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Chris Sarandon: The Cult Classic Actor from West Virginia

Early Years

How did someone from a small town in Beckley, WV come to voice one of the most recognizable characters in movie history? What inspired the actor to study and eventually participate in film making? Where did he get his start? These are just a few questions that surround the cult classic actor Chris Sarandon.

Chris Sarandon was born in Beckley, West Virginia on July 24, 1942. His parents, Chris Sarandon Sr. and Cliffie (Cardullias) Sarandon, integrated their Greek heritage into their home and restaurant (IMDb.com, Inc., 2022). In an interview with Nicholas Vince, host of The Chattering Hour podcast, Chris claims that his early years were “a very rarified and impossible to conceive of upbringing when you think of it now” (Vince, 2020).

He continues describing being raised in a small, coal mining town of around 18,000 people. Chris also highlights the different cultures present in Beckley at the time, comparing it to a typical small town with pockets of metropolitan influence. Growing up with immigrant parents, one from a Greek village in Turkey and one from a Greek community in Florida, Chris described his confusion when growing up as “a stranger in a strange land” (Vince, 2020).

To hear Chris talk more about his childhood in West Virginia, click the "interview" button below.

In another interview, hosted by Laura Conway of the Creative Blood podcast, Chris described his first interaction with the entertainment world. While in high school, Chris played drums in a band called The Teen Tones. However, being in the spotlight wasn’t always on Chris’s radar. When Laura Conway asked Chris about his transition as a drummer to becoming an actor, Chris stated, “I’ll tell you it was a revelation the first time I stepped out front. A major revelation not only just performative but in my life because up until then I was aimless, sort of wondering from spot to spot trying to prove myself in various ways” (Conway, 2021). Chris continued the interview by explaining his experience at West Virginia University, beginning as a psychology major because he didn’t know what else to study. 

After a little while, Chris began studying speech, embracing an altruistic calling to help handicapped children. “But at the same time, I was also very political, and I was involving myself in all sorts of different extracurriculars activities and making…trying to make good grades,” Chris stated. “I took an acting class just as a lark. I walked into an acting class because it was an easy two-hour credit course and after a few classes, the professor came up to me and said, 'do you want to be in a play?'” (Conway, 2021) This professor, as Chris explains in his interview with Nicholas Vince, was Chuck Neal.

Professor Chuck Neal worked as a history of theater and applied criticism instructor for 35 years at WVU. Current WVU theater professor Gerald Mcgonigle claimed in an interview that Professor Neal was a respected teacher and colleague. "He knew every fact about the theater and was not afraid to do [direct] controversial topics. He wasn't one to hold back and was insistent once he made his mind up about someone." Professor Neal was described as someone who was very knowledgeable about student's skills and was able to see the "bigger picture" in terms of their futures in theater. "He was a gentle man. Not egotistical or competitive with other instructors," said Professor Mcgonigle. Professor Neal encouraged his students to step out of their comfort zones and try something new. This was how he inspired Chris Sarandon to enter the world of acting. ​

Click the button below to hear from Chris Sarandon himself about his time as a WVU student how Professor Neal influenced his life.

Early Roles

Some of Chris Sarandon's most early roles came from theater productions while in college. While attending West Virginia University, Chris Sarandon performed in several main stage productions, including Little Mary Sunshine, The Music Man, and Romeo and Juliet. He also performed in lab theater productions of Julius Caesar and Tartuffe. After earning his bachelor's degree, Chris continued his education at Catholic University. Once he earned his master's degree in theater, Chris Sarandon worked at the Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, Connecticut. His first major motion picture was in 1975's Dog Day Afternoon, playing Leon Shermer. Since then, Chris Sarandon has appeared in many different roles across movies, television, and theater.

In 1993, Chris Sarandon accepted a role in a Disney film, bringing a sad skeleton to life with his haunting voice.

To learn more about Chris Sarandon's role as Jack Skellington in Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, click the button below.

Most Notable Roles

Some of Chris Sarandon's most notable roles include:

  • Prince Humperdinck in The Princess Bride

  • Mike Norris in Child's Play

  • Jack Skellington in Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

  • Leon in Dog Day Afternoon

  • Jerry Dandridge in Fright Night

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To learn more about these and other iconic roles, click the button below.

Fun Fact #6

Brad Dourif (voice of Chucky) is also from West Virginia and worked alongside Chris Sarandon in the film Child's Play.

Fun Fact #7

Chris Sarandon also worked with Uma Thurman, Patrick Stewart, and Mark Hamill in the English version of  Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Today

Today, Chris Sarandon uses his creativity and dynamic speaking voice in a podcast called Cooking By Heart. As the host of the podcast, Chris asks guests to talk about family recipes, bringing forth stories about family traditions and childhood memories. When asked, Chris also reprises his speaking role as Jack Skellington, adding his voice to Disney attractions and games.

To listen to Chris Sarandon's Podcast, click on the button below. 

To view Chris Sarandon's website, click the button below.

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