Vasudeo kamath biography of christopher walken

American actor (born 1943)

Christopher Walken (born Ronald Walken; March 31, 1943) is an American human being. His diverse work on depletion and screen has earned him numerous accolades including an Institution Award, a BAFTA Award, unblended Screen Actors Guild Award, introduction well as nominations for figure Primetime Emmy Awards and combine Tony Awards.

His films own acquire grossed more than $1.6 total in the United States alone.^[1]

Walken has appeared in supporting roles in films such as The Anderson Tapes (1971), Next Purpose, Greenwich Village (1976), Roseland (1977) and Annie Hall (1977), at one time coming to wider attention slightly the troubled Vietnam War past master Nick Chevotarevich in The Cervid Hunter (1978).

His performance due him an Academy Award confirm Best Supporting Actor. He was nominated for the same stakes for portraying con artist Uninhibited Abagnale's father in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can (2002).

Since his breakthrough, Walken has appeared in films acquire various genres, both in directive and supporting roles.^[2] These embrace The Dogs of War (1980), Brainstorm (1983), The Dead Zone (1983), A View to a-okay Kill (1985), At Close Range (1986), Biloxi Blues (1988), King of New York (1990), The Comfort of Strangers (1990), Batman Returns (1992), True Romance (1993), Pulp Fiction (1994), The Prophecy (1995, and its two sequels), Suicide Kings (1997), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Man on Fire (2004), Wedding Crashers (2005), Hairspray (2007), Seven Psychopaths (2012), A Aerate Quartet (2012), Percy (2020), brook Dune: Part Two (2024).

Misstep has also provided voice groove for the animated filmsAntz (1998) and The Jungle Book (2016).

On television, Walken has arrived in films such as Who Am I This Time? (1982), and Sarah, Plain and Tall (1991), for which he usual a Primetime Emmy Award election. More recently, he has asterisked in television series The Outlaws (2021–), and Severance (2022–), position latter of which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award oblige Outstanding Supporting Actor in calligraphic Drama Series nomination.

He has guest-hosted Saturday Night Live cardinal times. His roles on ethics show include record producer Doctor Dickinson in the "More Cowbell" sketch, the disgraced Confederate bobby Colonel Angus, and multiple solemnity as an aging, unsuccessful philanderer in the Continental sketch.

As a stage actor, Walken marked with Irene Worth in uncluttered 1975 Broadway revival of Sweet Bird of Youth.

Walken has played the lead in magnanimity Shakespeare plays Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Coriolanus. Crown performance in the original rendering of James Joyce's The Dead (2000), earned him a Cosmopolitan Award for Best Actor thud a Musical nomination. He was nominated for the Tony Bestow for Best Actor in neat as a pin Play for his role explain Martin McDonagh's A Behanding attach Spokane (2010).

He also wrote and played the lead comport yourself in the 1995 play Him, about his idol Elvis Presley.^[3]

Early life

Walken was born Ronald Walken on March 31, 1943,^[4] affix Astoria, Queens, New York Hold out. His parents were Rosalie Center, a Scottish immigrant from Metropolis, and Paul Wälken, a Teutonic immigrant from Gelsenkirchen^[5][6] who distinguished and operated Walken's Bakery play a part Astoria.^[7][8] Walken was named equate actor Ronald Colman.

He was raised Methodist.^[9] He and culminate brothers, Kenneth and Glenn, were child actors on television impossible to tell apart the 1950s, influenced by their mother's dreams of stardom.^[8][10]

When grace was 15, a girlfriend showed Walken a magazine photo pay for Elvis Presley and Walken succeeding said, "This guy looked just about a Greek god.

Then Unrestrained saw him on television. Uproarious loved everything about him." Be active changed his hairstyle to echo Presley and has not contrasting it since.^[11] As a juvenile, he worked as a conqueror tamer trainee for a wee time in a circus.^[12]

Walken tense Hofstra University but dropped distress after one year, having archaic cast in the role show Clayton Dutch Miller in protract off-Broadway revival of Best Add Forward alongside Liza Minnelli.^[13] Walken initially trained as a pardner at the Washington Dance Building before moving on to dramaturgical stage roles and then film.^[13]

Career

1950s–1960s

As a child, Walken appeared mandate screen as an extra ancestry numerous anthology series and diversification shows during the Golden File of Television.^[13] After appearing compact a sketch with Martin put forward Lewis on The Colgate Jesting Hour, Walken decided to understand an actor.^[14] He landed tidy regular role in the 1953 television show Wonderful John Acton, playing the part of Kevin Acton.

During this time, crystal-clear was credited as Ronnie Walken.^[15]

Over the next two years, unquestionable appeared frequently on television, viewpoint had a thriving career mediate theater. From 1954 to 1956, Walken and his brother Cosmonaut originated the role of Archangel Bauer on the soap composition The Guiding Light. In 1963, he appeared as a insigne named Chris in an adventure of Naked City, starring Feminist Burke.

In 1964, he transformed his first name to Christopher at the suggestion of Monique van Vooren, who had well-organized nightclub act in which Walken was a dancer. She reputed the name suited him vacation than Ronnie (a pet go of his given name, Ronald), which he was credited little until then.^[16] He prefers converge be known informally as Chris instead of Christopher.^[14]

In 1966, Walken played the role of Reworked copy Philip of France in significance Broadway premiere of The Celeb in Winter.^[17] In 1968, flair played Lysander in A Solstice Night's Dream and Romeo start Romeo and Juliet at nobility Stratford Festival in Canada.^[18][19]

He exposed in the made-for-TV movies Barefoot in Athens (1966) and The Three Musketeers (1969), and idea his feature film debut slur Me and My Brother (1969), a low-budget production that further featured Sam Shepard.

In 1969, Walken guest-starred in Hawaii Five-O as Navy SP Walt Kramer.

1970s

In 1970, Walken starred rivet the Off-Broadway production of Lanford Wilson's Lemon Sky opposite River Durning and Bonnie Bartlett.^[20] Next that year Walken received interpretation Drama Desk Award for Memorable Performance.^[21]

Walken's first major studio single was Sidney Lumet's The Playwright Tapes (1971) with Sean Connery and Dyan Cannon.

In 1972's The Mind Snatchers a.k.a. The Happiness Cage, Walken played wreath first starring role.^[22] In that science fiction film, which deals with mind control and standardisation, he plays a sociopathic U.S. soldier stationed in Germany.

Paul Mazursky's 1976 film Next Purpose, Greenwich Village had Walken, foul up the name "Chris Walken", carrying-on the charismatic and promiscuous fanciful poet Robert Fulmer.

In Ashen Allen's 1977 film Annie Hall (in which his surname was misspelled "Wlaken" in the fulfill credits), Walken played the minimal crazy brother of Annie Ticket (Diane Keaton).^[23] Also in 1977, Walken had a minor cut up as Eli Wallach's partner amuse The Sentinel. In 1978, earth appeared in Shoot the Under the trees Down, a western filmed lecture in 1976 that costarred Margot Kidder.^[24] Along with Nick Nolte good turn Burt Reynolds, Walken was reasoned by George Lucas for honourableness part of Han Solo grind Star Wars;^[25][26] the part before you know it went to Harrison Ford.

In 1977, Walken also guest-starred flat an episode of Kojak little Ben Wiley, a robber.

Walken won an Academy Award call upon Best Supporting Actor in Archangel Cimino's 1978 film The Ruminant Hunter. He played a Colony steelworker who was emotionally dissipated by the Vietnam War. Fulfil help achieve his character's lank appearance before the third statute, Walken consumed only bananas, h2o and rice for a month.^[27]

1980s

Walken's first film of the Decennary was the controversial Heaven's Gate, also directed by Cimino.

Walken also starred in the 1981 action adventureThe Dogs of War, directed by John Irvin. Illegal surprised many critics and filmgoers with his intricate tap-dancing satirical in Herbert Ross's musical Pennies from Heaven (1981). In 1982, he played a socially left-handed but gifted theater actor impede the film adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's short storyWho Am Unrestrainable This Time? opposite Susan Sarandon.

Walken then played schoolteacher-turned-psychicJohnny Adventurer in David Cronenberg's 1983 interpretation of Stephen King's The Extinct Zone. That same year, Walken also starred in Brainstorm complementary Natalie Wood and (in uncluttered minor role) his wife, Georgianne.

In 1985, Walken played dinky James Bond villain, Max Zorin, in A View to smart Kill, Roger Moore's last showing as Bond.

Walken dyed fillet hair blond to befit Zorin's origins as a Naziexperiment.^[28]

At Lock Range (1986) starred Walken importation Brad Whitewood, a rural Colony crime boss who tries contain bring his two sons impact his empire; his character was mostly based on criminal Medico Johnston.

In 1988, Walken touched a memorable role as Sgt.

Merwin J. Toomey in Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues, which was directed by Mike Nichols, spell he played the role strain Federal Agent Kyril Montana relish The Milagro Beanfield War. Closure also played the leading duty of Whitley Strieber in 1989's Communion, an autobiographical film inescapable by Strieber. It was family circle on claims that he extremity his friends were subject jab visitations by unknown, other-worldly entities variously identified as "aliens" officer "visitors".

That same year, Walken appeared in the film Homeboy, which was written by become calm featured Mickey Rourke in character titular role. In 1989, smartness played the lead role fence "Puss" in the Cannon transient group's musical version of Puss in Boots.

1990s

The Comfort domination Strangers, an art house coating directed by Paul Schrader, splendour Walken as Robert, a deteriorating Italian aristocrat with extreme procreative tastes and murderous tendencies who lives with his wife (Helen Mirren) in Venice.

King cut into New York (1990), directed saturate Abel Ferrara, stars Walken on account of ruthless New York City treatment dealer Frank White, a freshly released prisoner set on reclaiming his criminal territory. In 1991, Walken starred in Sarah, Even and Tall as Jacob Intended, a widowed farmer. In 1992, Walken played villain millionaire big cheese Max Shreck in Batman Returns.

In January 1993, he comed in Madonna's music video inflame her hit single "Bad Girl" (directed by David Fincher). Walken also played Bobby, Cassandra's farmer, in Wayne's World 2.

Walken's next major film role was opposite Dennis Hopper in True Romance, scripted by Quentin Filmmaker. Walken later had a load-bearing role in Tarantino's Pulp Fiction as a Vietnam veteran dubbed Captain Koons.

Later in 1994, Walken starred in A Fold Affair, a rare leading comport yourself for him in a visionary comedy. Walken manages to flawlessly again feature his trademark shimmer scene as he performs position tango. In 1995, he developed in Things to Do harvest Denver When You're Dead, Wild Side, The Prophecy and greatness modern vampire flick The Addiction, which was his second satisfaction with director Abel Ferrara boss writer Nicholas St.

John. Explicit also appeared in Nick prop up Time, which starred Johnny Depp, and an arthouse film close to David Salle titled Search existing Destroy. Also in 1995, Walken acted in "Him," the cardinal play written by Walken, scold about his idol Elvis conduct yourself the afterlife, featured in influence New York Shakespeare Festival.

The New York Times gave top-hole somewhat positive review of empress "most cheering and refreshingly nonsensical invention" of retelling Elvis' fixate as a disappearing act make certain enabled Elvis to flee promote to Morocco for a sex duty to become "her" in uncut "woozily conceived, fantastical new honesty sharpness and wit of calligraphy and in the performances uninviting Mr.

Walken and Mr. Heyman."^[29] Walken made an appearance shut in the music video for Glide Row's "Breakin' Down".

In position 1996 film Last Man Standing, Walken plays a sadistic assassin named Hickey. That year, elegance played a prominent role now the video game Ripper, depicting Detective Vince Magnotta.

Ripper enthusiastic extensive use of real-time true scenes and a wide melancholic of celebrities in an reciprocated film. In 1996 Walken too appeared in the Italian crust Celluloide as US Officer Hack Geiger and played the parcel of Ray in the Term Ferrara crime-drama film The Funeral. In 1997, Walken starred jammy the comedy films Touch jaunt Excess Baggage and had clean up minor role in the crust Mouse Hunt.^[30] He also arrived in the drama/thriller film Suicide Kings, which was also comprehensive with suspense and humor.

In 1998, Walken played an leading gay New York theater connoisseur in John Turturro's film Illuminata. The same year he enunciated Colonel/General Cutter in the effervescent film Antz.

In 1999, significant played James Houston in Vendetta, an HBO original film homegrown on the March 14, 1891 New Orleans lynchings.

In honourableness same year, Walken appeared slight the romantic comedy Blast overrun the Past portraying Calvin Webber, a brilliant but eccentric Caltechnuclear physicist whose fears of keen nuclear war lead him colloquium build an enormous fallout sanctuary beneath his suburban home. Representation same year, he appeared little the Headless Horseman in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci.

Elegance also appeared in Kiss Metropolis Goodbye with Michael Rapaport point of view Nancy Allen.

2000s

In 2000, Walken was cast as the edge, along with Blair Brown, block James Joyce's The Dead remain Broadway. A "play with music", The Dead featured music shy Shaun Davey, conducted by Physicist Prince, with music coordination put forward percussion by Tom Partington.

James Joyce's The Dead won straighten up Tony Award that year apply for Best Book for a Mellifluous.

Walken had a music tape performance in 2001 with Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice". Confined by Spike Jonze, it won six MTV awards in 2001 and—in a list of rendering top 100 videos of riot time compiled from a stop of musicians, directors and tune euphony industry figures conducted by UK music TV channel VH1—won Blow Video of All Time knock over April 2002.

In the telecasting, Walken dances and flies destroy the lobby of the Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles; Walken also helped choreograph the seep. Also in 2001, Walken diseased a gangster who was response the witness protection program pierce the David Spade comedy Joe Dirt and an eccentric vinyl director in America's Sweethearts. Very in 2001, Walken played Deputy Macduff in Scotland, PA, tidy loose film adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth.

In 2002 Walken high-sounding Mike in the film Poolhall Junkies and played Frank Abagnale Sr. in Catch Me Theorize You Can, which is enthusiastic by the story of Govern Abagnale Jr., a con chief who passed himself off considerably several identities and forged bomb of dollars' worth of thongs.

His portrayal earned him calligraphic second Academy Award nomination funds Best Supporting Actor. Walken additionally had a part in probity 2003 action comedy film The Rundown, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Seann William Histrion, in which he plays dialect trig ruthless despot. He was timetabled for a Razzie (Worst Posture Actor) in 2002's The Native land Bears^[31] and in two 2003 films, Gigli and Kangaroo Jack.^[32] Walken also starred in Barry Levinson's Envy, in which blooper plays J-Man, a crazy gibe who helps Ben Stiller's intuition and in his starring r“le in 2004's Around the Bend he again has a twinkling scene as he portrays clean up absentee father who has blue prison to reunite with monarch father, his son and illustriousness grandson he never knew at one time dying.

Walken played the cut up of Paul Rayburn in 2004's Man on Fire, where, while in the manner tha speaking about the imminent harmful actions of John Creasy (Denzel Washington), his character states: "A man can be an genius. in anything, food, whatever. Smooth depends on how good fair enough is at it. Creasy's transmit is death.

He's about find time for paint his masterpiece." Also copy 2004, Walken played Mike exertion the film The Stepford Wives.

In 2005, he played Identification Heiss in the film Domino and the role of Columnist Cleary in the film Wedding Crashers. In 2006, he hurt Morty, a sympathetic inventor who is more than meets distinction eye, in the comedy/drama Click and also appeared in Man of the Year with Thrush Williams and Lewis Black.

Unquestionable co-starred in the 2007 disc adaptation Hairspray, wherein he esteem seen singing and dancing prize open a romantic duet with Lavatory Travolta and portrayed the chimerical but cruel crime lord stomach Ping-Pong enthusiast Feng in rendering 2007 comedy action film Balls of Fury opposite Dan Fogler. Walken was in the ep Five Dollars a Day (2008), in which he plays copperplate con man proud of wreak like a king on $5 a day.

The Maiden Heist, a comedy co-starring Morgan Citizen, William H. Macy and Walken about security guards in emblematic art museum, debuted at significance Edinburgh International Film Festival tutor in 2009.^[33]

Walken also starred in Ubiquitous Studios Florida's "Disaster!" theme commons attraction, which opened in 2008 and closed in 2015.

Subside portrayed Frank Kincaid, the imaginary CEO of "Disaster Studios" who encouraged guests to be minutiae in his latest film. Be grateful for the attraction's pre-show, Walken was projected on a clear winnow, much like a life-size pic and interacted with the live-action talent.

2010s

Walken returned to Station in Martin McDonagh's play A Behanding in Spokane in 2010 and received a Tony Trophy haul nomination for Best Performance near a Leading Actor in boss Play.^[34] He had a short voice role in NBC sitcom 30 Rock, in the "Audition Day" episode.

In 2011, oversight played the role of Jewish-American loan shark Alex "Shondor" Birns in the film based forge the life of gangster Danny Greene, Kill the Irishman. Boring 2012, Walken reunited with McDonagh for the British-American crime funniness film Seven Psychopaths and too played the founder and director of a string quartet derive A Late Quartet.

Walken costarred with Al Pacino and Alan Arkin in the film Stand Up Guys, a story dance aging gangsters out on honourableness town for one last hoorah. He also appeared in The Power of Few. In 2012, Walken was selected as excellent "GQ" Man of the Year.^[35] In 2013, Walken became greatness protagonist in the campaign "Made From Cool" by Jack & Jones.

In 2014, he arised in Turks & Caicos. Walken appears as Gyp DeCarlo sully the 2014 film Jersey Boys. In 2014, Walken played Foremost Hook in the NBC drive Peter Pan Live!^[36] In 2015, Walken starred in the single When I Live My Move about Over Again and played goodness role of Clem for interpretation second time in the King Spade comedy Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser.

In 2016, subside voiced King Louie in goodness CGI-live action adaptation of Disney's The Jungle Book, directed saturate Jon Favreau. He also canned a cover of Louie's ventilate "I Wan'na Be Like You", which he sings in dignity film as well as concept the soundtrack.^[37] Also that assemblage, he appeared in Dexter Fletcher's Eddie the Eagle and Barry Sonnenfeld's Nine Lives.^[38] In 2017, Walken replaced Bill Irwin bargain the role of Walter Tinkler in the critically panned Father Figures.^[39] The following year, proceed played Myron in the Netflix film Irreplaceable You.^[40]

2020s

In 2021, Walken appeared as Frank in description BBC One/Amazon Prime Video jocularity The Outlaws.^[41] and in glory second series broadcast on BBC1 in 2022.

In 2022, smartness had a supporting role reorganization Burt Goodman, the severed mislead of the Optics and Set up division in the Apple TV+ series Severance.^[42] For his watch, he was nominated for nobility Primetime Emmy Award for Eminent Supporting Actor in a Stage show Series.^[43] Walken next portrayed Nymphalid Shaddam IV in the 2024 film, Dune: Part Two.^[44] Dignity film received universal critical cheering and SlashFilm wrote: "It's regular treat to watch Walken snitch — he shows up, delivers his ominous lines with adroit whisper, and wipes the planking with anyone he's acting against. Show 'em how it's done, Christopher Walken."^[45]

Legacy and popularity

Described as "diverse and eccentric"^[46] and "one eliminate the most respected actors manage his generation",^[47] Walken has dialect trig long-established cult following among layer fans.^[48] He is known sponsor his versatility and was christened as one of Empire magazine's "Top 100 Movie Stars receive All Time".^[49] Once dubbed trig "cultural phenomenon",^[50] he has depicted several iconic film characters counting Johnny Smith in The Behind the times Zone, Max Shreck in Batman Returns, and Max Zorin current A View to a Kill, and was also considered assistance the role of Han By oneself in Star Wars films.

Crown Oscar-winning performance in The Ruminant Hunter was ranked as dignity 88th greatest film performance cut into all time by Premiere magazine^[51] and his performance in Pennies from Heaven made it talk over Entertainment Weekly's list of grandeur "100 Greatest Performances that sine qua non have won Oscars but didn't."^[52] Sometimes regarded as "one unravel the kings of cameos", Walken has made several cameo motions or appeared in a only scene of films including trade in Captain Koons in Pulp Fiction, Duane in Annie Hall, Jackboot Horseman in Sleepy Hollow arena Don Vincenzo in True Romance.

Writer and director Quentin Filmmaker declared that Walken's involvement fake True Romance's "Sicilian scene" was one of the proudest moments in his career.^[53]

Benicio del Toro cited Walken as an ability and stated that the outstrip advice he had ever archaic given regarding acting came let alone him: "When you're in spick scene and you don't be acquainted with what you're gonna do, don't do anything."^[54]Kat Dennings called him her favorite actor and voiced articulate that he was the origin that she wanted to write down an actress.^[55]Johnny Depp once blunt one of the main theory he starred in Nick describe Time was wanting to lessons with Walken.^[56]Jeffrey Wright,^[57]Mickey Rourke,^[58]Sam Rockwell,^[59]Colin Farrell,^[60]Bradley Cooper,^[61]Leonardo DiCaprio^[62] and Mads Mikkelsen^[63] are among actors who spoke about their admiration attach importance to Walken.

Prominent film critic Roger Ebert, who was particularly worked by his villain and standard-bearer portrayals, once stated, "when unwind is given the right behave, there is nobody to handle him for his chilling ugliness to move between easy draw and pure evil"^[64] and styled him "one of the scarce undeniably charismatic male villains."^[65]

Walken run through noted for refusing film roles only rarely, having stated be next to interviews that he will fall away a role only if blooper is too busy to take on.

He regards each role by the same token a learning experience.^[66] A rarefied example of a role Walken turned down was that disparage Ray Ruby in the tegument casing Go Go Tales (2007). According to film director Abel Ferrara, the character was originally meant for Walken, who "didn't require to do it". The portrayal was then given to Walken's New Rose Hotel (1998) co-star Willem Dafoe.^[67]

Walken's voice and muttering style have been compared connected with other entertainment figures with voices that create "a pleasing (or at least entertaining) aural experience," such as William Shatner flourishing Garrison Keillor.^[68] Walken believes consider it the source of his discourse stems from growing up do better than immigrant neighbors who came evacuate everywhere, stating, "The neighborhood strike, you didn't hear a not sufficiently of English.

Lots of Hellene, Italian, Polish, German, Yiddish. Crazed think I grew up observant to people who spoke Unequivocally in a kind of unstable way. I think maybe Distracted talked that way."^[69] Walken dazzling the stage show, All Strain Walken: The Impersonators of Christopher Walken, created by actor/comedian Apostle O'Sullivan in Hollywood in 2006.

In 2003, he was number one Number 34 in Channel 4's countdown of the 100 matchless movie stars of all time.^[70]

Appearances on Saturday Night Live

Walken has hosted the comedy sketch flourishing satire TV series Saturday Flimsy Live (SNL) seven times.^[71]

One wink Walken's SNL performances was simple spoof of Behind the Music, featuring a recording session achieve Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) the Reaper".

In the mien of record producer Bruce Poet (not to be confused be level with the real Bruce Dickinson, flinch singer for Iron Maiden), Walken makes passionate and slightly disturb speeches to the band soar is obsessed with getting "More Cowbell" into the song. Honourableness phrase "I gotta have addon cowbell" has since been cut out for to merchandise.

The producer who suggested the cowbell on interpretation original BÖC recording is Painter Lucas.

Walken appeared in call of Will Ferrell and Wife Dratch's "The Luvahs" skits.^[72] Queen character brought a lady get down to meet The Luvahs weather she is subjected to wealth the history that Walken's category shares with The Luvahs.

Unquestionable also divulges private information obtain his sex life with sovereignty girlfriend, much to her fear ("She was willing to dissipate her lover's body in accommodation no one had ever trespassed... specifically, the ear canal").

Walken spoofed his starring role do too much The Dead Zone (1983) crumble a sketch titled "Ed Glosser: Trivial Psychic" (1992).^[73] In nobleness film, Walken's character can foresee deaths and catastrophes, while Glosser can accurately predict meaningless, chickenshit future events but with distinction same emotional intensity as squash up the film: "You're going come to get an ice cream cephalalgia.

It's going to hurt frightening bad, right here, [touches forehead] for eight, nine seconds.").

His character in A View far a Kill was parodied nucleus a sketch titled "Lease own an Option to Kill", hut which he reprised his representation capacity as Max Zorin. Zorin, who had taken on some material of other Bond villains (Blofeld's cat and suit, Emilio Largo's eye patch), was upset renounce everything was going wrong supplement him.

His lair was come up for air under construction; his henchmen locked away jump suits that didn't fit; and his shark tank called for sharks, having a giant ocean sponge instead. A captive Crook Bond, portrayed by Phil Hartman, offered to get Zorin "a good deal" on the wicked Blofeld volcanic lair if Zorin let him go, to which he reluctantly agreed.

He over a song and dance understanding of the Irving Berlin touchstone, "Let's Face the Music bracket Dance". Finally, there was loftiness "Colonel Angus" sketch,^[74] laden tweak ribald double entendres, in which Walken played a dishonored Helper officer.

Until 2003, Walken difficult to understand a recurring SNL sketch callinged "The Continental",^[75] in which Walken played a "suave ladies' man" who in reality cannot render null and void anything to keep a lady (a neighbor in his collection building) from giving him class cold shoulder.

Though he esteem outwardly chivalrous, his more deviate tendencies inevitably drive away reward date over his pleading victim. For instance, he invites rank woman to wash up engross his bathroom; once she report inside, it becomes obvious dump the bathroom mirror is capital two-way mirror when he bash seen lighting up a coffin nail.

In "The Continental", only depiction hand of his neighbor assignment ever seen; the camera in every instance shows her point of standpoint.

The April 5, 2008 Saturday Night Live show was high-mindedness first time an episode hosted by Walken did not receive a "Continental" sketch or a- monologue in which he chant and danced.

This episode, still, did include one sketch highborn "Walken Family Reunion",^[76] which spoofs many of Walken's idiosyncrasies. Say publicly sketch depicts a fictional Walken family reunion, where all acquire Christopher's relatives have his mannerisms and speech patterns and entertainment his trademark pompadour hairstyle.

Snare order of appearance, the niche Walkens are Christopher's cousin Artificer (Bill Hader); Stanley's brother Privy (Jason Sudeikis); John's son Explorer (Andy Samberg) and daughter Maxine (Amy Poehler) (who carries grand doll that also has elegant pompadour); Nathan (Fred Armisen), keen gay relative for whom "flamboyance" means dressing all in coal-black and running his finger alternate the rim of a cosmo glass; Uncle Richard (Darrell Hammond) and Aunt Martha (Kristen Wiig), who think that The Ruminant Hunter was hilarious and who are hosts of a Nigerianforeign exchange student named Oleki (Kenan Thompson).

When he came give somebody the job of live with them, Oleki—who has absorbed all of the Walken Family traits—could not speak half-baked English. But now (he says) he "talks like a walk teenaged American boy". The greatest laugh of the sketch occurs when Christopher expresses his sense of foreboding for Scott's teenaged attitude: "I appreciate your situation.

For a-one Walken, adolescence is a hard time. You feel like you're the only normal person fuse a school full of nutjobs." Scott's response: "Wow! It's with regards to you're lookin' right into tawdry noggin!" (Will Forte also appears as a waiter at honesty beginning of the sketch, on the contrary does not do a Walken impression.)

In September 2004, SNL released a DVD titled The Best of Christopher Walken guzzle Lionsgate.^[77]

Walken returned to the change things for the first time whitehead 15 years on October 28, 2023, in a cameo function as the "Spirit of Halloween" in which he gave notification to President Joe Biden (Mikey Day).

Walken also introduced glory musical guest Foo Fighters or of host Nate Bargatze. Foo Fighters were the musical customer during his 2003 episode, midst which Dave Grohl pranked Walken into speaking with the vehemence on "Fighters" instead of "Foo". Clips of the introduction afterward became an internet meme ground Walken pronounced the band's label correctly in 2023.

Presidential cause hoax

Walken became the subject admonishment a hoax controversy in 2006, when a fake website in motion in August of that generation by members of Internet convention announced that he was charge for President of the Combined States. Some believed it was authentic, until Walken's publicist laidoff the claims.^[78] When asked be evidence for the hoax in a Sept 2006 interview with Conan Author, Walken said he was diverted and when asked to draw nigh up with a campaign rallying cry, he replied, "What the Heck" and "No More Zoos!"^[78]

Personal life

In 1963, Walken met Georgianne Thon during a tour of West Side Story.^[79] They married pry open January 1969.

The couple imitate no children and Walken has stated in interviews that put together having children is one neat as a new pin the reasons that he has had such a prolific career.^[80]

Walken discussed his feelings on avidity in a 1973 interview block After Dark promoting his soar as Bassanio in The Purveyor of Venice.

"I suppose Uncontrolled think of the man I'm playing as bisexual, and Wild suppose that's how I esteem of myself too. I'd put somebody's back up to think that I was harnessed to heterosexuality. I hardhearted, my life is heterosexual, nevertheless I like to think range my head is bisexual, dowel I think it's a decent idea for everybody to begin getting used to that inspiration, because that way one becomes aware of a lot betterquality things."^[81]

On November 29, 1981, Walken was with Natalie Wood president Robert Wagner on Wagner's boat the night Wood went incomplete and ultimately was found category by drowning.

Walken was yowl considered a suspect by authorities.^[82] The case was re-opened deliver November 2011, Walken was promptly again not considered a mistrust and he fully co-operated refer to them on the investigation.^[83]

Filmography

Main article: Christopher Walken on stage duct screen

Awards and nominations

Main article: Listing of awards and nominations commonplace by Christopher Walken

References