Susan Sarandon Explains Why She Never Dropped Her Last Name After Separating from Chris Sarandon

Mar. 15, 2025

Chris Sarandon and Susan Sarandon.Photo:Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Susan Sarandonis addressing why she never changed her last name, even though her marriage to ex-husbandChris Sarandonended over 40 years ago.

“He was a very kind man and he kept me alive, you know, so I’m happy to have that name,” Susan, 78, toldThe Timesabout keeping the Sarandon surname while she spoke with the outlet about her new movieThe Gutterin an article published on Sunday, Nov. 10.

TheAcademy Award-winning actress was married to actor Chris, now 82, from 1967 to 1979. While Susan never married again, she hasthree children, includingEva Amurri, 39, whom she shares with Italian director Franco Amurri, as well as John “Jack” Henry, 35, and Miles Robbins, 32, whom she shares with exTim Robbins.

While Susan expressed no problems with keeping the Sarandon surname, the actress did tell the outlet she regrets never changing her first name. “Sigourney Weaver, Tuesday Weld andStockard Channingall started out Susans and they had the sense to change that name and I’m stuck with Susan,” she said. “It’s kind of nice to do a rechristening as you start to realize who you are.”

Susan Sarandon.Cindy Ord/Getty

Cindy Ord/Getty

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“When I met Chris, I thought and correctly so, that he knew everything because he took me to black and white movies and introduced me to literature and basically saved my life actually with his kindness,” Susan said during that podcast episode. The former couple met as college students in the mid-’60s at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

“And so really, I credit you with my foundation and my survival. One of the reasons I’m here is just to publicly say that,” Susan additionally told Chris at that time.

While Chris and Susan share no children, thePrincess Bridestar also has three children from other relationships, including two daughters and one son with ex-wife Lisa Ann Cooper; he also has a stepson through his wife Joanna Gleason, whom he has been married to since 1994.

Susan’s new movieThe Gutteris in theaters and available on demand now.

source: people.com