Ever wonder why Susan Sarandon is still "Sarandon" more than 40 years after her divorce? It’s not just about the branding or the Oscars on her shelf. Most Hollywood breakups are a mess of leaked texts and lawyer-fueled spite, but the story of Chris Sarandon and Susan Sarandon is actually... well, it's kinda sweet.
They met at the Catholic University of America in DC back in the mid-sixties. Chris was a grad student; Susan was an undergrad who hadn't even thought about acting yet. Honestly, she only went to the audition that launched her career because Chris needed a scene partner. He was the one with the "fire in his belly" for the craft. She was just there to help him out.
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The agency signed them both on the spot.
The Wedding Nobody Wanted
The 1967 wedding wasn't exactly a fairytale. Susan’s mother was openly against it. Not because she hated Chris—she actually liked him—but because she didn't want her 20-year-old daughter rushing into marriage.
At the time, they were students at a strict Catholic college. Living together without a ring was a total non-starter if they didn't want to get kicked out. So, they got married basically to share an apartment.
Susan recently admitted on Chris’s podcast, Cooking By Heart, that the decision wasn't exactly a grand romantic gesture. It was a practical move by two kids who wanted to be together without the dean breathing down their necks.
Why Chris Sarandon and Susan Sarandon Actually Called It Quits
By 1975, the cracks were showing, even if the world didn't see them yet. Chris was hitting it big with Dog Day Afternoon—getting an Oscar nod for playing Al Pacino’s lover—and Susan was becoming a cult icon in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Success does weird things to a young marriage.
They separated while their careers were exploding. They didn't officially divorce until 1979, but they used the same lawyer. Think about that for a second. No "he said, she said." No tabloid wars. Chris has said their lives simply "diverged." They were both really young and had "unreasonable expectations" about what life would look like once fame hit.
Susan has been vocal about how Chris basically saved her. He introduced her to literature, black-and-white cinema, and the foundations of acting. She credits him with her "survival" during those early, chaotic years in New York.
"He was a very kind man and he kept me alive, so I'm happy to have that name," Susan told The Sunday Times in late 2024.
The Name Stays
It’s a question that pops up every few years: why didn't she go back to being Susan Tomalin?
She’s joked that she’s "stuck" with it now, but the truth is deeper. She sees the name as a tribute to the man who gave her a foundation. Even during the decades where they lost touch—and there were many—the name Sarandon remained a bridge to her beginnings.
Chris went on to have a wild ride himself. He married model Lisa Ann Cooper, had three kids, and later married Broadway legend Joanna Gleason. He also survived a massive financial fraud in the late '80s that wiped out his life savings. He’s 83 now, living a quieter life, while Susan, at 79, is still out there being an activist and a movie star.
Getting Back Together (As Friends)
In a move that feels very "2026," the two have fully rekindled their friendship. It started with a DM. Susan reached out after seeing Chris’s food podcast. They hadn't really spoken in 15 or 20 years.
They recorded an episode together that felt less like an interview and more like a therapy session for the fans. They talked about their wedding, her brother hooking up with a bridesmaid, and the "kindness" that defined their early years.
It's a rare Hollywood story where the ending isn't a tragedy. They’re "close friends again," proving that you can outgrow a marriage without outgrowing the person.
What We Can Learn From the Sarandons
- Marriage for the wrong reasons doesn't mean the person was wrong. They married for housing; they stayed for the friendship.
- Amicable is possible. Using the same lawyer for a divorce isn't just a cost-saving measure; it's a sign of mutual respect.
- Last names are personal. Keeping a married name isn't always about the "brand"—sometimes it's a genuine thank-you to a former partner.
- Friendship is a long game. You can go 20 years without talking and still find your way back to each other in the "last quarter" of life.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into their history, check out Chris Sarandon's memoir projects or listen to the archive of his Cooking By Heart podcast where they discuss their shared history in detail. It's a masterclass in how to handle an ex with grace.