At 83, veteran actor Chris Sarandon—the star of classics like The Princess Bride, Fright Night, and the voice of Jack Skellington—has traded the screen for a quieter life as a podcaster and gardener at his Connecticut home. Sarandon looks great for 83, according to The Guardian, which gave a lengthy interview about his life, his work and how he lost everything, to begin again.
Chris Sarandon, at 83, looks remarkably well and is enjoying a new life. Photo: Wikki
The son of Greek immigrants who ran a restaurant in West Virginia, his early life included family upheaval; his mother later moved to Los Angeles, where she worked for stars like Natalie Wood and Rita Hayworth.
Sarandon played Leon Shermer, the trans lover of Al Pacino’s bank robber character, Sonny Wortzik, in Sidney Lumet’s 1975 classic, Dog Day Afternoon. The role defined him as a great actor and nearly got him an Oscar. Photo: Flickr
Sarandon’s career is defined by iconic roles in his mid-80s/early 90s golden run, but his true breakthrough came 50 years ago in 1975 heist thriller Dog Day Afternoon. Based on a true story, Sarandon played Leon Shermer, the trans lover of Al Pacino’s bank robber character, Sonny Wortzik. The nuanced, vulnerable performance earned Sarandon a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination.
The film was pioneering for its time, treating its queer characters’ identities as incidental to their humanity. To prepare, he cooked and spoke with people who lived their lives as women, gaining a critical understanding of the character’s emotional truth.
Susan and Chris Sarandon – young lovers. Photo: Facebook
He recalls a key lesson: realising he was flirting with one of his research subjects, calling it “a real lesson in the dynamic of both the physiological and the emotional dimension” of Leon’s experience. Sarandon notes that while he wouldn’t be cast in the role today, he remains proud of the performance and condemns the modern politicisation of trans rights, proudly wearing a Pride bracelet.
Despite his good looks, Sarandon rejected easy romantic leads, preferring “the bad guys” who were more interesting to play. This preference led to difficult projects, like the controversial 1976 movie Lipstick and The Sentinel (1977), which was directed by the “malevolent” Michael Winner. Sarandon admits the unpleasant experience with Winner nearly made him quit acting.
Films, Fright Night and the fantasy of The Princess Bride, allowed him to balance playing evil and good guys. He recalled on the Bride set—improvising puns with Christopher Guest and introducing his children to André the Giant. Though not an immediate hit, The Princess Bride became a viral phenomenon, with fans acting as “evangelists” for the battered VHS tape.
Actor Susan Sarandon was married to Chris for a short time, but their relationship remains warm and friendly. Photo:AAP
Later, Sarandon endured a “major financial reversal” after being defrauded, losing his life savings, which coincided with the collapse of his second marriage. He met his current wife, Joanna Gleason, during the short run of a disastrous Broadway musical, which he calls the start of his “third life.”
During the pandemic, he launched his food podcast, Cooking By Heart, which explores guests’ lives through their culinary memories.
He was deeply touched when his first wife, Susan Sarandon, reached out to appear on the show, marking the first time they had seen each other in nearly two decades. Reconnecting was heartening; they are now close friends again.
Chris Sarandon was deeply touched when his first wife, Susan Sarandon, reached out to appear on the show, marking the first time they had seen each other in nearly two decades. Photo: YouTube
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