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Susan Sarandon

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Susan Abigail Sarandon is a prominent American actor. Her professional career has spanned more than five decades. She has received many high honors for her work in film and theater. These accolades include an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She has also earned seven Emmy Award nominations and ten Golden Globe Award nominations.

Susan Sarandon 3 by David Shankbone
Susan Sarandon 3 by David Shankbone

Her work is recognized across many different media, including motion pictures, Broadway plays, and television series.

Sarandon's acting career involves portraying a vast range of characters. She made her film debut in the movie *Joe* in 1970. Following this, she appeared in soap operas such as *A World Apart* and *Search for Tomorrow*. She gained significant recognition for her role in the musical horror film *The Rocky Horror Picture Show* in 1975. Her filmography includes diverse genres, from the fantasy comedy *Enchanted* to the drama *The Lovely Bones*. She has also performed in television roles, such as in the miniseries *Feud*, where she portrayed Bette Davis.

Grauman's Chinese Theatre, susan sarandon
Grauman's Chinese Theatre, susan sarandon

Her path to success required significant effort and various jobs. After earning her Bachelor of Arts in drama from the Catholic University of America in 1968, she supported herself through several roles. She worked as a switchboard operator, a hair cutter, and a house cleaner. She also worked in a hospital emptying bedpans. These experiences preceded her rise to prominence in the film industry. In 1970, she was cast in a major role in *Joe*, which helped establish her presence in cinema.

Sarandon's film career reached a major peak during the 1980s and 1990s. She received her first Academy Award nomination for the film *Atlantic City* in 1980. In 1988, she appeared in *Bull Durham*, which brought her widespread commercial and critical success. She was nominated for an Academy Award four more times throughout the 1990s. These nominations were for her roles in *Thelma & Louise* (1991), *Lorenzo's Oil* (1992), and *The Client* (1994). In 1995, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in *Dead Man Walking*. In this film, she played Helen Prejean, a woman who visited a convicted murderer on death row.

Her early life was shaped by a large, diverse family in New York and New Jersey. She was born on October 4, 1946, in Jackson Heights, Queens. She is the eldest of nine children. Her father, Phillip Leslie Tomalin, was an advertising executive and television producer. Her mother, Lenora Marie, was involved in local community clubs. The family moved to the Stephenville community in New Jersey when Sarandon was four years old. She attended Saint Francis Grammar School and later graduated from Edison High School in 1964.

Edwards Sarandon Robbins
Edwards Sarandon Robbins

Beyond her acting, Sarandon is a dedicated social and political activist. She supports progressive and left-wing causes to promote social and economic justice. In 1999, she was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador to support global advocacy. She also received the Action Against Hunger Humanitarian Award in 2006. During the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy, she was one of eight women chosen to carry the Olympic flag. In 2010, she was appointed an FAO Goodwill Ambassador.

Susan Sarandon 3 by David Shankbone
Susan Sarandon 3 by David Shankbone

Sarandon also uses her platform to engage in anti-war activism. She spoke out against the 2003 invasion of Iraq, expressing concern for the safety of children. She participated in various protests, including a 2006 Mother's Day protest with Code Pink. She also appeared at a 2007 rally in Washington, D.C., to support withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq. Her activism extends to local community efforts as well. In 2018, she helped plant fruit trees at the Jamaica Houses housing complex in Queens. Her life demonstrates how a person can combine a career in the arts with a commitment to global humanitarian issues.

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File:Susan Sarandon 3 by David Shankbone.jpg
Susan Sarandon 3 by David Shankbone.jpg
File:Grauman's Chinese Theatre, susan sarandon.JPG
Grauman's Chinese Theatre, susan sarandon.JPG
File:Edwards Sarandon Robbins.jpg
Edwards Sarandon Robbins.jpg
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