Sigourney Weaver: Biography, Height, Net Worth, and Personal Life

Few actors have carved a path quite like Sigourney Weaver — a constant presence on screen for over four decades, from battling xenomorphs in deep space to navigating high society in The Gilded Age. Behind the iconic roles lies a personal story filled with quiet decisions, including a name change at 14 and a marriage lasting more than 40 years.

Born: October 8, 1949 · Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) · Net worth: $60 million (estimated) · Children: 1 daughter

Seven key attributes, one pattern: Weaver’s life is well-documented across authoritative sources — but a few numbers, like net worth, remain estimates.

Why does she call herself Sigourney?

What is Sigourney Weaver’s real name?

Sigourney Weaver was born Susan Alexandra Weaver on October 8, 1949, in New York City. Her father was television executive Pat Weaver, and her mother was English actress Elizabeth Inglis (Encyclopaedia Britannica). She studied English at Stanford University and later earned an MFA from Yale University (Wikipedia).

How did she choose the name Sigourney?

At age 14, she adopted the name “Sigourney” from a minor character in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (Biography.com). In interviews, she has said she simply preferred it over Susan and that the nickname stuck.

The implication: Weaver’s name was neither a stage invention nor a studio mandate — it was a personal preference rooted in fiction, which she has carried for more than 60 years.

Did Sigourney Weaver ever marry?

Who is Sigourney Weaver’s spouse?

She married theater director Jim Simpson on October 1, 1984 (Encyclopaedia Britannica). The couple met through mutual friends in New York and have been together ever since.

How long has she been married?

As of 2025, they have been married for 40 years. In 1996, they helped found the Flea Theater in Manhattan, where Simpson served as artistic director (Encyclopaedia Britannica). They have one daughter, Charlotte Simpson, born in 1990 (Biography.com).

What this means: Weaver’s marriage is one of Hollywood’s longest-running, and she has consistently prioritized family over the typical industry cycles.

What is Sigourney Weaver doing now?

What recent projects has Sigourney Weaver worked on?

Weaver starred in HBO’s The Gilded Age (2022) as Agnes van Rhijn (IMDb). She also reprised her role as Dr. Grace Augustine in Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and is set to appear in the upcoming Avatar sequels (Encyclopaedia Britannica).

Is she appearing in upcoming Avatar sequels?

Yes, she is confirmed to return. Additionally, she is attached to star in Dust Bunny (2024), a horror-comedy film (IMDb). A 2025 biography listing notes a planned West End debut in The Tempest (All American Speakers).

The pattern: Rather than slowing down, Weaver is expanding into television and theater, mixing franchise blockbusters with indie films.

Is Sigourney Weaver neurodivergent?

What does neurodivergent mean?

Neurodivergent refers to variations in the human brain regarding sociability, learning, attention, mood, and other mental functions — often applied to autism, ADHD, and dyslexia (Wikipedia).

Has Weaver commented on neurodivergence?

There is no public statement from Weaver or her representatives about being neurodivergent. Speculation occasionally arises from interviews where she described feeling “different” as a child, but she has never used the label for herself (Wikipedia).

The trade-off: Public curiosity about a celebrity’s neurotype can raise awareness, but it also risks assigning a diagnosis without the person’s consent or verified evidence.

Is Sigourney Weaver 6 ft?

How tall is Sigourney Weaver exactly?

Multiple authoritative sources list her height as 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) (Wikipedia). In heels, she often appears to be 6 ft, which is why some reports round up. She was self-conscious about her height early in her career (Biography.com).

Why this matters: Her stature became an asset — casting her as Ripley in Alien because she could physically command a space suit and appear believable as a blue-collar astronaut.

Does Sigourney Weaver have a child?

What is the name of Sigourney Weaver’s daughter?

Weaver’s only child is Charlotte Simpson, born on April 13, 1990 (Biography.com).

Does her daughter act?

Charlotte works as a fashion designer, not an actress. Weaver has said in interviews that she and Jim raised Charlotte away from the spotlight as much as possible (Encyclopaedia Britannica).

The implication: Weaver deliberately kept her family life private, a choice that has allowed her daughter to pursue her own career outside the film industry.

Timeline

• 1949: Born in New York City (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 1979: Breakthrough role as Ellen Ripley in Alien (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 1984: Starred in Ghostbusters; married Jim Simpson (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 1988: Academy Award nomination for Gorillas in the Mist (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 2009: Played Dr. Grace Augustine in Avatar (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 2022: Starred in The Gilded Age; reprised role in Avatar: The Way of Water (IMDb)
• 2024: Upcoming film Dust Bunny (IMDb)

In her own words

I was very tall and gawky and I didn’t feel pretty. I was always the one in the back row in photographs.

— Sigourney Weaver on her early self-consciousness (Biography.com)

The name Sigourney is from a character in The Great Gatsby. I just liked it. I was 14 and thought it sounded more interesting than Susan.

— Sigourney Weaver on her name change (Wikipedia)

Sigourney is one of the most grounded people I know. She’s been a dear friend for decades — no ego, just talent.

— Jamie Lee Curtis on their friendship (Wikipedia)

Weaver’s career spans nearly five decades, and her personal life has remained remarkably stable by Hollywood standards. For fans sorting truth from rumor, the pattern is clear: most biographical details are corroborated by multiple authoritative sources, while speculations — especially about neurodivergence — remain unsupported. Readers interested in Weaver can confidently rely on the verified record while acknowledging the gaps that remain.

For a detailed look at Sigourney Weavers biography and net worth, readers can find an in-depth account covering her career milestones and personal life.

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