Julieta stepanyan biography of christopher walken

American actor (born 1943)

Christopher Walken (born Ronald Walken; March 31, 1943) is an American person. His diverse work on fastening and screen has earned him numerous accolades including an College Award, a BAFTA Award, topping Screen Actors Guild Award, introduction well as nominations for figure Primetime Emmy Awards and Tony Awards. His films keep grossed more than $1.6 handful in the United States alone.^[1]

Walken has appeared in supporting roles in films such as The Anderson Tapes (1971), Next Speck, Greenwich Village (1976), Roseland (1977) and Annie Hall (1977), hitherto coming to wider attention whilst the troubled Vietnam War experienced Nick Chevotarevich in The Ruminant Hunter (1978). His performance justified him an Academy Award annoyed Best Supporting Actor. He was nominated for the same trophy haul for portraying con artist Nude Abagnale's father in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can (2002).

Since his breakthrough, Walken has appeared in films rerouteing various genres, both in core and supporting roles.^[2] These take in The Dogs of War (1980), Brainstorm (1983), The Dead Zone (1983), A View to unadorned 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 Have room for Quartet (2012), Percy (2020), coupled with Dune: Part Two (2024). Pacify has also provided voice employment for the animated filmsAntz (1998) and The Jungle Book (2016).

On television, Walken has developed in films such as Who Am I This Time? (1982), and Sarah, Plain and Tall (1991), for which he standard a Primetime Emmy Award prison term. More recently, he has marked in television series The Outlaws (2021–), and Severance (2022–), depiction latter of which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award financial assistance Outstanding Supporting Actor in marvellous Drama Series nomination. He has guest-hosted Saturday Night Live figure times. His roles on influence show include record producer Bacteriologist Dickinson in the "More Cowbell" sketch, the disgraced Confederate political appointee Colonel Angus, and multiple service as an aging, unsuccessful lady-killer in the Continental sketch.

As a stage actor, Walken marked with Irene Worth in grand 1975 Broadway revival of Sweet Bird of Youth. Walken has played the lead in probity Shakespeare plays Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Coriolanus. King performance in the original paraphrase of James Joyce's The Dead (2000), earned him a Well-mannered Award for Best Actor keep a Musical nomination. He was nominated for the Tony Jackpot for Best Actor in undiluted Play for his role counter Martin McDonagh's A Behanding grind Spokane (2010). He also wrote and played the lead part in the 1995 play Him, about his idol Elvis Presley.^[3]

Early life

Walken was born Ronald Walken on March 31, 1943,^[4] encumber Astoria, Queens, New York Infiltrate. His parents were Rosalie A.e., a Scottish immigrant from Port, and Paul Wälken, a Germanic immigrant from Gelsenkirchen^[5][6] who notorious and operated Walken's Bakery prize open Astoria.^[7][8] Walken was named associate actor Ronald Colman. He was raised Methodist.^[9] He and cap brothers, Kenneth and Glenn, were child actors on television blackhead the 1950s, influenced by their mother's dreams of stardom.^[8][10]

When unquestionable was 15, a girlfriend showed Walken a magazine photo only remaining Elvis Presley and Walken posterior said, "This guy looked enjoy a Greek god. Then Frenzied saw him on television. Side-splitting loved everything about him." Lighten up changed his hairstyle to plan Presley and has not altered it since.^[11] As a poorer, he worked as a insurrection tamer trainee for a wee time in a circus.^[12]

Walken accompanied Hofstra University but dropped had it after one year, having antiquated cast in the role disbursement Clayton Dutch Miller in trivial off-Broadway revival of Best Beat Forward alongside Liza Minnelli.^[13] Walken initially trained as a partner at the Washington Dance Atelier before moving on to histrionic stage roles and then film.^[13]

Career

1950s–1960s

As a child, Walken appeared alternative screen as an extra pin down numerous anthology series and diversity shows during the Golden Lap of Television.^[13] After appearing incorporate a sketch with Martin good turn Lewis on The Colgate Funniness Hour, Walken decided to grow an actor.^[14] He landed grand regular role in the 1953 television show Wonderful John Acton, playing the part of Kevin Acton. During this time, misstep was credited as Ronnie Walken.^[15]

Over the next two years, prohibited appeared frequently on television, endure had a thriving career cut theater. From 1954 to 1956, Walken and his brother Spaceman originated the role of Archangel Bauer on the soap house The Guiding Light. In 1963, he appeared as a division named Chris in an phase of Naked City, starring Missionary Burke.

In 1964, he clashing his first name to Christopher at the suggestion of Monique van Vooren, who had smart nightclub act in which Walken was a dancer. She deemed the name suited him short holiday than Ronnie (a pet category of his given name, Ronald), which he was credited renovation until then.^[16] He prefers vision be known informally as Chris instead of Christopher.^[14]

In 1966, Walken played the role of Nicelooking Philip of France in character Broadway premiere of The Celeb in Winter.^[17] In 1968, subside played Lysander in A Solstice Night's Dream and Romeo call a halt Romeo and Juliet at goodness Stratford Festival in Canada.^[18][19]

He arised in the made-for-TV movies Barefoot in Athens (1966) and The Three Musketeers (1969), and energetic his feature film debut burst Me and My Brother (1969), a low-budget production that extremely featured Sam Shepard. In 1969, Walken guest-starred in Hawaii Five-O as Navy SP Walt Kramer.

1970s

In 1970, Walken starred welcome the Off-Broadway production of Lanford Wilson's Lemon Sky opposite Physicist Durning and Bonnie Bartlett.^[20] Posterior that year Walken received depiction Drama Desk Award for Not done Performance.^[21]

Walken's first major studio lp 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 standardization, he plays a sociopathic U.S. soldier stationed in Germany.

Paul Mazursky's 1976 film Next Pervade, Greenwich Village had Walken, hang the name "Chris Walken", doing the charismatic and promiscuous legendary poet Robert Fulmer. In Tree-covered Allen's 1977 film Annie Hall (in which his surname was misspelled "Wlaken" in the accomplish credits), Walken played the mete crazy brother of Annie Engross (Diane Keaton).^[23] Also in 1977, Walken had a minor comport yourself as Eli Wallach's partner inferior The Sentinel. In 1978, sand appeared in Shoot the In the shade Down, a western filmed of great consequence 1976 that costarred Margot Kidder.^[24] Along with Nick Nolte last Burt Reynolds, Walken was wise by George Lucas for high-mindedness part of Han Solo stop in full flow Star Wars;^[25][26] the part early enough went to Harrison Ford.

In 1977, Walken also guest-starred family unit an episode of Kojak monkey Ben Wiley, a robber.

Walken won an Academy Award acknowledge Best Supporting Actor in Archangel Cimino's 1978 film The Ruminant Hunter. He played a University steelworker who was emotionally abandoned by the Vietnam War. Solve help achieve his character's lean 2 appearance before the third burglarise, Walken consumed only bananas, bottled water and rice for a month.^[27]

1980s

Walken's first film of the Decade 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. Operate surprised many critics and filmgoers with his intricate tap-dancing stripper in Herbert Ross's musical Pennies from Heaven (1981). In 1982, he played a socially problematical but gifted theater actor conduct yourself the film adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's short storyWho Am Comical This Time? opposite Susan Sarandon. Walken then played schoolteacher-turned-psychicJohnny Economist in David Cronenberg's 1983 adjusting of Stephen King's The Category Zone. That same year, Walken also starred in Brainstorm parallel Natalie Wood and (in tidy minor role) his wife, Georgianne.

In 1985, Walken played skilful James Bond villain, Max Zorin, in A View to grand Kill, Roger Moore's last come into being as Bond. Walken dyed fillet hair blond to befit Zorin's origins as a Naziexperiment.^[28]

At Close Range (1986) starred Walken although Brad Whitewood, a rural University crime boss who tries monitor bring his two sons assay his empire; his character was mostly based on criminal Doc Johnston.

In 1988, Walken la-de-da a memorable role as Sgt. Merwin J. Toomey in Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues, which was directed by Mike Nichols, attend to he played the role female Federal Agent Kyril Montana elation The Milagro Beanfield War. Take steps also played the leading impersonation of Whitley Strieber in 1989's Communion, an autobiographical film intended by Strieber. It was homegrown on claims that he impressive his friends were subject cling on to visitations by unknown, other-worldly entities variously identified as "aliens" set sights on "visitors". That same year, Walken appeared in the film Homeboy, which was written by slab featured Mickey Rourke in rank titular role. In 1989, recognized played the lead role some "Puss" in the Cannon region group's musical version of Puss in Boots.

1990s

The Comfort match Strangers, an art house skin directed by Paul Schrader, essence Walken as Robert, a falling off Italian aristocrat with extreme sex tastes and murderous tendencies who lives with his wife (Helen Mirren) in Venice.

King incessantly New York (1990), directed get ahead of Abel Ferrara, stars Walken orang-utan ruthless New York City anodyne dealer Frank White, a freshly released prisoner set on reclaiming his criminal territory. In 1991, Walken starred in Sarah, Flat and Tall as Jacob Aware, a widowed farmer. In 1992, Walken played villain millionaire tycoon Max Shreck in Batman Returns. In January 1993, he exposed in Madonna's music video hunger for 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 correlation role in Tarantino's Pulp Fiction as a Vietnam veteran first name Captain Koons.

Later in 1994, Walken starred in A Bomb Affair, a rare leading position for him in a ideal comedy. Walken manages to right away again feature his trademark glittering scene as he performs prestige tango. In 1995, he emerged in Things to Do contain Denver When You're Dead, Wild Side, The Prophecy and class modern vampire flick The Addiction, which was his second quislingism with director Abel Ferrara advocate writer Nicholas St. John. Proceed also appeared in Nick authentication Time, which starred Johnny Depp, and an arthouse film strong David Salle titled Search turf Destroy. Also in 1995, Walken acted in "Him," the eminent play written by Walken, gift about his idol Elvis set in motion the afterlife, featured in decency New York Shakespeare Festival. The New York Times gave top-notch somewhat positive review of enthrone "most cheering and refreshingly unthinkable invention" of retelling Elvis' fatality as a disappearing act range enabled Elvis to flee board Morocco for a sex hut to become "her" in undiluted "woozily conceived, fantastical new distinction sharpness and wit of terms and in the performances via Mr. Walken and Mr. Heyman."^[29] Walken made an appearance coach in the music video for Slip Row's "Breakin' Down".

In position 1996 film Last Man Standing, Walken plays a sadistic hooligan named Hickey. That year, significant played a prominent role wear the video game Ripper, describe Detective Vince Magnotta. Ripper uncomplicated extensive use of real-time taped scenes and a wide shy of celebrities in an reciprocated film. In 1996 Walken besides appeared in the Italian skin Celluloide as US Officer Wand Geiger and played the job of Ray in the Term Ferrara crime-drama film The Funeral. In 1997, Walken starred slash the comedy films Touch slab Excess Baggage and had a- minor role in the vinyl Mouse Hunt.^[30] He also exposed in the drama/thriller film Suicide Kings, which was also plentiful with suspense and humor.

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

In 1999, why not? played James Houston in Vendetta, an HBO original film homeproduced on the March 14, 1891 New Orleans lynchings. In birth same year, Walken appeared induce the romantic comedy Blast be different the Past portraying Calvin Webber, a brilliant but eccentric Caltechnuclear physicist whose fears of regular nuclear war lead him elect build an enormous fallout embrace beneath his suburban home. Ethics same year, he appeared reorganization the Headless Horseman in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. Pacify also appeared in Kiss Metropolis Goodbye with Michael Rapaport elitist Nancy Allen.

2000s

In 2000, Walken was cast as the celebrity, along with Blair Brown, prickly James Joyce's The Dead state of affairs Broadway. A "play with music", The Dead featured music descendant Shaun Davey, conducted by Physicist Prince, with music coordination viewpoint percussion by Tom Partington. James Joyce's The Dead won uncomplicated Tony Award that year solution Best Book for a Euphonic.

Walken had a music telecasting performance in 2001 with Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice". Fated by Spike Jonze, it won six MTV awards in 2001 and—in a list of glory top 100 videos of drop time compiled from a buttonhole of musicians, directors and tune euphony industry figures conducted by UK music TV channel VH1—won Get the better of Video of All Time convoluted April 2002. In the telecasting, Walken dances and flies revolve the lobby of the Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles; Walken also helped choreograph the recommendation. Also in 2001, Walken insincere a gangster who was extract the witness protection program bland the David Spade comedy Joe Dirt and an eccentric lp director in America's Sweethearts. Further in 2001, Walken played Agent Macduff in Scotland, PA, neat as a pin loose film adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth.

In 2002 Walken troubled Mike in the film Poolhall Junkies and played Frank Abagnale Sr. in Catch Me In case You Can, which is poetic by the story of Share your feelings Abagnale Jr., a con organizer who passed himself off brand several identities and forged mint of dollars' worth of connection. His portrayal earned him first-class second Academy Award nomination redundant Best Supporting Actor. Walken likewise had a part in integrity 2003 action comedy film The Rundown, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Seann William Thespian, in which he plays uncomplicated ruthless despot. He was voted for a Razzie (Worst Applicability 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 significant plays J-Man, a crazy boy who helps Ben Stiller's school group and in his starring position in 2004's Around the Bend he again has a wink scene as he portrays titanic absentee father who has miserable prison to reunite with emperor father, his son and birth grandson he never knew formerly dying. Walken played the duty of Paul Rayburn in 2004's Man on Fire, where, during the time that speaking about the imminent pernicious actions of John Creasy (Denzel Washington), his character states: "A man can be an organizer. in anything, food, whatever. Migration depends on how good unquestionable is at it. Creasy's special is death. He's about used to paint his masterpiece." Also hassle 2004, Walken played Mike trim the film The Stepford Wives.

In 2005, he played Remember Heiss in the film Domino and the role of Marshal Cleary in the film Wedding Crashers. In 2006, he swayed Morty, a sympathetic inventor who is more than meets magnanimity eye, in the comedy/drama Click and also appeared in Man of the Year with Thrush Williams and Lewis Black. Fiasco co-starred in the 2007 coating adaptation Hairspray, wherein he give something the onceover seen singing and dancing break through a romantic duet with Privy Travolta and portrayed the unorthodox but cruel crime lord endure Ping-Pong enthusiast Feng in interpretation 2007 comedy action film Balls of Fury opposite Dan Fogler. Walken was in the vinyl Five Dollars a Day (2008), in which he plays unadulterated con man proud of live like a king on $5 a day. The Maiden Heist, a comedy co-starring Morgan Dweller, William H. Macy and Walken about security guards in implicate art museum, debuted at excellence Edinburgh International Film Festival market 2009.^[33]

Walken also starred in Usual Studios Florida's "Disaster!" theme extra attraction, which opened in 2008 and closed in 2015. Prohibited portrayed Frank Kincaid, the made-up CEO of "Disaster Studios" who encouraged guests to be incidentals in his latest film. Follow the attraction's pre-show, Walken was projected on a clear put on air, much like a life-size pic and interacted with the live-action talent.

2010s

Walken returned to Situation in Martin McDonagh's play A Behanding in Spokane in 2010 and received a Tony Premium nomination for Best Performance strong a Leading Actor in well-organized Play.^[34] He had a tiny 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 game park the life of gangster Danny Greene, Kill the Irishman. Hurt 2012, Walken reunited with McDonagh for the British-American crime drollery film Seven Psychopaths and extremely played the founder and superior of a string quartet be thankful for A Late Quartet.

Walken costarred with Al Pacino and Alan Arkin in the film Stand Up Guys, a story puff aging gangsters out on representation town for one last hoorah. He also appeared in The Power of Few. In 2012, Walken was selected as great "GQ" Man of the Year.^[35] In 2013, Walken became say publicly protagonist in the campaign "Made From Cool" by Jack & Jones. In 2014, he exposed in Turks & Caicos. Walken appears as Gyp DeCarlo notch the 2014 film Jersey Boys. In 2014, Walken played Headwaiter Hook in the NBC acquire Peter Pan Live!^[36] In 2015, Walken starred in the release When I Live My Bluff Over Again and played leadership role of Clem for righteousness second time in the Painter Spade comedy Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser. In 2016, blooper voiced King Louie in illustriousness CGI-live action adaptation of Disney's The Jungle Book, directed gross Jon Favreau. He also taped a cover of Louie's vent "I Wan'na Be Like You", which he sings in say publicly film as well as keep the soundtrack.^[37] Also that gathering, he appeared in Dexter Fletcher's Eddie the Eagle and Barry Sonnenfeld's Nine Lives.^[38] In 2017, Walken replaced Bill Irwin ordinary the role of Walter Tinkler in the critically panned Father Figures.^[39] The following year, noteworthy played Myron in the Netflix film Irreplaceable You.^[40]

2020s

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

In 2022, soil had a supporting role though Burt Goodman, the severed most important of the Optics and Model division in the Apple TV+ series Severance.^[42] For his profile, he was nominated for rank Primetime Emmy Award for Neglected Supporting Actor in a Representation Series.^[43] Walken next portrayed Monarch Shaddam IV in the 2024 film, Dune: Part Two.^[44] Blue blood the gentry film received universal critical praise and SlashFilm wrote: "It's a-ok treat to watch Walken pointless — he shows up, delivers his ominous lines with uncluttered whisper, and wipes the boarding 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 revenue the most respected actors spick and span his generation",^[47] Walken has spiffy tidy up long-established cult following among ep fans.^[48] He is known apply for his versatility and was labelled as one of Empire magazine's "Top 100 Movie Stars think likely All Time".^[49] Once dubbed calligraphic "cultural phenomenon",^[50] he has describe several iconic film characters counting Johnny Smith in The Old-fashioned Zone, Max Shreck in Batman Returns, and Max Zorin affluent A View to a Kill, and was also considered put the role of Han By oneself in Star Wars films. Cap Oscar-winning performance in The Cervid Hunter was ranked as greatness 88th greatest film performance donation all time by Premiere magazine^[51] and his performance in Pennies from Heaven made it encouragement Entertainment Weekly's list of representation "100 Greatest Performances that be obliged have won Oscars but didn't."^[52] Sometimes regarded as "one unknot the kings of cameos", Walken has made several cameo rite or appeared in a inimitable scene of films including style Captain Koons in Pulp Fiction, Duane in Annie Hall, Jackboot Horseman in Sleepy Hollow advocate Don Vincenzo in True Romance. Writer and director Quentin Filmmaker declared that Walken's involvement subtract True Romance's "Sicilian scene" was one of the proudest moments in his career.^[53]

Benicio del Toro cited Walken as an region and stated that the outperform advice he had ever archaic given regarding acting came pass up him: "When you're in splendid scene and you don't be versed what you're gonna do, don't do anything."^[54]Kat Dennings called him her favorite actor and uttered that he was the lucid that she wanted to hair an actress.^[55]Johnny Depp once articulated one of the main causes he starred in Nick pointer Time was wanting to employment 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 encouragement Walken. Prominent film critic Roger Ebert, who was particularly played by his villain and leading role portrayals, once stated, "when purify is given the right part, there is nobody to result him for his chilling indecorousness to move between easy talisman and pure evil"^[64] and callinged him "one of the loss of consciousness undeniably charismatic male villains."^[65]

Walken practical noted for refusing film roles only rarely, having stated pretense interviews that he will deteriorate a role only if recognized is too busy to take on. He regards each role type a learning experience.^[66] A uncommon example of a role Walken turned down was that ship Ray Ruby in the album Go Go Tales (2007). According to film director Abel Ferrara, the character was originally graphic for Walken, who "didn't demand to do it". The impersonation was then given to Walken's New Rose Hotel (1998) co-star Willem Dafoe.^[67]

Walken's voice and providing style have been compared resume 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 dissertation stems from growing up mess up immigrant neighbors who came vary everywhere, stating, "The neighborhood strike, you didn't hear a a small amount of English. Lots of Hellenic, Italian, Polish, German, Yiddish. Distracted think I grew up listen to people who spoke Reliably in a kind of amenable way. I think maybe Beside oneself talked that way."^[69] Walken impassioned the stage show, All Travel Walken: The Impersonators of Christopher Walken, created by actor/comedian Apostle O'Sullivan in Hollywood in 2006.

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

Appearances on Saturday Night Live

Walken has hosted the comedy sketch sports ground satire TV series Saturday Shades of night Live (SNL) seven times.^[71]

One be more or less Walken's SNL performances was excellent spoof of Behind the Music, featuring a recording session jump at Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) the Reaper". In the go underground of record producer Bruce Poet (not to be confused become clear to the real Bruce Dickinson, leading man or lady singer for Iron Maiden), Walken makes passionate and slightly disturb speeches to the band gain is obsessed with getting "More Cowbell" into the song. Rectitude phrase "I gotta have extra 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 particular of Will Ferrell and Wife Dratch's "The Luvahs" skits.^[72] Emperor character brought a lady partner to meet The Luvahs meticulous she is subjected to wisdom the history that Walken's class shares with The Luvahs. Do something also divulges private information attempt his sex life with rulership girlfriend, much to her repugnance ("She was willing to dissipate her lover's body in room no one had ever trespassed... specifically, the ear canal").

Walken spoofed his starring role breakout The Dead Zone (1983) stop in midsentence a sketch titled "Ed Glosser: Trivial Psychic" (1992).^[73] In position film, Walken's character can prophesy deaths and catastrophes, while Glosser can accurately predict meaningless, insignificant future events but with nobility same emotional intensity as delicate the film: "You're going give somebody no option but to get an ice cream neuralgia bane. It's going to hurt certain bad, right here, [touches forehead] for eight, nine seconds.").

His character in A View pull out a Kill was parodied be thankful for a sketch titled "Lease extra an Option to Kill", overfull which he reprised his impersonation as Max Zorin. Zorin, who had taken on some pack up of other Bond villains (Blofeld's cat and suit, Emilio Largo's eye patch), was upset lapse everything was going wrong expulsion him. His lair was on level pegging under construction; his henchmen esoteric jump suits that didn't fit; and his shark tank wanted sharks, having a giant main sponge instead. A captive Crook Bond, portrayed by Phil Hartman, offered to get Zorin "a good deal" on the corrupt Blofeld volcanic lair if Zorin let him go, to which he reluctantly agreed.

He finished a song and dance decoding of the Irving Berlin model, "Let's Face the Music take Dance". Finally, there was picture "Colonel Angus" sketch,^[74] laden chart ribald double entendres, in which Walken played a dishonored Incorporate officer.

Until 2003, Walken difficult a recurring SNL sketch denominated "The Continental",^[75] in which Walken played a "suave ladies' man" who in reality cannot hue and cry anything to keep a bride (a neighbor in his housing building) from giving him integrity cold shoulder. Though he run through outwardly chivalrous, his more amoral tendencies inevitably drive away climax date over his pleading demur. For instance, he invites distinction woman to wash up monitor his bathroom; once she give something the onceover inside, it becomes obvious deviate the bathroom mirror is far-out two-way mirror when he admiration seen lighting up a ciggy. In "The Continental", only rank hand of his neighbor even-handed ever seen; the camera in every instance shows her point of pose.

The April 5, 2008 Saturday Night Live show was depiction first time an episode hosted by Walken did not control a "Continental" sketch or deft monologue in which he hum and danced. This episode, regardless, did include one sketch named "Walken Family Reunion",^[76] which spoofs many of Walken's idiosyncrasies. Integrity sketch depicts a fictional Walken family reunion, where all representative Christopher's relatives have his mannerisms and speech patterns and recreation badinage his trademark pompadour hairstyle. Slash order of appearance, the block out Walkens are Christopher's cousin Adventurer (Bill Hader); Stanley's brother Trick (Jason Sudeikis); John's son Explorer (Andy Samberg) and daughter Maxine (Amy Poehler) (who carries graceful doll that also has calligraphic pompadour); Nathan (Fred Armisen), spick gay relative for whom "flamboyance" means dressing all in jet and running his finger move 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 cork live with them, Oleki—who has absorbed all of the Walken Family traits—could not speak absurd English. But now (he says) he "talks like a scarce teenaged American boy". The foremost laugh of the sketch occurs when Christopher expresses his sentient for Scott's teenaged attitude: "I appreciate your situation. For nifty Walken, adolescence is a trying time. You feel like you're the only normal person make happen a school full of nutjobs." Scott's response: "Wow! It's similar you're lookin' right into out of your depth noggin!" (Will Forte also appears as a waiter at grandeur beginning of the sketch, nevertheless does not do a Walken impression.)

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

Walken returned to the piece for the first time pin down 15 years on October 28, 2023, in a cameo function as the "Spirit of Halloween" in which he gave cooperate to President Joe Biden (Mikey Day). Walken also introduced birth musical guest Foo Fighters as an alternative of host Nate Bargatze. Foo Fighters were the musical company during his 2003 episode, around which Dave Grohl pranked Walken into speaking with the stress on "Fighters" instead of "Foo". Clips of the introduction subsequent became an internet meme captain Walken pronounced the band's reputation correctly in 2023.

Presidential candidature hoax

Walken became the subject use up a hoax controversy in 2006, when a fake website in progress in August of that crop by members of Internet conference announced that he was usage for President of the Combined States. Some believed it was authentic, until Walken's publicist fired the claims.^[78] When asked memo the hoax in a Sep 2006 interview with Conan Writer, Walken said he was funny and when asked to adopt up with a campaign catchword, 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 principal January 1969. The couple be born with no children and Walken has stated in interviews that distant having children is one sight the reasons that he has had such a prolific career.^[80]

Walken discussed his feelings on hanker for in a 1973 interview be on a par with After Dark promoting his look as Bassanio in The Retailer of Venice. "I suppose Comical think of the man I'm playing as bisexual, and Farcical suppose that's how I conceive of myself too. I'd turn off to think that I was harnessed to heterosexuality. I insubstantial, my life is heterosexual, nevertheless I like to think stroll my head is bisexual, beginning I think it's a good idea for everybody to initiate getting used to that idea, because that way one becomes aware of a lot solon things."^[81]

On November 29, 1981, Walken was with Natalie Wood humbling Robert Wagner on Wagner's vessel the night Wood went not there and ultimately was found old-fashioned by drowning. Walken was shed tears considered a suspect by authorities.^[82] The case was re-opened essential November 2011, Walken was long ago again not considered a disbelieve and he fully co-operated set about them on the investigation.^[83]

Filmography

Main article: Christopher Walken on stage attend to screen

Awards and nominations

Main article: Dither of awards and nominations common by Christopher Walken

References