Susan Sarandon is an American actress, producer and activist whose career has lasted more than five decades. She became internationally recognized through films such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Witches of Eastwick, Bull Durham, Thelma & Louise and Dead Man Walking.
Sarandon is back in the headlines in September 2026 after being arrested during a protest outside the United Nations headquarters in New York. She was among protesters detained by NYPD officers on September 24 while demonstrating against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of his address to the UN General Assembly. Reuters reported that at least 30 people were arrested, while Jewish Voice for Peace said more than 100 people had been detained.
The arrest has renewed interest in Sarandon’s long history of political and social activism. However, her biography extends far beyond activism. She has built a major acting career, won an Academy Award, received five Oscar nominations and raised three children while continuing to work across film, television and theater.
Why Is Susan Sarandon Trending?
Susan Sarandon is trending because of her arrest during a protest near the United Nations in New York on September 24, 2026.
The demonstration was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace ahead of Netanyahu’s appearance at the 81st UN General Assembly. Protesters gathered outside the UN and blocked an intersection, prompting police to issue warnings instructing them to leave. Officers subsequently took protesters who remained in the roadway into custody.
Sarandon was among those detained. Video and photographs showed NYPD officers placing her in handcuffs and escorting her away from the demonstration. Actress Hannah Einbinder and several politicians were also among those arrested.
The current story is particularly notable because Sarandon has maintained a public record of activism throughout her career. She has previously participated in demonstrations and spoken publicly about international conflicts, human rights and other social issues.
At the Venice Film Festival earlier in September, Sarandon also discussed the professional consequences she believed she had experienced because of her public views. Those comments came shortly before her arrest in New York.
Susan Sarandon Age and Early Life
Susan Abigail Tomalin was born on October 4, 1946, in New York City. She was raised in New Jersey after her family moved there when she was four.
Sarandon was the oldest of nine children. Her father worked in advertising and television, while her mother was a homemaker. She developed an interest in acting while attending school.
She studied drama at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1968. Soon afterward, she began pursuing professional acting.
Her first major film role came in Joe in 1970. She also appeared in television soap operas before receiving the role that would become one of her earliest major screen credits.
Susan Sarandon’s Acting Career
Sarandon’s breakthrough came with The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1975, in which she played Janet Weiss. Although the film was not an immediate mainstream success, it eventually developed an enormous cult following.
She continued building her reputation through a mixture of dramas, comedies and unconventional roles. Her performance in Atlantic City earned her first Academy Award nomination in 1981.
During the 1980s, she appeared in The Hunger, The Witches of Eastwick and Bull Durham. The latter paired her with Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins and became an important commercial and cultural success.
Her career reached another level during the following decade.
Susan Sarandon’s Major Movies
One of Sarandon’s most recognized films is Thelma & Louise, released in 1991. She played Louise alongside Geena Davis, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
She received further Oscar nominations for Lorenzo’s Oil in 1992 and The Client in 1994.
In 1995, Sarandon starred as Sister Helen Prejean in Dead Man Walking. Her performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, giving her the first Oscar win of her career.
Other notable films from her long career include:
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- Atlantic City
- The Witches of Eastwick
- Bull Durham
- Thelma & Louise
- Lorenzo’s Oil
- The Client
- Dead Man Walking
- Stepmom
- The Lovely Bones
- Cloud Atlas
- Arbitrage
- The Meddler
Her work has also extended into television, including Feud: Bette and Joan, for which she received an Emmy nomination for portraying actress Bette Davis. The Television Academy lists Sarandon among its multiple Emmy nominees.
Susan Sarandon Awards and Achievements
Sarandon has received five Academy Award nominations, winning Best Actress for Dead Man Walking. Her other nominations came for Atlantic City, Thelma & Louise, Lorenzo’s Oil and The Client.
Her awards recognition has also extended to television. She has received multiple Emmy nominations and Golden Globe recognition for her work across film and television.
Her career has earned her recognition from major film institutions, while her performances have kept her active across several generations of American cinema.
Susan Sarandon Family and Children
Susan Sarandon has three children.
Her daughter, Eva Amurri, was born from her relationship with Italian filmmaker Franco Amurri. Her two sons, John “Jack” Henry Robbins and Miles Robbins, are from her long-term relationship with actor and filmmaker Tim Robbins.
All three of her children have pursued careers connected in some way to entertainment. Eva Amurri has worked as an actress and lifestyle personality, while Jack Robbins has worked behind the camera and Miles Robbins has pursued acting and music.
Sarandon is also a grandmother through Eva.
Was Susan Sarandon Married?
Susan Sarandon was married once.
She married actor Chris Sarandon in 1967 after meeting him while they were both students at The Catholic University of America. They divorced in 1979.
Despite retaining his surname professionally, Susan Sarandon did not remarry after their divorce.
She later had long-term relationships, most notably with filmmaker and actor Tim Robbins. The pair met while working on Bull Durham and were together for more than two decades before separating in 2009.
Susan Sarandon and Activism
Activism has been an important part of Sarandon’s public life alongside acting.
She has participated in humanitarian and political campaigns and has used her public platform to discuss issues ranging from war and refugees to human rights.
In 1999, she became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. She has also participated in demonstrations and public campaigns on international and domestic issues.
Her activism has sometimes affected her relationship with the entertainment industry. In September 2026, shortly before her New York arrest, she told journalists at the Venice Film Festival that she believed her outspoken views had affected some professional opportunities.
Her latest arrest adds another event to a public record of activism that has accompanied her acting career for decades.
Susan Sarandon’s Career in 2026
Sarandon remains professionally active despite being 79 years old.
Her film and television work continues to include both acting and voice roles. Her extensive filmography has allowed her to move between leading roles, supporting performances and television projects.
She also remains visible at international film events. Her appearance at the Venice Film Festival in September 2026 came only weeks before her arrest at the UN protest in New York.
This combination of continued acting work and public activism has kept her relevant beyond the period associated with her most famous films.
Susan Sarandon Net Worth
Susan Sarandon’s exact wealth is not publicly audited. Her estimated fortune is approximately $60 million in 2026. That figure is an estimate rather than a verified financial statement.
Her income has come from decades of acting, television work, producing, voice work and other entertainment projects.
Because private assets, investments, contracts and expenses are not fully public, online net-worth figures should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed totals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Susan Sarandon
How old is Susan Sarandon?
Susan Sarandon was born on October 4, 1946, making her 79 years old in 2026.
Why was Susan Sarandon arrested in 2026?
She was detained by New York police during a September 24 protest outside the United Nations. Police said protesters had been warned to leave because they were blocking an intersection but some remained.
What is Susan Sarandon famous for?
She is best known for films including The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Bull Durham, Thelma & Louise and Dead Man Walking.
Did Susan Sarandon win an Oscar?
Yes. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Dead Man Walking in 1996.
Who is Susan Sarandon’s husband?
Her former husband was actor Chris Sarandon. They were married from 1967 to 1979. She has not remarried.
How many children does Susan Sarandon have?
She has three children: Eva Amurri, John “Jack” Henry Robbins and Miles Robbins.
What is Susan Sarandon’s net worth?
Celebrity Net Worth estimated her wealth at $60 million in 2026, although there is no independently verified public figure.
Conclusion
Susan Sarandon’s career combines major Hollywood performances with a long record of public activism. From The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Thelma & Louise to her Oscar-winning performance in Dead Man Walking, she has remained one of America’s most recognizable actresses.
Her September 2026 arrest outside the United Nations has brought renewed attention to her public activism and placed her back in the headlines. At the same time, her decades of film work, family life and continued involvement in entertainment remain central to understanding the career behind the current news.
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