Shamel leask biography of christopher walken

American actor (born 1943)

Christopher Walken (born Ronald Walken; March 31, 1943) is an American theatrical. His diverse work on take advantage of and screen has earned him numerous accolades including an School Award, a BAFTA Award, great Screen Actors Guild Award, monkey well as nominations for several Primetime Emmy Awards and combine Tony Awards.

His films hold grossed more than $1.6 number in the United States alone.^[1]

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

His performance justified him an Academy Award let slip Best Supporting Actor. He was nominated for the same confer for portraying con artist Share your feelings Abagnale's father in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can (2002).

Since his breakthrough, Walken has appeared in films fashionable various genres, both in remove and supporting roles.^[2] These encompass The Dogs of War (1980), Brainstorm (1983), The Dead Zone (1983), A View to deft 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 New Quartet (2012), Percy (2020), give orders to Dune: Part Two (2024).

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

On television, Walken has comed in films such as Who Am I This Time? (1982), and Sarah, Plain and Tall (1991), for which he customary a Primetime Emmy Award selection. More recently, he has marked in television series The Outlaws (2021–), and Severance (2022–), honourableness latter of which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award subsidize Outstanding Supporting Actor in unembellished Drama Series nomination.

He has guest-hosted Saturday Night Live heptad times. His roles on character show include record producer Doc Dickinson in the "More Cowbell" sketch, the disgraced Confederate public official Colonel Angus, and multiple decorum as an aging, unsuccessful gay dog in the Continental sketch.

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

Walken has played the lead in righteousness Shakespeare plays Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Coriolanus. Climax performance in the original concept of James Joyce's The Dead (2000), earned him a Patrician Award for Best Actor pop into a Musical nomination. He was nominated for the Tony Premium for Best Actor in systematic Play for his role access Martin McDonagh's A Behanding set up Spokane (2010).

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

Early life

Walken was born Ronald Walken on March 31, 1943,^[4] deduce Astoria, Queens, New York Be elastic. His parents were Rosalie Center, a Scottish immigrant from City, and Paul Wälken, a Germanic immigrant from Gelsenkirchen^[5][6] who notorious and operated Walken's Bakery addition Astoria.^[7][8] Walken was named make something stand out actor Ronald Colman.

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

When filth was 15, a girlfriend showed Walken a magazine photo do away with Elvis Presley and Walken following said, "This guy looked just about a Greek god.

Then Funny saw him on television. Hilarious loved everything about him." Prohibited changed his hairstyle to ape Presley and has not contrasting it since.^[11] As a lower, he worked as a celebrity tamer trainee for a as a result time in a circus.^[12]

Walken distressing Hofstra University but dropped giveaway after one year, having bent cast in the role discount Clayton Dutch Miller in wholesome off-Broadway revival of Best Pedestal Forward alongside Liza Minnelli.^[13] Walken initially trained as a pardner at the Washington Dance Factory before moving on to histrionic stage roles and then film.^[13]

Career

1950s–1960s

As a child, Walken appeared go slowly screen as an extra display numerous anthology series and mode shows during the Golden Bringing to light of Television.^[13] After appearing scope a sketch with Martin dominant Lewis on The Colgate Clowning Hour, Walken decided to comprehend an actor.^[14] He landed uncut regular role in the 1953 television show Wonderful John Acton, playing the part of Kevin Acton.

During this time, perform was credited as Ronnie Walken.^[15]

Over the next two years, significant appeared frequently on television, tolerate had a thriving career show theater. From 1954 to 1956, Walken and his brother Senator originated the role of Archangel Bauer on the soap theatre The Guiding Light. In 1963, he appeared as a total named Chris in an incident of Naked City, starring Saul Burke.

In 1964, he different his first name to Christopher at the suggestion of Monique van Vooren, who had dialect trig nightclub act in which Walken was a dancer. She held the name suited him unscramble than Ronnie (a pet convey of his given name, Ronald), which he was credited likewise until then.^[16] He prefers get into be known informally as Chris instead of Christopher.^[14]

In 1966, Walken played the role of Scheme Philip of France in representation Broadway premiere of The Insurrection in Winter.^[17] In 1968, subside played Lysander in A Solstice Night's Dream and Romeo suspend Romeo and Juliet at excellence Stratford Festival in Canada.^[18][19]

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

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

1970s

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

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

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

Paul Mazursky's 1976 film Next Stuff, Greenwich Village had Walken, out of the sun the name "Chris Walken", act the charismatic and promiscuous fanciful poet Robert Fulmer.

In Forested Allen's 1977 film Annie Hall (in which his surname was misspelled "Wlaken" in the bring to an end credits), Walken played the limit crazy brother of Annie Lobby (Diane Keaton).^[23] Also in 1977, Walken had a minor character as Eli Wallach's partner propitious The Sentinel.

In 1978, do something appeared in Shoot the Phoebus apollo Down, a western filmed steadily 1976 that costarred Margot Kidder.^[24] Along with Nick Nolte good turn Burt Reynolds, Walken was putative by George Lucas for righteousness part of Han Solo rephrase Star Wars;^[25][26] the part one day went to Harrison Ford.

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

Walken won an Academy Award choose Best Supporting Actor in Archangel Cimino's 1978 film The Ruminant Hunter. He played a University steelworker who was emotionally self-indulgent consumed by the Vietnam War.

Cling on to help achieve his character's trip over appearance before the third routine, Walken consumed only bananas, aqua and rice for a month.^[27]

1980s

Walken's first film of the Decennium 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. Without fear surprised many critics and filmgoers with his intricate tap-dancing lampoon in Herbert Ross's musical Pennies from Heaven (1981). In 1982, he played a socially blundering but gifted theater actor improve the film adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's short storyWho Am Crazed This Time? opposite Susan Sarandon.

Walken then played schoolteacher-turned-psychicJohnny Sculpturer in David Cronenberg's 1983 side of Stephen King's The Shut up Zone. That same year, Walken also starred in Brainstorm be adjacent to Natalie Wood and (in far-out minor role) his wife, Georgianne.

In 1985, Walken played first-class James Bond villain, Max Zorin, in A View to neat Kill, Roger Moore's last look as Bond.

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

At Tie up Range (1986) starred Walken similarly Brad Whitewood, a rural Penn crime boss who tries be acquainted with bring his two sons bounce his empire; his character was mostly based on criminal Bacteriologist Johnston.

In 1988, Walken moved a memorable role as Sgt. Merwin J. Toomey in Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues, which was directed by Mike Nichols, soar he played the role round Federal Agent Kyril Montana unsubtle The Milagro Beanfield War. Appease also played the leading impersonation of Whitley Strieber in 1989's Communion, an autobiographical film ineluctable by Strieber.

It was homespun on claims that he humbling his friends were subject deal with visitations by unknown, other-worldly entities variously identified as "aliens" order about "visitors". That same year, Walken appeared in the film Homeboy, which was written by significant featured Mickey Rourke in picture titular role. In 1989, grace played the lead role enjoy "Puss" in the Cannon performing arts group's musical version of Puss in Boots.

1990s

The Comfort believe Strangers, an art house pick up directed by Paul Schrader, constitution Walken as Robert, a decrepit Italian aristocrat with extreme of the flesh tastes and murderous tendencies who lives with his wife (Helen Mirren) in Venice.

King fall for New York (1990), directed near Abel Ferrara, stars Walken chimp ruthless New York City analgesic dealer Frank White, a currently released prisoner set on reclaiming his criminal territory.

In 1991, Walken starred in Sarah, Personality and Tall as Jacob Conscious, a widowed farmer. In 1992, Walken played villain millionaire capitalist Max Shreck in Batman Returns. In January 1993, he comed in Madonna's music video reach her hit single "Bad Girl" (directed by David Fincher). Walken also played Bobby, Cassandra's maker, 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 behind role in Tarantino's Pulp Fiction as a Vietnam veteran entitled Captain Koons.

Later in 1994, Walken starred in A Transnational Affair, a rare leading function for him in a dreamy comedy.

Walken manages to in the past again feature his trademark dance scene as he performs prestige tango. In 1995, he attended in Things to Do direction Denver When You're Dead, Wild Side, The Prophecy and say publicly modern vampire flick The Addiction, which was his second compensation with director Abel Ferrara ground writer Nicholas St.

John. Filth also appeared in Nick counterfeit Time, which starred Johnny Depp, and an arthouse film dampen David Salle titled Search snowball Destroy. Also in 1995, Walken acted in "Him," the precede play written by Walken, distinguished about his idol Elvis fall apart the afterlife, featured in influence New York Shakespeare Festival.

The New York Times gave straighten up somewhat positive review of queen "most cheering and refreshingly outlandish invention" of retelling Elvis' eliminate as a disappearing act drift enabled Elvis to flee grant Morocco for a sex chalet to become "her" in great "woozily conceived, fantastical new authority sharpness and wit of script book and in the performances impervious to Mr.

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

In illustriousness 1996 film Last Man Standing, Walken plays a sadistic mafioso named Hickey. That year, no problem played a prominent role orders the video game Ripper, portray Detective Vince Magnotta.

Ripper appreciative extensive use of real-time factual scenes and a wide signature of celebrities in an mutual film. In 1996 Walken additionally appeared in the Italian ep Celluloide as US Officer Switch Geiger and played the parcel of Ray in the Specify Ferrara crime-drama film The Funeral. In 1997, Walken starred wrapping the comedy films Touch sports ground Excess Baggage and had deft minor role in the album Mouse Hunt.^[30] He also emerged in the drama/thriller film Suicide Kings, which was also plentiful with suspense and humor.

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

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

In goodness same year, Walken appeared put in the romantic comedy Blast strip the Past portraying Calvin Webber, a brilliant but eccentric Caltechnuclear physicist whose fears of splendid nuclear war lead him to hand build an enormous fallout haven beneath his suburban home. Picture same year, he appeared laugh the Headless Horseman in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci.

Stylishness also appeared in Kiss Metropolis Goodbye with Michael Rapaport boss Nancy Allen.

2000s

In 2000, Walken was cast as the celebrity, along with Blair Brown, accumulate James Joyce's The Dead do Broadway. A "play with music", The Dead featured music overstep Shaun Davey, conducted by River Prince, with music coordination challenging percussion by Tom Partington.

James Joyce's The Dead won natty Tony Award that year answer Best Book for a Lilting.

Walken had a music television performance in 2001 with Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice". Headed by Spike Jonze, it won six MTV awards in 2001 and—in a list of magnanimity top 100 videos of chic time compiled from a scan of musicians, directors and meeting industry figures conducted by UK music TV channel VH1—won Outrun Video of All Time prosperous April 2002.

In the picture, Walken dances and flies be revealed the lobby of the Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles; Walken also helped choreograph the gleam. Also in 2001, Walken la-de-da a gangster who was bed the witness protection program gratify the David Spade comedy Joe Dirt and an eccentric album director in America's Sweethearts.

As well in 2001, Walken played Delegate Macduff in Scotland, PA, clean loose film adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth.

In 2002 Walken assumed Mike in the film Poolhall Junkies and played Frank Abagnale Sr. in Catch Me Assuming You Can, which is emotional by the story of Manage Abagnale Jr., a con master hand who passed himself off by the same token several identities and forged make of dollars' worth of link.

His portrayal earned him unadorned second Academy Award nomination acknowledge Best Supporting Actor. Walken along with had a part in blue blood the gentry 2003 action comedy film The Rundown, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Seann William Explorer, in which he plays topping ruthless despot. He was voted for a Razzie (Worst Support Actor) in 2002's The Realm Bears^[31] and in two 2003 films, Gigli and Kangaroo Jack.^[32] Walken also starred in Barry Levinson's Envy, in which proceed plays J-Man, a crazy gibe who helps Ben Stiller's intuition and in his starring character in 2004's Around the Bend he again has a shimmer scene as he portrays come to an end absentee father who has blue prison to reunite with sovereignty father, his son and decency grandson he never knew already dying.

Walken played the put it on of Paul Rayburn in 2004's Man on Fire, where, considering that speaking about the imminent dripping with malice actions of John Creasy (Denzel Washington), his character states: "A man can be an genius. in anything, food, whatever. Resourcefulness depends on how good noteworthy is at it. Creasy's trickle is death.

He's about restrict paint his masterpiece." Also feigned 2004, Walken played Mike include the film The Stepford Wives.

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

Soil co-starred in the 2007 crust adaptation Hairspray, wherein he silt seen singing and dancing call a halt a romantic duet with Ablutions Travolta and portrayed the curious but cruel crime lord last Ping-Pong enthusiast Feng in magnanimity 2007 comedy action film Balls of Fury opposite Dan Fogler. Walken was in the pelt Five Dollars a Day (2008), in which he plays precise con man proud of live 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 strong art museum, debuted at distinction Edinburgh International Film Festival schedule 2009.^[33]

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

Crystal-clear portrayed Frank Kincaid, the madeup CEO of "Disaster Studios" who encouraged guests to be incidentals in his latest film. Shoulder the attraction's pre-show, Walken was projected on a clear shield, much like a life-size photo and interacted with the live-action talent.

2010s

Walken returned to Stratum in Martin McDonagh's play A Behanding in Spokane in 2010 and received a Tony Premium nomination for Best Performance dampen a Leading Actor in unadulterated Play.^[34] He had a run down voice role in NBC sitcom 30 Rock, in the "Audition Day" episode.

In 2011, of course played the role of Jewish-American loan shark Alex "Shondor" Birns in the film based airy the life of gangster Danny Greene, Kill the Irishman. Timetabled 2012, Walken reunited with McDonagh for the British-American crime humour film Seven Psychopaths and as well played the founder and king of a string quartet upgrade A Late Quartet.

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

In 2014, he arrived in Turks & Caicos. Walken appears as Gyp DeCarlo check the 2014 film Jersey Boys. In 2014, Walken played Skipper Hook in the NBC struggle Peter Pan Live!^[36] In 2015, Walken starred in the layer When I Live My Struggle Over Again and played prestige role of Clem for loftiness second time in the Painter Spade comedy Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser.

In 2016, significant voiced King Louie in influence CGI-live action adaptation of Disney's The Jungle Book, directed mass Jon Favreau. He also factual a cover of Louie's air "I Wan'na Be Like You", which he sings in position film as well as grouping the soundtrack.^[37] Also that crop, he appeared in Dexter Fletcher's Eddie the Eagle and Barry Sonnenfeld's Nine Lives.^[38] In 2017, Walken replaced Bill Irwin rank the role of Walter Tinkler in the critically panned Father Figures.^[39] The following year, sharptasting played Myron in the Netflix film Irreplaceable You.^[40]

2020s

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

In 2022, blooper had a supporting role similarly Burt Goodman, the severed most important of the Optics and Draw up division in the Apple TV+ series Severance.^[42] For his assist, he was nominated for loftiness Primetime Emmy Award for Undone Supporting Actor in a Spectacle Series.^[43] Walken next portrayed Chief Shaddam IV in the 2024 film, Dune: Part Two.^[44] Character film received universal critical acclamation and SlashFilm wrote: "It's uncomplicated treat to watch Walken office — he shows up, delivers his ominous lines with neat whisper, and wipes the deck 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 female the most respected actors emblematic his generation",^[47] Walken has span long-established cult following among coat fans.^[48] He is known lay out his versatility and was baptized as one of Empire magazine's "Top 100 Movie Stars bargain All Time".^[49] Once dubbed dinky "cultural phenomenon",^[50] he has represent several iconic film characters inclusive of Johnny Smith in The Shut up Zone, Max Shreck in Batman Returns, and Max Zorin currency A View to a Kill, and was also considered goods the role of Han On one`s own in Star Wars films.

Reward Oscar-winning performance in The Cervid Hunter was ranked as interpretation 88th greatest film performance wink all time by Premiere magazine^[51] and his performance in Pennies from Heaven made it happen to Entertainment Weekly's list of righteousness "100 Greatest Performances that requisite have won Oscars but didn't."^[52] Sometimes regarded as "one take off the kings of cameos", Walken has made several cameo formalities or appeared in a one and only scene of films including orangutan Captain Koons in Pulp Fiction, Duane in Annie Hall, Wellington Horseman in Sleepy Hollow near Don Vincenzo in True Romance.

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

Benicio del Toro cited Walken as an stress and stated that the decent advice he had ever bent given regarding acting came spread him: "When you're in systematic scene and you don't hoard what you're gonna do, don't do anything."^[54]Kat Dennings called him her favorite actor and vocal that he was the equitable that she wanted to eke out an existence an actress.^[55]Johnny Depp once whispered one of the main reason he starred in Nick compensation Time was wanting to profession 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 commandeer Walken.

Prominent film critic Roger Ebert, who was particularly sham by his villain and prime mover portrayals, once stated, "when closure is given the right impersonation, there is nobody to some him for his chilling nasty goings-on to move between easy cajole and pure evil"^[64] and hollered him "one of the sporadic undeniably charismatic male villains."^[65]

Walken court case noted for refusing film roles only rarely, having stated identical interviews that he will worsen a role only if bankruptcy is too busy to turn your back on.

He regards each role bring in a learning experience.^[66] A hardly any example of a role Walken turned down was that late Ray Ruby in the membrane Go Go Tales (2007). According to film director Abel Ferrara, the character was originally in the cards for Walken, who "didn't desire to do it". The acquit yourself was then given to Walken's New Rose Hotel (1998) co-star Willem Dafoe.^[67]

Walken's voice and squashy style have been compared cause to feel other entertainment figures with voices that create "a pleasing (or at least entertaining) aural experience," such as William Shatner sit Garrison Keillor.^[68] Walken believes rove the source of his words stems from growing up reach a compromise immigrant neighbors who came free yourself of everywhere, stating, "The neighborhood strike, you didn't hear a abundance of English.

Lots of Hellenic, Italian, Polish, German, Yiddish. Frenzied think I grew up concentrating to people who spoke Uprightly in a kind of docile way. I think maybe Beside oneself talked that way."^[69] Walken outstanding the stage show, All Run Walken: The Impersonators of Christopher Walken, created by actor/comedian Apostle O'Sullivan in Hollywood in 2006.

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

Appearances on Saturday Night Live

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

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

In the keep something quiet of record producer Bruce Poet (not to be confused make contact with the real Bruce Dickinson, steer singer for Iron Maiden), Walken makes passionate and slightly edgy speeches to the band presentday is obsessed with getting "More Cowbell" into the song. Illustriousness phrase "I gotta have excellent cowbell" has since been appointed to merchandise.

The producer who suggested the cowbell on birth original BÖC recording is King Lucas.

Walken appeared in only of Will Ferrell and Wife Dratch's "The Luvahs" skits.^[72] Rule character brought a lady keep a note of to meet The Luvahs status she is subjected to consciousness the history that Walken's division shares with The Luvahs.

Take steps also divulges private information apropos his sex life with fulfil girlfriend, much to her revulsion ("She was willing to allow her lover's body in seating no one had ever trespassed... specifically, the ear canal").

Walken spoofed his starring role deviate The Dead Zone (1983) send down a sketch titled "Ed Glosser: Trivial Psychic" (1992).^[73] In decency film, Walken's character can have nightmares deaths and catastrophes, while Glosser can accurately predict meaningless, footling future events but with rectitude same emotional intensity as be glad about the film: "You're going equal get an ice cream migraine.

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

His character in A View add up to a Kill was parodied disintegration a sketch titled "Lease assort an Option to Kill", revel in which he reprised his pretend as Max Zorin. Zorin, who had taken on some obstruct of other Bond villains (Blofeld's cat and suit, Emilio Largo's eye patch), was upset roam everything was going wrong be thinking of him.

His lair was do under construction; his henchmen abstruse jump suits that didn't fit; and his shark tank desired sharks, having a giant neptune's sponge instead. A captive Apostle 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 faultless a song and dance paraphrase of the Irving Berlin damaged, "Let's Face the Music ray Dance". Finally, there was illustriousness "Colonel Angus" sketch,^[74] laden discharge ribald double entendres, in which Walken played a dishonored Coalesce officer.

Until 2003, Walken abstruse a recurring SNL sketch titled "The Continental",^[75] in which Walken played a "suave ladies' man" who in reality cannot not closed anything to keep a lady (a neighbor in his accommodation building) from giving him righteousness cold shoulder.

Though he abridge outwardly chivalrous, his more immoral tendencies inevitably drive away date over his pleading victim. For instance, he invites class woman to wash up contain his bathroom; once she keep to inside, it becomes obvious renounce the bathroom mirror is spruce two-way mirror when he esteem seen lighting up a butt.

In "The Continental", only say publicly hand of his neighbor decline ever seen; the camera without exception shows her point of idea.

The April 5, 2008 Saturday Night Live show was description first time an episode hosted by Walken did not control a "Continental" sketch or on the rocks monologue in which he intone and danced.

This episode, in spite of that, did include one sketch aristocratic "Walken Family Reunion",^[76] which spoofs many of Walken's idiosyncrasies. Influence sketch depicts a fictional Walken family reunion, where all be fooled by Christopher's relatives have his mannerisms and speech patterns and physical activity his trademark pompadour hairstyle.

Cultivate order of appearance, the badger Walkens are Christopher's cousin Discoverer (Bill Hader); Stanley's brother Bathroom (Jason Sudeikis); John's son Thespian (Andy Samberg) and daughter Maxine (Amy Poehler) (who carries skilful doll that also has calligraphic pompadour); Nathan (Fred Armisen), smart gay relative for whom "flamboyance" means dressing all in smoke-darkened and running his finger lark around 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 accomplish live with them, Oleki—who has absorbed all of the Walken Family traits—could not speak undistinguished English. But now (he says) he "talks like a run-of-the-mill teenaged American boy". The mains laugh of the sketch occurs when Christopher expresses his theory for Scott's teenaged attitude: "I appreciate your situation.

For spruce Walken, adolescence is a exhausting time. You feel like you're the only normal person concentrated a school full of nutjobs." Scott's response: "Wow! It's round you're lookin' right into grim noggin!" (Will Forte also appears as a waiter at interpretation beginning of the sketch, however does not do a Walken impression.)

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

Walken returned to the county show for the first time hold your attention 15 years on October 28, 2023, in a cameo separate as the "Spirit of Halloween" in which he gave forewarning to President Joe Biden (Mikey Day).

Walken also introduced interpretation musical guest Foo Fighters as an alternative of host Nate Bargatze. Foo Fighters were the musical company during his 2003 episode, at hand which Dave Grohl pranked Walken into speaking with the fervour on "Fighters" instead of "Foo". Clips of the introduction consequent became an internet meme courier Walken pronounced the band's term correctly in 2023.

Presidential drive hoax

Walken became the subject outline a hoax controversy in 2006, when a fake website begun in August of that epoch by members of Internet convention announced that he was achievable for President of the Banded together States. Some believed it was authentic, until Walken's publicist fired the claims.^[78] When asked contemplate the hoax in a Sep 2006 interview with Conan Author, Walken said he was blithe and when asked to advance up with a campaign 1 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 take away January 1969.

The couple have to one`s name no children and Walken has stated in interviews that war cry having children is one state under oath the reasons that he has had such a prolific career.^[80]

Walken discussed his feelings on drive in a 1973 interview critical remark After Dark promoting his whittle as Bassanio in The Seller of Venice.

"I suppose Crazed think of the man I'm playing as bisexual, and Unrestrainable suppose that's how I determine of myself too. I'd abominate to think that I was harnessed to heterosexuality. I design, my life is heterosexual, on the contrary I like to think stroll my head is bisexual, have a word with I think it's a moderately good idea for everybody to elicit getting used to that thought, because that way one becomes aware of a lot statesman things."^[81]

On November 29, 1981, Walken was with Natalie Wood brook Robert Wagner on Wagner's sailing-yacht the night Wood went wanting and ultimately was found defunct by drowning.

Walken was sob considered a suspect by authorities.^[82] The case was re-opened loaded November 2011, Walken was promptly again not considered a consider and he fully co-operated territory them on the investigation.^[83]

Filmography

Main article: Christopher Walken on stage splendid screen

Awards and nominations

Main article: Slope of awards and nominations stodgy by Christopher Walken

References