Chris Sarandon, who has a dashing, offbeat, and eccentric appearance, has demonstrated his flexibility in captivating roles as everybody from the undead to a policeman that has been contentious but compelling. Chris was born in West Virginia to a Greek-origin family and has a master’s in theater. With the theater play “The Rose Tattoo,” he made his stage debut. Eventually, Chris relocated to NYC, where he performed on both Broadway and television. He received nominations for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for his acting debut performance inDog Day Afternoon. He kept playing different roles in theaters, in movies, and on television.
While Chris’s most notable performances have largely been from the 1970s to the 2000s, he is still working in movies and continues to make an impact with his brief but impactful supporting appearances. Let’s look at and rank Chris Sarandon’s top performances after so many years of impressing the audience.
8American Perfekt (1997)
A decent psycho-thriller film,American Perfekt,was released in 1997. Jake Nyman, a shrink, and Sandra are the film’s central characters. They are both driving down a secluded highway when a crazy salesperson offers to take them for a ride. The focus of the film is on Sandra’s disappearance and whether a salesman or a psychiatrist is the psychopath. The film contains some truly stunning moments for the audience to enjoy. Chris Sarandon portrays Deputy Sammy in a brief but significant part in the movie.
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7A Tale of Two Cities (1980)
The dissolute attorney Sydney Carlton was portrayed by Chris Sarandon in the 1980’sA Tale of Two Cities, the Jim Goddardadaptation of the well-known Dickens story. The story of the film centers on a London barrister who, during France’s terror period, pays the big price for the Parisian woman he is in love with. While Sarandon’s portrayal of Carton falls short of Ronald Colman’s in the 1935 Jack Conway movie, in this regard, it is nonetheless decent and worth watching.
6The Sentinel (1977)
The Sentinelfrom 1977 was possibly among the most underappreciated movies of the time. It mixes a sinister backdrop with an average narrative that withstands well. The film’s protagonist is a struggling NYC model who moves into a flat in a brick complex with a reclusive blind pastor as the sole resident. After encountering unusual happenings, she starts to suspect that her apartment is home to a hideous evil. Even if Chris Sarandon’s part isn’t the finest, his supporting piece is deserving, and that mustache he adorns is really attractive. It is surely one of thebest horror movies of the ’70s.
5The Princess Bride (1987)
The Princess Briderecentlyturned 35 years old, inspired by William Goldman’s same title book, centers on a princess named Buttercup and her real love, a peasant boy named Westley. Westley must act quickly to rescue Buttercup, being kept hostage by a self-centered prince without her consent. It is a sour-sweet fairy tale that will enthrall both kids and adults with affection, retaliation, adventure, morality, tragedy, and surprises. Chris Sarandon, who portrayed a villainous prince only caring about himself, elevated Humperdinck’s conceit to astounding heights.
Related:The True Story Behind Child’s Play: What Really Happened
4Child’s Play (1988)
Child’s Playis a modern-day cult favorite and requires no special description. The plot revolves around Andy, who receives a highly desirable doll from his mother Karen as his birthday present and gives it the title Chucky. Things start to go south in the movie when Andy learns that Chucky is inhabited by the ghost of a serial murderer. Even though Chris Sarandon’s portrayal of Mike Norris, a detective, may not have been award-worthy, he portrayed a very fine investigator with a fantastic Chicago dialect.
3Fright Night (1985)
In the 1985 filmFright Night, a young man, who learns that the new entrant to his neighborhood is a vampire, seeks advice from an artist in a tv horror series on how he should fight with him. In Tom Holland’sFright Night, Chris Sarandon’s portrayal of Jerry Dandrige, the vampire, terrified the viewers to death. Sarandon does an excellent job of capturing the jadedness that accompanies living for millennia. He responds to the little mortals seeking to kill him with minor irritation, a sly grin, and the occasional wry remark.Anton Yelchin had one of his best performances in theFright Nightremake, and the original is one of thebest vampire films ever made, without a doubt.
2The Day Christ Died (1980)
This movie portrays Jesus Christ as it depicts his deathbed in real-time. Jesus is caught for blasphemy after being deceived by his follower Judas Iscariot, and taken to Pontius Pilate, who offers the Hebrew citizens the choice of sparing, whether Jesus or a criminal, Barabbas. The folk’s decision to protect Barabbas results in Jesus' suffering and ultimate execution on the cross. Chris Sarandon gave an exceptional portrayal as the central figure of Jesus Christ. Sarandon’s performance was thought-provoking and touching to the audience.
1Dog Day Afternoon
The melodramaticDog Day Afternoonhas been inspired by a true story of a horribly mismanaged Brooklyn bank heist and is atrue story of a man named John Wojtowicz. The movie depicts the robbery led by rookie thief Sonny Wortzik swiftly going bad and turning into a hostage state. While Sonny and his sidekick Sal Naturile struggle mightily to exert influence, a media frenzy emerges, and the FBI shows up, heightening the tense situation. As Sonny’s showdown with police officials draws close, his unexpected reasons for the crime are slowly clarified. Although it seems old now, Chris Sarandon gives a strong performance as would-be woman Leon, and the movie’s portrayal of gay problems is exceptionally progressive for the 1970s.
