Chris Sarandon
A character actor with a velvet voice who brought urbane charm to vampires, fairy-tale villains, and a stop-motion skeleton.
Born 1942 (age 84)·American actor·Birthday: July 24·The Silent Generation
Biography
Chris Sarandon's career is a masterclass in memorable supporting roles, defined by a resonant baritone and an air of intelligent sophistication. He first broke through with an Oscar-nominated turn as Al Pacino's would-be lover in Sidney Lumet's tense bank heist drama 'Dog Day Afternoon.' That early promise led to a string of cult favorite characters that showcased his range: the seductive, witty vampire Jerry Dandrige in 'Fright Night,' the scheming Prince Humperdinck in 'The Princess Bride,' and the voice of the melancholy pumpkin king Jack Skellington in 'The Nightmare Before Christmas.' Sarandon never sought leading-man status; instead, he excelled at elevating material with his precise, often slyly humorous performances. His work spans gritty '70s cinema, '80s horror-comedy, family fantasy, and decades of television guest spots, always leaving a distinct impression. He is the kind of actor whose name you might forget, but whose faces and voices remain vividly etched in pop culture memory.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Chris was born in 1942, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1942
#1 Movie
Bambi
Best Picture
Mrs. Miniver
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1942Born
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1947Started school
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1955Became a teenager
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1958Could drive
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1960Could vote
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Turned 21
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1972Turned 30
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 40
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 50
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 60
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 70
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 80
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 84 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his film debut in 'Dog Day Afternoon' (1975).
- Provided the speaking voice for Jack Skellington in the animated classic 'The Nightmare Before Christmas.'
- Played the iconic vampire Jerry Dandrige in the cult horror-comedy 'Fright Night.'
- Portrayed the villainous Prince Humperdinck in the beloved fairy-tale film 'The Princess Bride.'
- Played Detective Mike Norris in the original 'Child's Play,' facing off against the killer doll Chucky.
Did You Know?
He was once married to actress Susan Sarandon; he kept her last name professionally after their divorce.
He is a trained Shakespearean actor and performed with the New York Shakespeare Festival early in his career.
He is an accomplished singer and performed the song 'Jack's Lament' in 'The Nightmare Before Christmas.'
He played a corrupt senator on the HBO series 'The West Wing,' a show his ex-wife also appeared on.
He voiced the character of the villainous Dr. Rieux in the animated 'Justice League' series.
“I'm an actor who's been lucky enough to play a lot of different people, and I like that.”
