Last Updated on March 5, 2024
Susan Alexandra Weaver, better known professionally as Sigourney Weaver, is an American actress and film producer who’s widely considered the queen of science fiction (sci-fi).
Weaver became famous for her role as Ellen Ripley in the 1979 science fiction film ‘Alien.’ She later reprised her role in the movie’s sequels, becoming the franchise’s most defining character. Sigourney Weaver has starred in tons of other movies besides her success in the ‘Alien’ franchise. These include multiple films in genres other than science fiction.
Quick Facts
Full Name: | Susan Alexandra Weaver |
Popular Name: | Sigourney Weaver |
Gender: | Female |
Birth Date: | October 8, 1949 |
Age: | 73 years |
Parents: | Sylvester Weaver Jr. and Elizabeth Inglis-Weaver (born Desiree Mary Lucy Hawkins) |
Siblings: | Trajan Weaver |
Birth Place: | New York City, New York, United States |
Nationality: | American |
Ethnicity: | Mixed (Dutch, English, Scots-Irish, and Scottish) |
Education: | Brearley School, Chapin School, Ethel Walker School, Sarah Lawrence College, Stanford University, and Yale University |
Marital Status: | Married to stage director Jim Simpson (since October 1, 1984) |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Wife/Spouse: | Jim Simpson |
Children: | Charlotte Simpson |
Dating: | N/A |
Net Worth: | USD 60 million |
Source of Wealth: | Acting, Film Producing, and Other Ventures |
Height: | 5′ 11″ (1.82 m) |
Weight: | 66 kg; In pounds: 145 lbs. |
Early Life and Career Information
Early Life
Susan Alexandra Weaver was born on October 8, 1949, in New York City, New York, United States, to Sylvester “Pat” Weaver Jr. and Elizabeth Inglis-Weaver (born Desiree Mary Lucy Hawkins).
Susan’s father was an American television executive who served as NBC president from 1953 to 1955 and is noted for creating the network’s ‘Today Show’ in 1952. Her mother was an English actress from Colchester, England.
Weaver adopted the name “Sigourney” at the age of 14. The name was inspired by a character in the 1925 novel ‘The Great Gatsby’ by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Sigourney briefly attended New York-based Brearley School and Chapin School before transferring to Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, Connecticut. She later enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College but transferred to Stanford University in her freshman year. She eventually graduated from Stanford in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. After graduating from Stanford, Weaver successfully auditioned for Yale University’s School of Drama. She graduated from Yale in 1974 with a Master of Fine Arts.
Career Information
Sigourney Weaver fell in love with performance art while attending Ethel Walker School. Her notable earlier roles include featuring in an adaptation of the poem ‘The Highwayman’ as well as in another adaptation of the film ‘The Sheik.’ Others are theatrical productions like ‘You Can’t Take It with You’ and ‘A Streetcar Named Desire.’ Sigourney Weaver continued honing her acting skills through high school and college.
She appeared in several Off-Broadway productions and television commercials before making her major acting debut as Warrant Officer/Lieutenant Ripley in the 1979 science fiction film ‘Alien.’ Seven years later, Weaver reprised her role in the movie’s sequel, also titled ‘Aliens.’ She went on to become the face of the franchise, appearing in its two more sequels – Alien 3 (1992) and Alien Resurrection (1997).
Weaver also appeared in several films during this period, including The Year of Living Dangerously (1982) and as Dana Barrett in the first installment of Ghostbusters (1984). She would later appear in two more Ghostbusters sequels, namely Ghostbusters (2016), and Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021).
The following are other major films that Sigourney Weaver has featured in over the years:
• Hurlyburly (1984)
• Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
• Working Girl (1988)
• 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)
• Death and the Maiden (1994)
• Copycat (1995)
• The Ice Storm (1997)
• A Map of the World (1999)
• Galaxy Quest (1999)
• Holes (2003)
• The Village (2004)
• Infamous (2006)
• Vantage Point (2008)
• Baby Mama (2008)
• WALL-E (2008; as a voice actress)
• The Tale of Despereaux (2008; as a voice actress)
• Avatar (2009)
• You Again (2010)
• Finding Dory (2016; as a voice actress)
• Master Gardener (2022)
Sigourney Weaver’s Net Worth
Sigourney Weaver is not only considered one of the most popular superheroines of all time. She has also appeared in many commercially successful films during her professional acting career.
These include 2009’s Avatar which is the world’s highest-grossing film of all time with a lifetime gross of $2.8 billion, and the ‘Alien’ franchise with a combined lifetime gross of over $700 million.
Therefore, it’s understandable why Weaver has a humongous net worth of $60 million.
Lessons from Sigourney Weaver
1. Represent your pack well
Sigourney Weaver has been widely acclaimed for portraying women in a positive light. Most of her sci-fi roles depict women as rather tough but incredibly smart and caring.
2. Diversify your talents
Weaver is one of Hollywood’s most versatile actresses. Although she’s best known for her sci-fi performances, Sigourney has also acted in other roles, including drama and comedy.
3. Be proud in your own skin
Sigourney Weaver reached a height of 5 feet 10.5 inches by the time she was 11 years. Initially, her towering height adversely impacted her self-esteem. But she was later able to harness the same to build her personal brand.
Famous Quotes by Sigourney Weaver
• Don’t depend on other people’s encouragement. It’s never enough and never when you need it.
• Never burn bridges. Today’s junior jerk, tomorrow’s senior partner.
• Sometimes you trust someone who turns out not to be honest. There are a lot of things that happen in life that don’t turn out the way you’re given the impression that they will. And I think that’s all kind of a con. But I think we’ve probably all been hurt.
• When you’re young, there’s so much that you can’t take in. It’s pouring over you like a waterfall. When you’re older, it’s less intense, but you’re able to reach out and drink it. I love being older.
• Whether it was work, marriage, or family, I’ve always been a late bloomer.
Final Word
Sigourney Weaver has deservedly earned the title ‘queen of sci-fi.’ The ‘Aliens’ superstar has left her prints in the cinematic world in addition to raking in an impressive fortune. She has a net worth of $60 million as at 2023.