1965. After a few years he moved to New York City, where he gained a role in the soap opera “Guiding Light”,  the longest-running drama in US TV history – a total of 57 years.

He only stayed a year with the show however, as he moved on to another role, portraying the transgender wife of Al Pacino’s character in “Dog Day Afternoon”. The film is based on the article “The Boys in the Bank”, and received a lot of critical acclaim, with his own performance earning him a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination. Afterwards he worked on Broadway, appearing in plays such as “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” and “The Rothschilds”. He also appeared in the films “The Sentinel” and “Lipstick”, the latter a thriller.

Continued Acting Projects

At this point, Chris was mainly cast in villainous roles, and not wanting to be typecast, he started taking on other types of characters to showcase his versatility. He received acclaim for his performance in the television movie “A Tale of Two Cities”, in which he played Sydney Carton. He starred in the film “The Osterman Weekend” alongside Dennis Hopper, and then opposite Goldie Hawn in the film “Protocol”. In 1985, he had a mainstream resurgence as he portrayed the vampire neighbor in “Fright Night”, the directing debut of Tom Holland, which follows the story of a young man who discovers that his neighbor is a vampire, but no one believes him.

His next big role came in 1987’s “The Princess Bride” starring opposite Cary Elwes. It’s based on the 1973 novel of the same name, and follows the story of a farmboy who needs to rescue his sweetheart. The film was well received critically, but only had moderate success at the box office, although it’s since become a cult classic. The following year, he was cast in the film “Child’s Play”, the first installment of what would be a series of films featuring the character Chucky.

Latter Career

Chris’s next move was to become the voice of the main character of the Disney film “The Nightmare Before Christmas” – he would reprise this role of Jack Skellington in numerous projects, including the video game series “Kingdom Hearts”, and Disneyland attractions such as Haunted Mansion Holiday. He later returned to television, working in the television series “ER” as the recurring character Dr. Burke; as the name denotes, it follows the day to day incidents in the emergency room of a fictional hospital, with staff facing health crises and personal problems.

He also continued to work on Broadway, performing in musicals such as “Nick & Nora”. He played the character Signor Naccarelli in the Tony Award-winning musical entitled “The Light in the Piazza”, worked with Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner in a production of “Cyrano de Bergerac”, and performed in the off-Broadway musical  “Preludes”. His latest role was voicing the character Dracula in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” in 2017, but in 2020 played himself in “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas”

Personal Life

Chris’ first marriage was to actress Susan Sarandon in 1967 – the two were known for pursuing acting careers together following their marriage. They stayed together for 12 years, then after their divorce he started dating model Lisa Ann Cooper – they married in 1980, and had three children before divorcing in 1989. Since 1994, he’s been married to singer and actress Joana Gleason, whom he met while working on the production “Nick & Nora”. The two have since worked on several stage plays and films together, including “American Perfekt”, “Edie & Pen”, and “Thom and Bloom”.

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General Info

Full NameChris Sarandon
Height1.85 m
ProfessionVoice Actor
EducationCatholic University of America, West Virginia University, Woodrow Wilson High School
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseJoanna Gleason, Lisa Ann Cooper, Susan Sarandon
ChildrenAlexis Sarandon, Michael Sarandon, Stephanie Sarandon
ParentsChris Sarandon, Sr., Cliffie Cardullias

Accomplishments

NominationsAcademy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Golden Globe Award for Best New Star of the Year – Actor, Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
MoviesThe Nightmare Before Christmas, Fright Night, The Princess Bride, Child's Play, Dog Day Afternoon, The Sentinel, Safe, Bordello of Blood, I Smile Back, The Osterman Weekend, The Resurrected, Slaves of New York, Edie and Pen, Multiple Sarcasms, Let the Devil Wear Black, Nausicaä of the Valley of the...
TV ShowsThe Court

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Source: IMDb, Wikipedia
Author

As a Freelance Writer at Biography Pedia, I oversee the full writing process, from in-depth research to the development of compelling narratives, ensuring accuracy and excellence in our output. Our goal is to produce insightful profiles that deeply explore the lives of prominent figures in business, entertainment, and other fields. Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, we spotlight the significant journeys and achievements of individuals who captivate and inspire our readers.

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