| ''Susan Abigail Tomalin ''  Susan Sarandon mini-bio: Sarandon, the eldest of nine children, was born in New York City, the daughter of Lenora Marie and Phillip Leslie Tomalin, who worked as an advertising executive, television producer, and nightclub singer during the big band era. Sarandon's father was of English, Irish, and Welsh ancestry and her mother was of Sicilian/Italian descent the family was Roman Catholic. In 2006, Sarandon and 10 of her relatives (including her partner 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. 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. 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). In 1970 and 1971, she appeared on the short lived soap opera A World Apart, playing Patrice Kahlman. 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, Thelma & Louise , Lorenzo's Oil, and The Client, finally winning in 1995 for Dead Man Walking. Her other movies include Stepmom, Anywhere but Here, Cradle Will Rock, The Banger Sisters, Shall We Dance , Alfie , Romance & Cigarettes , Elizabethtown and Enchanted.
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 comedies such as 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 2007 she hosted and presented Mythos, a series of lectures by the late American mythology professor Joseph Campbell.
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.
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.
She is also taking part in the American version of the hit UK television series Who Do You Think You Are? for NBC, in which celebrities trace their family trees. The executive producer is Lisa Kudrow and will feature herself, Lisa, Sarah Jessica Parker and others. The start date for the series has been confirmed as April 20 2009.
Political activism:
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 to participating in a 1983 delegation to Nicaragua sponsored by MADRE, an organization that promotes "social, environmental and economic justice." Sarandon has also expressed support for various tolerance and human rights causes that are similar philosophically to ideas found among the Christian left.
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.
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. 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.
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. 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." 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.
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.
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; she has expressed interest in portraying Sheehan in a movie. 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.
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 consider moving to Canada or Italy if John McCain were to be elected President of the United States.
Trivia:
Partner of Tim Robbins (1988 - present) 2 children.
Ranked #35 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]
Attended Catholic University of America Drama School, 1964-1968. Met and married Chris Sarandon there (by priest who was head of Dept.).
Former "Ford" Model.
Has a daughter from relationship with Franco Amurri.
Has two children by Tim Robbins, Jack Henry Robbins and Miles Robbins.
Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful in the world.
Landed her first Hollywood role when her then-husband, Chris Sarandon, took her along on one of his auditions.
As co-presenters of the Academy Awards in 1993, Susan and her partner, Tim Robbins, seized a chance to bring public attention to the plight of a few hundred Haitians with Aids who had been interned in Guantanamo Bay.
Is a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.
Supported Ralph Nader during his 2000 Presidential Election campaign.
Was arrested for disorderly conduct during a protest in New York over the unarmed shooting of African immigrant Amadou Diallo by four policemen (30 March 1999).
Is of Italian and Welsh heritage.
Graduated from Edison High School in Edison, New Jersey where she was a cheerleader.
She keeps her Oscar in the bathroom.
Sang in The Rocky Horror Picture Show; recorded a duet with Eddie Vedder which played over the end credits of "Cradle Will Rock".
Was involved in the effort to have Laura Schlessinger's television show taken off the air in 2000, because of her disagreement with Schlessinger's conservative views. The effort was successful in leading many sponsors to drop their support of the show, which was ultimately cancelled less than a year after its premiere.
For the past ten years she has been involved with Heifer International, an organization that donates farm animals to needy families who need the animals for work.
Is one of two actresses who won an Oscar for playing a nun. The first was Jennifer Jones in "The Song Of Bernadette".
Is listed along with Geena Davis on the 24th place in AFI's Hero Top 50.
Caught pneumonia after they shot the pool scene in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
One of eight women, also among them Sophia Loren and author Isabel Allende, carrying the Olympic flag at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games' opening ceremony in Turin (10 February 2006).
Her grandmother had her mother when she was 13 years old. Her mother grew up in the care of nuns in an institute, abandoned at two.
Father was Philip Leslie Tomalin (of English, Irish, and Welsh ancestry). Mother was Lenora Marie Criscione (who was born in Ragusa, Sicily).
In 1916, her grandfather Giuseppe Criscione emigrated to the USA from Ragusa in Sicily, where he was born in 1901. Now she is honorary citizen of Ragusa and the city gave her the "Ragusani nel Mondo" award.
Received the "World Lifetime Achievement Award" at the 2006 Women's World Award in New York.
Very good friends with fellow actress Julia Roberts.
Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2008 Razzie Award nominating ballot. She was suggested in the Worst Supporting Actress category for her performance in the film Mr. Woodcock. She failed to receive a nomination however.
Has a dog named Penny, a Pomeranian Maltese. The dog appears in the movie, Bernard and Doris, playing a pet of Doris, the character she portrayed.
In 1992, the National Society of Film Critics named her as their runner-up for best actress for her performance in "Lorenzo's Oil".
In 1991 and 1992 she was the New York Film Critics Circle's runner-up pick for their annual best actress of the year prize. In 1991, she was chosen the runner-up for her landmark performance as half of the now-iconic duo in director Ridley Scott's modern-day western "Thelma & Louise". In 1992, she was the group's runner-up for her heartbreaking turn in director George Miller's fact-based drama "Lorenzo's Oil".
Received a 1982 Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play for her performance as a victimized woman who rallies and turns the tables on her would-be attacker in the hit Off-Broadway play "Extremities," by playwright William Mastrosimone.
Received a 1979 Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play for her Off-Broadway debut opposite Eileen Brennan in playwright John Ford Noonan's two-character piece, "A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking.".
In 2005, she and the rest of the chief creative team behind the 11-part radio documentary, "Leonard Bernstein: An American Life," a chronicle of the legendary American musical giant's life and career, were recipients of the (George Foster) Peabody Award bestowed by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia at the 64th presentation of the honor.
Launching a table tennis bar called "Spin New York" in June, 2009.
Friends with Don Johnson since Sweet Hearts Dance.
She tried to have children during her first marriage, but doctors told her she was unable to reproduce. She eventually gave birth to three children after her divorce, the last at the age of 46.
She was nominated for a 2010 New Jersey Hall of Fame for her services and contributions to Arts and Entertainment. | VITAL STATS | Susan Sarandon Information:
| | Eye color: | | Height: 5' 7" | | Nickname(s): Suzie | | Notable feature(s): Red Hair | | Education: Edison High School | | Family:Chris Sarandon (ex-husband), Philip Leslie Tomalin (father), Lenora Marie Criscione (mother), Tim Robbins (Partner), Eva Amurri (Daughter) | | Resides in: | | Religious affiliations: | | Political affiliation: | | Personal interests/hobbies: | | Charities/Causes:UNICEF | | Other: | | |
alyynposted 61 days ago
