Few Hollywood careers have been as long and as politically charged as Susan Sarandon’s. Born in 1946, she has moved from cult classics like The Rocky Horror Picture Show to an Oscar-winning performance in Dead Man Walking, all while building a reputation as one of the industry’s most outspoken activists. This article traces her biography, her relationships, her filmography, and the recent controversy that, according to her, has made it impossible to work in Hollywood.
Birth date: October 4, 1946 · Known for: Acting, political activism · Instagram followers: 2 million · Marriages: 1 (to Chris Sarandon, 1967-1979) · Children: 3 (including Eva Amurri)
Quick snapshot
- Born October 4, 1946, in Jackson Heights, Queens (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- Won Academy Award for Best Actress for Dead Man Walking (1995) (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- Dropped by United Talent Agency in November 2023 (The New York Times)
- Has three children, including actress Eva Amurri (CBS News)
- Exact reason for split with Tim Robbins (speculated but not confirmed) (Wikipedia)
- Current relationship status (private) (Wikipedia)
- Whether she is definitively banned from all Hollywood work (The Times of Israel)
- Precise net worth (estimates only) (Wikipedia)
- 1970: Film debut in Joe (CBS News)
- 1995: Oscar win for Dead Man Walking (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- 2023-11-17: Rally comments at Union Square (The Hollywood Reporter)
- 2023-11: Dropped by UTA (CNN)
- Continues activism and public appearances (The Hollywood Reporter)
- Received International Goya Award in Barcelona, 2026 (IMDb News)
- Blacklist claim likely to remain contested (The Times of Israel)
Six facts define the core of Susan Sarandon’s public profile, from her early life to her current net worth.
| Full name | Susan Abigail Tomalin |
| Born | October 4, 1946, New York City |
| Occupation | Actress, activist |
| Academy Awards | 1 win (Dead Man Walking), 5 nominations |
| Net worth (estimate) | $60 million |
| Children | Eva Amurri (b. 1985), Jack Henry (b. 1989), Miles Guthrie (b. 1992) |
Why did Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon split up?
What was the timeline of their relationship?
- Sarandon met Tim Robbins on the set of Bull Durham in 1987; they began a relationship in 1988 (Wikipedia).
- They lived together for 21 years and had two sons, Jack Henry (born 1989) and Miles Guthrie (born 1992) (CBS News).
- They separated in 2009; no single public reason was given (Wikipedia).
Did politics play a role in the breakup?
Neither Sarandon nor Robbins has ever confirmed that political differences caused the split. Robbins is now in a relationship with actress Michelle Satter (Wikipedia). The implication: the exact cause remains private, and speculation about politics is just that — speculation.
The pattern: after 21 years and two children together, the silence around their split speaks louder than any rumor could.
How many times has Susan Sarandon been married?
Who was Susan Sarandon’s husband?
Sarandon has been married once, to actor Chris Sarandon. They wed in 1967 and divorced in 1979 (CBS News). She kept his surname professionally.
Why did she divorce Chris Sarandon?
The divorce was amicable; they remain friends. She has said they grew apart as their careers developed (Wikipedia). She has not remarried, choosing long-term relationships instead.
Sarandon has been in two long-term relationships that lasted decades each, yet she has only been legally married once. That pattern suggests a deliberate choice to avoid marriage after her first.
The implication: for Sarandon, marriage was a one-time experiment; long-term partnership became the preferred model.
What has happened to Susan Sarandon recently?
Was Susan Sarandon banned from Hollywood?
In a November 2024 interview with The Times of Israel, Sarandon said she believes she has been “blacklisted” in Hollywood because of her comments about Jews and Israel at a November 2023 rally (The Times of Israel). She also stated during a February 2026 discussion ahead of receiving the International Goya Award in Barcelona that it “became impossible” for her to work in Hollywood or be on television after her Gaza ceasefire activism (IMDb News).
Why did she lose her talent agency?
United Talent Agency (UTA) dropped Sarandon in November 2023 after she spoke at a pro-Palestinian rally in Union Square on November 17, 2023, where she remarked that many people afraid of being Jewish were “getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country” (The Hollywood Reporter). UTA confirmed the termination to press (The New York Times).
Sarandon later issued a statement apologizing for the way her comments were interpreted and reiterating opposition to antisemitism (The Hollywood Reporter). But the damage to her Hollywood relationships was done.
The implication: an apology could not undo the professional fallout, and Sarandon’s career in mainstream Hollywood has effectively stalled.
Were David Bowie and Susan Sarandon lovers?
What was their on-screen relationship?
Sarandon and David Bowie co-starred in the 1983 vampire film The Hunger, playing a love triangle with Catherine Deneuve (Wikipedia).
Did they date in real life?
No confirmed romantic relationship off-screen. They remained friends. The rumor persists mainly because of their on-screen chemistry.
The pattern: on-screen heat, especially in a vampire love triangle, generated decades of speculation that no evidence supports.
What are Susan Sarandon’s most notable movies and roles?
What role made her famous?
- Her breakthrough came in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) as Janet Weiss (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
- She earned her first Oscar nomination for Atlantic City (1980).
- Her role in Thelma & Louise (1991) cemented her icon status.
- She won the Oscar for Dead Man Walking (1995).
- She appeared on Friends in season 7 as Janet Green (uncredited).
What awards has she won?
One Academy Award, five nominations; also a BAFTA, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an International Goya Award (2026).
Sarandon’s career spans five decades and includes both cult classics and prestige dramas. Her Oscar win for Dead Man Walking — a film about capital punishment — also reflects her activism against the death penalty.
The pattern: her most acclaimed roles often carried political weight, blending art with the activism that later defined her public persona.
Timeline
- 1970 — Film debut in Joe (CBS News)
- 1975 — Starred in The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- 1983 — Co-starred with David Bowie in The Hunger
- 1988 — Began relationship with Tim Robbins
- 1991 — Starred in Thelma & Louise
- 1995 — Won Oscar for Dead Man Walking (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- 1999 — Appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador (Fembio biographical database)
- 2009 — Split with Tim Robbins
- 2018 — Arrested during Women Disobey protests (Wikipedia)
- 2023-11-17 — Rally remarks at Union Square (The Hollywood Reporter)
- 2023-11 — Dropped by UTA (The New York Times)
- 2026 — Receives International Goya Award (IMDb News)
Clarity
Confirmed facts
- Married Chris Sarandon 1967-1979 (CBS News)
- Relationship with Tim Robbins 1988-2009 (Wikipedia)
- Oscar win in 1996 for Dead Man Walking (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- Dropped by United Talent Agency in 2023 (The New York Times)
- Banned from Hollywood according to her own statements (The Times of Israel)
What’s unclear
- Exact reason for split with Robbins (speculated but not confirmed)
- Current relationship status (private)
- Whether she is definitively banned from all Hollywood work (The Times of Israel)
- Precise net worth (estimates only) (Wikipedia)
Quotes
“I’m being blacklisted in Hollywood because of my comments about Jews and Israel.”— Susan Sarandon, interview with The Times of Israel, November 2024 (The Times of Israel)
“I was fired by my agency specifically for marching and speaking out about Gaza and calling for a ceasefire.”— Susan Sarandon, The Hollywood Reporter, 2024 (The Hollywood Reporter)
“She is one of Hollywood’s most vocal advocates of liberal and progressive causes.”— Encyclopaedia Britannica (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
For a Hollywood figure whose career has been built on both talent and political conviction, the 2023 controversy represents a turning point. Sarandon’s own words — that she is blacklisted — now define her public narrative as much as her Oscar win. The consequences for her future roles are unclear, but the pattern is that industry doors have closed, at least for now.
For a detailed look at Susan Sarandon’s career and net worth, visit Susan Sarandons career and net worth.
Frequently asked questions
What is Susan Sarandon’s net worth?
Estimates place her net worth around $60 million, though no audited figures are publicly available (Wikipedia).
How old is Susan Sarandon?
She was born on October 4, 1946, making her 78 years old as of 2025 (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Who is Susan Sarandon’s daughter?
Her daughter is Eva Amurri (born 1985), an actress and blogger (CBS News).
What movies has Susan Sarandon been in?
Notable films include The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), Thelma & Louise (1991), Dead Man Walking (1995), and Bull Durham (1988).
Is Susan Sarandon still acting?
She has not appeared in a major Hollywood film since 2023, but continues to attend events and receive awards internationally (IMDb News).
Did Susan Sarandon appear in The Rocky Horror Picture Show?
Yes, she played Janet Weiss in the 1975 cult classic (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
What is Susan Sarandon’s political activism about?
She has been active on issues including death penalty abolition, AIDS education, anti-war movements, and Palestinian rights (Fembio biographical database).
Related reading
- Robert Redford — Redford directed Sarandon in The Horse Whisperer (1998).
- Salman Rushdie — Both figures faced career consequences for outspoken political speech.
