Susan Sarandon has a heartfelt reason why she never dropped her last name despite splitting from ex-husband Chris Sarandon decades ago.
The actor, 78, was married to the “Fright Night” star, 81, from 1967 to 1979. The former couple first met while attending the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in the mid-’60s.
“He was a very kind man and he kept me alive, you know, so I’m happy to have that name,” the “Thelma & Louise” actor told The Sunday Times of why she held on to her ex’s last name instead of returning to her maiden name, Tomalin.
The “Step Mom” alum gushed about the impact Chris had on her life again last year during an episode of his podcast, “Cooking by Heart.”
Confessing that he “basically saved my life actually with his kindness,” she told Chris during the September 2023 episode, “I credit you with my foundation and my survival. One of the reasons I’m here is just to publicly say that.”
Susan later welcomed a child with Italian director Franco Amurri, 66. The pair dated from 1984 to 1988. She’s also mom to two sons with ex Tim Robbins, whom she dated from 1988 to 2009.
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Elsewhere in the interview with The Sunday Times, Susan, who is promoting her new movie “The Gutter,” admitted to the publication that while she never hesitated to keep Chris’ last name, she does wish she would’ve changed her first name.
“Sigourney Weaver, Tuesday Weld and Stockard Channing all started out Susans and they had the sense to change that name and I’m stuck with Susan,” she explained. “It’s kind of nice to do a rechristening as you start to realize who you are.”
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Despite never remarrying, the “Witches of Eastwick” star told “Entertainment Tonight” over the summer that she’s still “open to love.”
“On every level, absolutely. I wouldn’t say I’m looking for a guy to share my medicine cabinet, but I love an adventurer,” she said at the New York City premiere of her film “The Fabulous Four” in July.