Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon
Pedro J Pacheco · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Susan Sarandon
Birth name	Susan Abigail Tomalin
Birth date	4 October 1946
Birth place	New York City, Queens
Occupation	Actress, activist
Years active	1969–present
Partner	Tim Robbins (1988–2009)
Children	3; including Jack Henry Robbins

Susan Sarandon is an American actress and activist known for her work in film, television, and political advocacy. She rose to prominence through performances that combined dramatic range and populist appeal, earning critical acclaim and industry honors. Beyond acting, she has been involved in high‑profile social and political causes spanning decades.

Early life and education

Born Susan Abigail Tomalin in New York City, she grew up in the borough of Queens after her family moved from Edison, New Jersey. Her parents were of Irish descent and included Lenora O'Connell and Joseph Tomalin, a former World War II veteran. She attended Immaculate Heart of Mary School and later graduated from Catholic University of America with a degree in drama, before relocating to Manhattan to pursue stage and screen opportunities. During this period she studied with acting teachers associated with the Actors Studio and appeared in regional productions connected to companies like the Atlantic Theater Company.

Career

Her early screen appearances included small roles in The Rocky Horror Picture Show era projects and television series such as Delta House. She gained wider attention with the film Atlantic City and achieved mainstream breakthrough playing strong, unconventional characters in films like The Witches of Eastwick, Bull Durham, and Thelma & Louise. Her portrayal of activist journalist in films such as Dead Man Walking earned major awards and demonstrated collaborations with directors including Tim Robbins, Mike Nichols, David Lynch, and Martin Scorsese. Sarandon has balanced mainstream studio projects like The Addams Family with independent films screened at festivals such as the Sundance Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival. She has also appeared on television series including Feud: Bette and Joan and served as producer on projects associated with companies like New Line Cinema and Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Personal life

She married fellow actor Chris Sarandon in 1967 before the couple divorced in the 1970s; she later partnered with actor-director Tim Robbins, with whom she shares children including Jack Henry Robbins. She has also had public relationships with figures in the entertainment industry and has been photographed at events hosted by institutions such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Cannes Film Festival. Sarandon's residences have included properties in New York City and Los Angeles, and she has maintained ties to philanthropic organizations connected to health care and the arts like Planned Parenthood and The Actors Fund.

Activism and political involvement

Sarandon has been an outspoken advocate on issues including reproductive rights through organizations such as Planned Parenthood, opposition to the Iraq War, and support for electoral causes aligned with progressive groups like MoveOn.org and Democracy Now!. She campaigned for candidates and causes in U.S. presidential elections, attended rallies at locations like Washington, D.C., and spoke at events organized by groups such as Code Pink and Human Rights Watch. Internationally, she has criticized policies of governments including Israel and engaged with activists from Palestinian territories and Cuba, while also backing humanitarian organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and Amnesty International. Her activism has drawn both support and controversy among politicians including Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Joe Biden.

Awards and recognition

Sarandon won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Dead Man Walking and has received nominations from institutions such as the Golden Globe Awards and the British Academy Film Awards. Her work has been honored at festivals including the Cannes Film Festival and by organizations like the Screen Actors Guild and the National Board of Review. Lifetime achievement recognitions have come from groups such as Women in Film and film schools including NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She has also received awards for humanitarian work from entities like Planned Parenthood and Amnesty International.

Category:American film actresses Category:American activists Category:1946 births Category:Living people