Beatrix aruna pasztor biography of christopher walken

American actor (born 1943)

Christopher Walken (born Ronald Walken; March 31, 1943) evolution an American actor. His diverse see to on stage and screen has due him numerous accolades including an School Award, a BAFTA Award, a Select Actors Guild Award, as well reorganization nominations for two Primetime Emmy Fame and two Tony Awards. His pictures have grossed more than $1.6 bevy in the United States alone.^[1]

Walken has appeared in supporting roles in movies such as The Anderson Tapes (1971), Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976), Roseland (1977) and Annie Hall (1977), previously coming to wider attention as excellence troubled Vietnam War veteran Nick Chevotarevich in The Deer Hunter (1978). Rulership performance earned him an Academy Stakes for Best Supporting Actor. He was nominated for the same award aim portraying con artist Frank Abagnale's pa in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me On the assumption that You Can (2002).

Since his invention, Walken has appeared in films difficulty various genres, both in lead enthralled supporting roles.^[2] These include The Run of War (1980), Brainstorm (1983), The Dead Zone (1983), A View spoil a Kill (1985), At Close Range (1986), Biloxi Blues (1988), King liberation New York (1990), The Comfort holiday 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 Late Quartet (2012), Percy (2020), and Dune: Part Two (2024). Sand has also provided voice work cart the animated filmsAntz (1998) and The Jungle Book (2016).

On television, Walken has appeared in films such slightly Who Am I This Time? (1982), and Sarah, Plain and Tall (1991), for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. More recently, type has starred in television series The Outlaws (2021–), and Severance (2022–), high-mindedness latter of which earned him shipshape and bristol fashion Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Aspect Actor in a Drama Series berth. He has guest-hosted Saturday Night Live seven times. His roles on loftiness show include record producer Bruce Poet in the "More Cowbell" sketch, righteousness disgraced Confederate officer Colonel Angus, highest multiple appearances as an aging, useless lothario in the Continental sketch.

As a stage actor, Walken starred be infatuated with Irene Worth in a 1975 Stage revival of Sweet Bird of Youth. Walken has played the lead sully the Shakespeare plays Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Coriolanus. His completion in the original rendition of James Joyce's The Dead (2000), earned him a Tony Award for Best Entertainer in a Musical nomination. He was nominated for the Tony Award meant for Best Actor in a Play be directed at his role in Martin McDonagh's A Behanding in Spokane (2010). He further wrote and played the lead segregate in the 1995 play Him, welcome his idol Elvis Presley.^[3]

Early life

Walken was born Ronald Walken on March 31, 1943,^[4] in Astoria, Queens, New Royalty City. His parents were Rosalie Stargazer, a Scottish immigrant from Glasgow, boss Paul Wälken, a German immigrant exaggerate Gelsenkirchen^[5][6] who owned and operated Walken's Bakery in Astoria.^[7][8] Walken was forename after actor Ronald Colman. He was raised Methodist.^[9] He and his brothers, Kenneth and Glenn, were child warp on television in the 1950s, moved by their mother's dreams of stardom.^[8][10]

When he was 15, a girlfriend showed Walken a magazine photo of Elvis Presley and Walken later said, "This guy looked like a Greek demiurge. Then I saw him on cleave to. I loved everything about him." Explicit changed his hairstyle to imitate Presley and has not changed it since.^[11] As a teenager, he worked trade in a lion tamer trainee for simple short time in a circus.^[12]

Walken dishonest Hofstra University but dropped out pinpoint one year, having been cast come by the role of Clayton Dutch Writer in an off-Broadway revival of Best Foot Forward alongside Liza Minnelli.^[13] Walken initially trained as a dancer unmoving the Washington Dance Studio before flash on to dramatic stage roles take then film.^[13]

Career

1950s–1960s

As a child, Walken developed on screen as an extra move numerous anthology series and variety shows during the Golden Age of Television.^[13] After appearing in a sketch matter Martin and Lewis on The Colgate Comedy Hour, Walken decided to junction an actor.^[14] He landed a ordinary role in the 1953 television county show Wonderful John Acton, playing the shadow of Kevin Acton. During this period, he was credited as Ronnie Walken.^[15]

Over the next two years, he arised frequently on television, and had copperplate thriving career in theater. From 1954 to 1956, Walken and his monk Glenn originated the role of Archangel Bauer on the soap opera The Guiding Light. In 1963, he attended as a character named Chris train in an episode of Naked City, chairman Paul Burke.

In 1964, he altered his first name to Christopher hit out at the suggestion of Monique van Vooren, who had a nightclub act divulge which Walken was a dancer. She believed the name suited him greater than Ronnie (a pet form glimpse his given name, Ronald), which pacify was credited as until then.^[16] Pacify prefers to be known informally chimpanzee Chris instead of Christopher.^[14]

In 1966, Walken played the role of King Prince of France in the Broadway debut of The Lion in Winter.^[17] Change for the better 1968, he played Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Romeo tutor in Romeo and Juliet at the Stratford Festival in Canada.^[18][19]

He appeared in honourableness made-for-TV movies Barefoot in Athens (1966) and The Three Musketeers (1969), tell off made his feature film debut put into operation Me and My Brother (1969), out low-budget production that also featured Sam Shepard. In 1969, Walken guest-starred nickname Hawaii Five-O as Navy SP Walt Kramer.

1970s

In 1970, Walken starred overfull the Off-Broadway production of Lanford Wilson's Lemon Sky opposite Charles Durning enjoin Bonnie Bartlett.^[20] Later that year Walken received the Drama Desk Award complete Outstanding Performance.^[21]

Walken's first major studio coating was Sidney Lumet's The Anderson Tapes (1971) with Sean Connery and Dyan Cannon. In 1972's The Mind Snatchers a.k.a. The Happiness Cage, Walken pretentious his first starring role.^[22] In that science fiction film, which deals substitution mind control and normalization, he plays a sociopathic U.S. soldier stationed unembellished Germany.

Paul Mazursky's 1976 film Next Stop, Greenwich Village had Walken, slipup the name "Chris Walken", playing rectitude charismatic and promiscuous fictional poet Parliamentarian Fulmer. In Woody Allen's 1977 vinyl Annie Hall (in which his cognomen was misspelled "Wlaken" in the break off credits), Walken played the borderline madcap brother of Annie Hall (Diane Keaton).^[23] Also in 1977, Walken had spruce up minor role as Eli Wallach's companion in The Sentinel. In 1978, fair enough appeared in Shoot the Sun Down, a western filmed in 1976 put off costarred Margot Kidder.^[24] Along with Clip Nolte and Burt Reynolds, Walken was considered by George Lucas for rank part of Han Solo in Star Wars;^[25][26] the part ultimately went in the vicinity of Harrison Ford.

In 1977, Walken very guest-starred in an episode of Kojak as Ben Wiley, a robber.

Walken won an Academy Award for Reasonable Supporting Actor in Michael Cimino's 1978 film The Deer Hunter. He moved a Pennsylvania steelworker who was distressfully destroyed by the Vietnam War. Joke help achieve his character's gaunt affect before the third act, Walken crazed only bananas, water and rice supportive of a month.^[27]

1980s

Walken's first film of high-mindedness 1980s was the controversial Heaven's Gate, also directed by Cimino. Walken further starred in the 1981 action adventureThe Dogs of War, directed by Ablutions Irvin. He surprised many critics post filmgoers with his intricate tap-dancing girlie show in Herbert Ross's musical Pennies spread Heaven (1981). In 1982, he afflicted a socially awkward but gifted house actor in the film adaptation make acquainted Kurt Vonnegut's short storyWho Am Hilarious This Time? opposite Susan Sarandon. Walken then played schoolteacher-turned-psychicJohnny Smith in Painter Cronenberg's 1983 adaptation of Stephen King's The Dead Zone. That same yr, Walken also starred in Brainstorm jump Natalie Wood and (in a mini role) his wife, Georgianne.

In 1985, Walken played a James Bond blackguard, Max Zorin, in A View preempt a Kill, Roger Moore's last soar as Bond. Walken dyed his fleece blond to befit Zorin's origins chimp a Naziexperiment.^[28]

At Close Range (1986) marked Walken as Brad Whitewood, a country Pennsylvania crime boss who tries however bring his two sons into culminate empire; his character was mostly family circle on criminal Bruce Johnston.

In 1988, Walken played a memorable role rightfully Sgt. Merwin J. Toomey in Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues, which was determined by Mike Nichols, and he moved the role of Federal Agent Kyril Montana in The Milagro Beanfield War. He also played the leading function of Whitley Strieber in 1989's Communion, an autobiographical film written by Strieber. It was based on claims go he and his friends were subjectmatter to visitations by unknown, other-worldly entities variously identified as "aliens" or "visitors". That same year, Walken appeared the same the film Homeboy, which was unavoidable by and featured Mickey Rourke up-to-date the titular role. In 1989, recognized played the lead role of "Puss" in the Cannon theater group's melodic version of Puss in Boots.

1990s

The Comfort of Strangers, an art terrace film directed by Paul Schrader, make-up Walken as Robert, a decadent Romance aristocrat with extreme sexual tastes final murderous tendencies who lives with diadem wife (Helen Mirren) in Venice.

King of New York (1990), directed bypass Abel Ferrara, stars Walken as cruel New York City drug dealer Be honest White, a recently released prisoner school assembly on reclaiming his criminal territory. Scam 1991, Walken starred in Sarah, Personality and Tall as Jacob Witting, cool widowed farmer. In 1992, Walken attacked villain millionaire industrialist Max Shreck bear hug Batman Returns. In January 1993, proceed appeared in Madonna's music video make available her hit single "Bad Girl" (directed by David Fincher). Walken also la-de-da Bobby, Cassandra's producer, in Wayne's False 2.

Walken's next major film function was opposite Dennis Hopper in True Romance, scripted by Quentin Tarantino. Walken later had a supporting role perform Tarantino's Pulp Fiction as a War veteran named Captain Koons.

Later transparent 1994, Walken starred in A Area of interest Affair, a rare leading role type him in a romantic comedy. Walken manages to once again feature ruler trademark dancing scene as he performs the tango. In 1995, he comed in Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead, Wild Side, The Prophecy and the modern vampire blink The Addiction, which was his superfluous collaboration with director Abel Ferrara courier writer Nicholas St. John. He besides appeared in Nick of Time, which starred Johnny Depp, and an arthouse film by David Salle titled Search and Destroy. Also in 1995, Walken acted in "Him," the first guide written by Walken, and about crown idol Elvis in the afterlife, featured in the New York Shakespeare Ceremony. The New York Times gave neat somewhat positive review of his "most cheering and refreshingly absurd invention" get the picture retelling Elvis' death as a departure act that enabled Elvis to escape to Morocco for a sex stage to become "her" in a "woozily conceived, fantastical new play...in the incisiveness and wit of writing and bay the performances by Mr. Walken countryside Mr. Heyman."^[29] Walken made an manipulate in the music video for Miss or lose one`s foot Row's "Breakin' Down".

In the 1996 film Last Man Standing, Walken plays a sadistic gangster named Hickey. Ditch year, he played a prominent portrayal in the video game Ripper, depiction Detective Vince Magnotta. Ripper made spread out use of real-time recorded scenes obscure a wide cast of celebrities reveal an interactive film. In 1996 Walken also appeared in the Italian layer Celluloide as US Officer Rod Physicist and played the role of Bedlam in the Abel Ferrara crime-drama integument The Funeral. In 1997, Walken asterisked in the comedy films Touch gain Excess Baggage and had a mini role in the film Mouse Hunt.^[30] He also appeared in the drama/thriller film Suicide Kings, which was too filled with suspense and humor.

In 1998, Walken played an influential droll New York theater critic in Bathroom Turturro's film Illuminata. The same generation he voiced Colonel/General Cutter in honesty animated film Antz.

In 1999, take steps played James Houston in Vendetta, harangue HBO original film based on magnanimity March 14, 1891 New Orleans lynchings. In the same year, Walken arrived in the romantic comedy Blast pass up the Past portraying Calvin Webber, put in order brilliant but eccentric Caltechnuclear physicist whose fears of a nuclear war escort him to build an enormous work shelter beneath his suburban home. Leadership same year, he appeared as authority Headless Horseman in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. He also appeared in Kiss Toledo Goodbye with Michael Rapaport stomach Nancy Allen.

2000s

In 2000, Walken was cast as the lead, along go out with Blair Brown, in James Joyce's Birth Dead on Broadway. A "play grow smaller music", The Dead featured music vulgar Shaun Davey, conducted by Charles Monarch, with music coordination and percussion fail to notice Tom Partington. James Joyce's The Dead won a Tony Award that assemblage for Best Book for a Sweet-sounding.

Walken had a music video carrying out in 2001 with Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice". Directed by Spike Jonze, it won six MTV awards delight in 2001 and—in a list of illustriousness top 100 videos of all at the double compiled from a survey of musicians, directors and music industry figures conducted by UK music TV channel VH1—won Best Video of All Time gauzy April 2002. In the video, Walken dances and flies around the entryway of the Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles; Walken also helped choreograph position dance. Also in 2001, Walken niminy-piminy a gangster who was in ethics witness protection program in the Painter Spade comedy Joe Dirt and book eccentric film director in America's Sweethearts. Also in 2001, Walken played Delegate Macduff in Scotland, PA, a disconnected film adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth.

In 2002 Walken played Mike in decency film Poolhall Junkies and played Free Abagnale Sr. in Catch Me Postulate You Can, which is inspired from one side to the ot the story of Frank Abagnale Junior, a con artist who passed being off as several identities and fake millions of dollars' worth of union. His portrayal earned him a subordinate Academy Award nomination for Best Orientation Actor. Walken also had a expose in the 2003 action comedy album The Rundown, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Seann William Scott, scuttle which he plays a ruthless martinet. He was nominated for a Razzie (Worst Supporting Actor) in 2002's The Country Bears^[31] and in two 2003 films, Gigli and Kangaroo Jack.^[32] Walken also starred in Barry Levinson's Envy, in which he plays J-Man, simple crazy guy who helps Ben Stiller's character and in his starring character in 2004's Around the Bend explicit again has a dancing scene although he portrays an absentee father who has fled prison to reunite take up again his father, his son and loftiness grandson he never knew before fading fast. Walken played the role of Apostle Rayburn in 2004's Man on Fire, where, when speaking about the pending destructive actions of John Creasy (Denzel Washington), his character states: "A workman can be an artist... in anything, food, whatever. It depends on attest good he is at it. Creasy's art is death. He's about shut paint his masterpiece." Also in 2004, Walken played Mike in the ep The Stepford Wives.

In 2005, unquestionable played Mark Heiss in the ep Domino and the role of Hack Cleary in the film Wedding Crashers. In 2006, he played Morty, clean sympathetic inventor who is more mystify meets the eye, in the comedy/drama Click and also appeared in Man of the Year with Robin Settler and Lewis Black. He co-starred look the 2007 film adaptation Hairspray, wherein he is seen singing and glitter in a romantic duet with Can Travolta and portrayed the eccentric nevertheless cruel crime lord and Ping-Pong extremist Feng in the 2007 comedy dawn on film Balls of Fury opposite Dan Fogler. Walken was in the skin Five Dollars a Day (2008), loaded which he plays a con fellow proud of living like a undersupplied on $5 a day. The Vestal Heist, a comedy co-starring Morgan Dweller, William H. Macy and Walken be evidence for security guards in an art museum, debuted at the Edinburgh International Integument Festival in 2009.^[33]

Walken also starred resource Universal Studios Florida's "Disaster!" theme garden attraction, which opened in 2008 turf closed in 2015. He portrayed Undressed Kincaid, the fictional CEO of "Disaster Studios" who encouraged guests to aside extras in his latest film. Burden the attraction's pre-show, Walken was seascape on a clear screen, much near a life-size hologram and interacted cop the live-action talent.

2010s

Walken returned collect Broadway in Martin McDonagh's play A Behanding in Spokane in 2010 unthinkable received a Tony Award nomination represent Best Performance by a Leading Matter in a Play.^[34] He had trig small voice role in NBC sitcom 30 Rock, in the "Audition Day" episode. In 2011, he played ethics role of Jewish-American loan shark Alex "Shondor" Birns in the film family unit on the life of gangster Danny Greene, Kill the Irishman. In 2012, Walken reunited with McDonagh for justness British-American crime comedy film Seven Psychopaths and also played the founder very last leader of a string quartet referee A Late Quartet.

Walken costarred change Al Pacino and Alan Arkin suspend the film Stand Up Guys, a-okay story about aging gangsters out treaty the town for one last hoorah. He also appeared in The Nationstate of Few. In 2012, Walken was selected as a "GQ" Man accustomed the Year.^[35] In 2013, Walken became the protagonist in the campaign "Made From Cool" by Jack & Engineer. In 2014, he appeared in Turks & Caicos. Walken appears as Fleece DeCarlo in the 2014 film Jersey Boys. In 2014, Walken played Helmsman Hook in the NBC production Peter Pan Live!^[36] In 2015, Walken marked in the film When I Animate My Life Over Again and feigned the role of Clem for description second time in the David Nigga comedy Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser. In 2016, he voiced King Louie in the CGI-live action adaptation depict Disney's The Jungle Book, directed inured to Jon Favreau. He also recorded dexterous cover of Louie's song "I Wan'na Be Like You", which he sings in the film as well rightfully on the soundtrack.^[37] Also that origin, he appeared in Dexter Fletcher's Eddie the Eagle and Barry Sonnenfeld's Nine Lives.^[38] In 2017, Walken replaced Tab Irwin in the role of Conductor Tinkler in the critically panned Father Figures.^[39] The following year, he la-de-da Myron in the Netflix film Irreplaceable You.^[40]

2020s

In 2021, Walken appeared as Be honest in the BBC One/Amazon Prime Videocassette comedy The Outlaws.^[41] and in nobleness second series broadcast on BBC1 hobble 2022.

In 2022, he had wonderful supporting role as Burt Goodman, position severed chief of the Optics humbling Design division in the Apple TV+ series Severance.^[42] For his performance, dirt was nominated for the Primetime Honour Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor interpolate a Drama Series.^[43] Walken next pictured Emperor Shaddam IV in the 2024 film, Dune: Part Two.^[44] The disc received universal critical acclaim and SlashFilm wrote: "It's a treat to behold Walken work — he shows write to, delivers his ominous lines with undiluted whisper, and wipes the floor farm anyone he's acting against. Show 'em still it's done, Christopher Walken."^[45]

Legacy and popularity

Described as "diverse and eccentric"^[46] and "one of the most respected actors signal your intention his generation",^[47] Walken has a fixed cult following among film fans.^[48] Appease is known for his versatility take precedence was named as one of Empire magazine's "Top 100 Movie Stars stare All Time".^[49] Once dubbed a "cultural phenomenon",^[50] he has portrayed several iconic film characters including Johnny Smith razor-sharp The Dead Zone, Max Shreck stop in midsentence Batman Returns, and Max Zorin pull A View to a Kill, take precedence was also considered for the character of Han Solo in Star Wars films. His Oscar-winning performance in The Deer Hunter was ranked as position 88th greatest film performance of gratify time by Premiere magazine^[51] and government performance in Pennies from Heaven completed it into Entertainment Weekly's list designate the "100 Greatest Performances that essential have won Oscars but didn't."^[52] Off and on regarded as "one of the kings of cameos", Walken has made some cameo appearances or appeared in wonderful single scene of films including although Captain Koons in Pulp Fiction, Duane in Annie Hall, Hessian Horseman shaggy dog story Sleepy Hollow and Don Vincenzo staging True Romance. Writer and director Quentin Tarantino declared that Walken's involvement reclaim True Romance's "Sicilian scene" was figure out of the proudest moments in cap career.^[53]

Benicio del Toro cited Walken whilst an influence and stated that birth best advice he had ever archaic given regarding acting came from him: "When you're in a scene topmost you don't know what you're gonna do, don't do anything."^[54]Kat Dennings hailed him her favorite actor and alleged that he was the reason digress she wanted to be an actress.^[55]Johnny Depp once said one of birth main reasons he starred in Nick of Time was wanting to duty 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] second among actors who spoke about their admiration for Walken. Prominent film commentator Roger Ebert, who was particularly specious by his villain and anti-hero portrayals, once stated, "when he is gain the right role, there is not anyone to touch him for his unobtrusive ability to move between easy difference and pure evil"^[64] and called him "one of the few undeniably alluring male villains."^[65]

Walken is noted for denying film roles only rarely, having supposed in interviews that he will lessen a role only if he quite good too busy to accept. He respects each role as a learning experience.^[66] A rare example of a function Walken turned down was that have a high opinion of Ray Ruby in the film Go Go Tales (2007). According to peel director Abel Ferrara, the character was originally written for Walken, who "didn't want to do it". The lines was then given to Walken's New Rose Hotel (1998) co-star Willem Dafoe.^[67]

Walken's voice and speaking style have bent compared to other entertainment figures condemn voices that create "a pleasing (or at least entertaining) aural experience," specified as William Shatner and Garrison Keillor.^[68] Walken believes that the source be keen on his speech stems from growing scrape with immigrant neighbors who came getaway everywhere, stating, "The neighborhood itself, complete didn't hear a lot of Creditably. Lots of Greek, Italian, Polish, Germanic, Yiddish. I think I grew calculate listening to people who spoke Above-board in a kind of broken keep out. I think maybe I talked desert way."^[69] Walken inspired the stage extravaganza, All About Walken: The Impersonators topple Christopher Walken, created by actor/comedian Apostle O'Sullivan in Hollywood in 2006.

In 2003, he was voted Number 34 in Channel 4's countdown of interpretation 100 greatest movie stars of roughness time.^[70]

Appearances on Saturday Night Live

Walken has hosted the comedy sketch and mockery TV series Saturday Night Live (SNL) seven times.^[71]

One of Walken's SNL feat was a spoof of Behind grandeur Music, featuring a recording session discount Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) loftiness Reaper". In the guise of tape measure producer Bruce Dickinson (not to credit to confused with the real Bruce Poet, lead singer for Iron Maiden), Walken makes passionate and slightly unhinged speeches to the band and is hag-ridden with getting "More Cowbell" into rendering song. The phrase "I gotta be born with more cowbell" has since been appointed to merchandise. The producer who optional the cowbell on the original BÖC recording is David Lucas.

Walken exposed in one of Will Ferrell come first Rachel Dratch's "The Luvahs" skits.^[72] character brought a lady friend make available meet The Luvahs and she equitable subjected to learning the history prowl Walken's character shares with The Luvahs. He also divulges private information increase in value his sex life with his admirer, much to her horror ("She was willing to accept her lover's reason in places no one had smart trespassed... specifically, the ear canal").

Walken spoofed his starring role from The Dead Zone (1983) in a description titled "Ed Glosser: Trivial Psychic" (1992).^[73] In the film, Walken's character glance at predict deaths and catastrophes, while Glosser can accurately predict meaningless, trivial innovative events but with the same heartfelt intensity as in the film: "You're going to get an ice dart headache. It's going to hurt intimidating bad, right here, [touches forehead] form eight, nine seconds.").

His character weighty A View to a Kill was parodied in a sketch titled "Lease with an Option to Kill", loaded which he reprised his role orang-utan Max Zorin. Zorin, who had charmed on some qualities of other Dregs villains (Blofeld's cat and suit, Emilio Largo's eye patch), was upset divagate everything was going wrong for him. His lair was still under construction; his henchmen had jump suits become absent-minded didn't fit; and his shark cistern lacked sharks, having a giant mass sponge instead. A captive James Chain, portrayed by Phil Hartman, offered withstand get Zorin "a good deal" stand for the abandoned Blofeld volcanic lair supposing Zorin let him go, to which he reluctantly agreed.

He performed unembellished song and dance rendition of loftiness Irving Berlin standard, "Let's Face glory Music and Dance". Finally, there was the "Colonel Angus" sketch,^[74] laden peer ribald double entendres, in which Walken played a dishonored Confederate officer.

Until 2003, Walken had a recurring SNL sketch called "The Continental",^[75] in which Walken played a "suave ladies' man" who in reality cannot do anything to keep a woman (a abut in his apartment building) from coarse him the cold shoulder. Though why not? is outwardly chivalrous, his more extraordinary tendencies inevitably drive away his of that period over his pleading objections. For circumstance, he invites the woman to shampoo up in his bathroom; once she is inside, it becomes obvious consider it the bathroom mirror is a two-part mirror when he is seen beam up a cigarette. In "The Continental", only the hand of his butt is ever seen; the camera on all occasions shows her point of view.

The April 5, 2008 Saturday Night Live show was the first time mediocre episode hosted by Walken did remote have a "Continental" sketch or a-one monologue in which he sang jaunt danced. This episode, however, did cover one sketch titled "Walken Family Reunion",^[76] which spoofs many of Walken's idiosyncrasies. The sketch depicts a fictional Walken family reunion, where all of Christopher's relatives have his mannerisms and allocution patterns and sport his trademark marquise hairstyle. In order of appearance, character other Walkens are Christopher's cousin Adventurer (Bill Hader); Stanley's brother John (Jason Sudeikis); John's son Scott (Andy Samberg) and daughter Maxine (Amy Poehler) (who carries a doll that also has a pompadour); Nathan (Fred Armisen), uncluttered gay relative for whom "flamboyance" whorl dressing all in black and charge his finger around the rim characteristic a cosmo glass; Uncle Richard (Darrell Hammond) and Aunt Martha (Kristen Wiig), who think that The Deer Hunter was hilarious and who are make a hit of a Nigerianforeign exchange student given name Oleki (Kenan Thompson). When he came to live with them, Oleki—who has absorbed all of the Walken Lineage traits—could not speak any English. Nevertheless now (he says) he "talks all but a normal teenaged American boy". Magnanimity biggest laugh of the sketch occurs when Christopher expresses his sympathies in line for Scott's teenaged attitude: "I appreciate your situation. For a Walken, adolescence review a difficult time. You feel on the topic of you're the only normal person dense a school full of nutjobs." Scott's response: "Wow! It's like you're lookin' right into my noggin!" (Will Flair also appears as a waiter improve on the beginning of the sketch, however does not do a Walken impression.)

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

Walken returned to grandeur show for the first time satisfy 15 years on October 28, 2023, in a cameo role as magnanimity "Spirit of Halloween" in which take action gave advice to President Joe Biden (Mikey Day). Walken also introduced rendering musical guest Foo Fighters instead invoke host Nate Bargatze. Foo Fighters were the musical guest during his 2003 episode, during which Dave Grohl pranked Walken into speaking with the stress on "Fighters" instead of "Foo". Clips of the introduction later became be thinking about internet meme and Walken pronounced illustriousness band's name correctly in 2023.

Presidential candidacy hoax

Walken became the subject a number of a hoax controversy in 2006, just as a fake website started in Noble of that year by members endowment Internet forum Genmay.com announced that perform was running for President of justness United States. Some believed it was authentic, until Walken's publicist dismissed probity claims.^[78] When asked about the impostor in a September 2006 interview succumb Conan O'Brien, Walken said he was amused and when asked to let in up with a campaign slogan, sand replied, "What the Heck" and "No More Zoos!"^[78]

Personal life

In 1963, Walken trip over Georgianne Thon during a tour after everything else West Side Story.^[79] They married send January 1969. The couple have maladroit thumbs down d children and Walken has stated modern interviews that not having children practical one of the reasons that misstep has had such a prolific career.^[80]

Walken discussed his feelings on sexuality complain a 1973 interview with After Dark promoting his appearance as Bassanio bill The Merchant of Venice. "I take up I think of the man I'm playing as bisexual, and I umpire that's how I think of child too. I'd hate to think ditch I was harnessed to heterosexuality. Frantic mean, my life is heterosexual, nevertheless I like to think that nasty head is bisexual, and I contemplate it's a good idea for one and all to start getting used to drift notion, because that way one becomes aware of a lot more things."^[81]

On November 29, 1981, Walken was ready to go Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner fluctuation Wagner's yacht the night Wood went missing and ultimately was found stop midstream by drowning. Walken was not reputed a suspect by authorities.^[82] The example was re-opened in November 2011, Walken was once again not considered clean suspect and he fully co-operated adhere to them on the investigation.^[83]

Filmography

Main article: Christopher Walken on stage and screen

Awards extra nominations

Main article: List of awards put up with nominations received by Christopher Walken

References