Chris Sarandon Says He 'Almost Quit the Business' After Experience with 'Malevolent' Director

Chris Sarandon is simply a seasoned character champion known for his roles successful cult classics for illustration The Princess Bride, wherever he played nan villainous Prince Humperdinck, and arsenic nan sound of Jack Skellington successful Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. 

With a profession spanning decades crossed film, tv and nan stage, nan 83-year-old has built a estimation for bringing complexity to a wide scope of characters. 

In a caller interview pinch The Guardian, he reflected candidly connected nan highs and lows of his career. 

Among nan astir startling revelations was his acquisition filming 1977's The Sentinel, a scary movie directed by nan precocious Michael Winner, which Sarandon says astir drove him to discontinue acting altogether.

“Michael Winner,” he groaned erstwhile nan head sewage brought up. “Don’t get maine started. I almost discontinue nan business aft that movie."

Sarandon told nan outlet that he recovered nan British head to beryllium unpleasant, moreover “malevolent” connected set.

Although Sarandon often gravitated toward villainous roles for their enigma and allure, nan scary movie yet grounded to resonate pinch audiences.

“That was 1 of those decisions erstwhile 1 thinks, ‘Oh, my name’s supra nan title and I’m being offered a ridiculous magnitude of money,’” he admitted.

Sarandon was besides tempted by nan opportunity to play nan starring domiciled of Michael Lerman, contempt a questionable script. “So what if, halfway done nan movie, my look cracks and I’ve go a demon? Or immoderate nan crippled was – I’ve repressed it astatine this point.”

By nan 1980s, Sarandon had recovered his saccharine spot successful nan scary genre. Fright Night formed him arsenic a magnetic vampire whose polished demeanor hides thing acold darker. 

The film’s playful nods to classical scary earned it cult status, and head Tom Holland would later bring Sarandon backmost for Child’s Play. 

Around nan aforesaid time, he stepped into nan domiciled of Prince Humperdinck successful The Princess Bride, creating a villain who was some sadistic and strangely charismatic — fitting perfectly into nan film’s witty return connected acquainted fairy tales.

However, Sarandon dealt pinch immoderate financial woes successful nan precocious '80s, starring him to judge roles successful what he called "mortgage movies," which paid nan rent but didn't wow audiences.

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Now, decades later, Sarandon appears contented having stepped distant from Hollywood, turning his attraction to much individual passions.

One of them is his podcast, Cooking By Heart, where he invites guests to bespeak connected really nutrient has shaped their lives.

“I person a beautiful home, and I unrecorded successful … not splendor, but I person a immense garden,” he told The Guardian. “That’s my occupation now: podcaster and gardener.”

Sarandon presently lives successful Connecticut pinch his 3rd wife, character Joanna Gleason. The brace tied nan knot backmost successful 1994.

He besides shares three children – 2 daughters and a son – pinch his 2nd wife, exemplary Lisa Ann Cooper. His first woman was nan award-winning character Susan Sarandon, 78.