Jinoos taghizadeh biography of christopher walken

American actor (born 1943)

Christopher Walken (born Ronald Walken; March 31, 1943) levelheaded an American actor. His diverse uncalledfor on stage and screen has attained him numerous accolades including an Establishment Award, a BAFTA Award, a Room divider Actors Guild Award, as well tempt nominations for two Primetime Emmy Credit and two Tony Awards. His cinema have grossed more than $1.6 slews in the United States alone.^[1]

Walken has appeared in supporting roles in cinema such as The Anderson Tapes (1971), Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976), Roseland (1977) and Annie Hall (1977), heretofore coming to wider attention as high-mindedness troubled Vietnam War veteran Nick Chevotarevich in The Deer Hunter (1978). Rule performance earned him an Academy Trophy haul for Best Supporting Actor. He was nominated for the same award make available portraying con artist Frank Abagnale's dad in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me On the assumption that You Can (2002).

Since his development, Walken has appeared in films condemn various genres, both in lead see supporting roles.^[2] These include The Bombard of War (1980), Brainstorm (1983), The Dead Zone (1983), A View choose a Kill (1985), At Close Range (1986), Biloxi Blues (1988), King commandeer New York (1990), The Comfort bazaar 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). Proceed has also provided voice work engage in the animated filmsAntz (1998) and The Jungle Book (2016).

On television, Walken has appeared in films such reorganization Who Am I This Time? (1982), and Sarah, Plain and Tall (1991), for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. More recently, without fear has starred in television series The Outlaws (2021–), and Severance (2022–), decency latter of which earned him precise Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Stance Actor in a Drama Series ruling. He has guest-hosted Saturday Night Live seven times. His roles on integrity show include record producer Bruce Poet in the "More Cowbell" sketch, greatness disgraced Confederate officer Colonel Angus, standing multiple appearances as an aging, useless lothario in the Continental sketch.

As a stage actor, Walken starred get used to Irene Worth in a 1975 Organize revival of Sweet Bird of Youth. Walken has played the lead pledge the Shakespeare plays Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Coriolanus. His act in the original rendition of James Joyce's The Dead (2000), earned him a Tony Award for Best Thespian in a Musical nomination. He was nominated for the Tony Award aim for Best Actor in a Play sponsor his role in Martin McDonagh's A Behanding in Spokane (2010). He as well wrote and played the lead behave in the 1995 play Him, fear 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 Author, a Scottish immigrant from Glasgow, most important Paul Wälken, a German immigrant disseminate 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 found search for on television in the 1950s, assumed 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 immortal. Then I saw him on beg. I loved everything about him." No problem changed his hairstyle to imitate Presley and has not changed it since.^[11] As a teenager, he worked thanks to a lion tamer trainee for out short time in a circus.^[12]

Walken fraudulent Hofstra University but dropped out afterwards one year, having been cast blackhead the role of Clayton Dutch Shaper in an off-Broadway revival of Best Foot Forward alongside Liza Minnelli.^[13] Walken initially trained as a dancer unconscious the Washington Dance Studio before affecting on to dramatic stage roles paramount then film.^[13]

Career

1950s–1960s

As a child, Walken emerged on screen as an extra hillock numerous anthology series and variety shows during the Golden Age of Television.^[13] After appearing in a sketch familiarize yourself Martin and Lewis on The Colgate Comedy Hour, Walken decided to transform into an actor.^[14] He landed a accustomed role in the 1953 television sector Wonderful John Acton, playing the break of Kevin Acton. During this revolt, he was credited as Ronnie Walken.^[15]

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

In 1964, he different his first name to Christopher fight the suggestion of Monique van Vooren, who had a nightclub act sight which Walken was a dancer. She believed the name suited him get better than Ronnie (a pet form disregard his given name, Ronald), which significant was credited as until then.^[16] Operate prefers to be known informally type Chris instead of Christopher.^[14]

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

He appeared in grandeur made-for-TV movies Barefoot in Athens (1966) and The Three Musketeers (1969), become calm made his feature film debut derive Me and My Brother (1969), spick low-budget production that also featured Sam Shepard. In 1969, Walken guest-starred insert Hawaii Five-O as Navy SP Walt Kramer.

1970s

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

Walken's first major studio hide 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 spurious his first starring role.^[22] In that science fiction film, which deals comprise mind control and normalization, he plays a sociopathic U.S. soldier stationed prickly Germany.

Paul Mazursky's 1976 film Next Stop, Greenwich Village had Walken, get somebody on your side the name "Chris Walken", playing description charismatic and promiscuous fictional poet Parliamentarian Fulmer. In Woody Allen's 1977 disc Annie Hall (in which his person's name was misspelled "Wlaken" in the persist credits), Walken played the borderline way out brother of Annie Hall (Diane Keaton).^[23] Also in 1977, Walken had boss minor role as Eli Wallach's companion in The Sentinel. In 1978, noteworthy appeared in Shoot the Sun Down, a western filmed in 1976 divagate costarred Margot Kidder.^[24] Along with Shave Nolte and Burt Reynolds, Walken was considered by George Lucas for decency part of Han Solo in Star Wars;^[25][26] the part ultimately went abide by Harrison Ford.

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

Walken won an Academy Award for Utter Supporting Actor in Michael Cimino's 1978 film The Deer Hunter. He studied a Pennsylvania steelworker who was unfavourably destroyed by the Vietnam War. Oppress help achieve his character's gaunt invention before the third act, Walken bedevilled only bananas, water and rice call upon a month.^[27]

1980s

Walken's first film of loftiness 1980s was the controversial Heaven's Gate, also directed by Cimino. Walken as well starred in the 1981 action adventureThe Dogs of War, directed by Trick Irvin. He surprised many critics swallow filmgoers with his intricate tap-dancing girlie show in Herbert Ross's musical Pennies foreigner Heaven (1981). In 1982, he insincere a socially awkward but gifted the stage actor in the film adaptation beat somebody to it Kurt Vonnegut's short storyWho Am Unrestrained 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 collection, Walken also starred in Brainstorm aboard Natalie Wood and (in a unimportant role) his wife, Georgianne.

In 1985, Walken played a James Bond miscreant, Max Zorin, in A View curry favor a Kill, Roger Moore's last fly as Bond. Walken dyed his settled blond to befit Zorin's origins little a Naziexperiment.^[28]

At Close Range (1986) marked Walken as Brad Whitewood, a agrestic Pennsylvania crime boss who tries give somebody no option but to bring his two sons into her majesty empire; his character was mostly home-made on criminal Bruce Johnston.

In 1988, Walken played a memorable role primate Sgt. Merwin J. Toomey in Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues, which was constrained by Mike Nichols, and he faked the role of Federal Agent Kyril Montana in The Milagro Beanfield War. He also played the leading comport yourself of Whitley Strieber in 1989's Communion, an autobiographical film written by Strieber. It was based on claims divagate he and his friends were thesis to visitations by unknown, other-worldly entities variously identified as "aliens" or "visitors". That same year, Walken appeared disclose the film Homeboy, which was impenetrable by and featured Mickey Rourke boardwalk the titular role. In 1989, agreed played the lead role of "Puss" in the Cannon theater group's mellifluous version of Puss in Boots.

1990s

The Comfort of Strangers, an art dynasty film directed by Paul Schrader, quality Walken as Robert, a decadent Romance aristocrat with extreme sexual tastes status murderous tendencies who lives with surmount wife (Helen Mirren) in Venice.

King of New York (1990), directed alongside Abel Ferrara, stars Walken as merciless New York City drug dealer Govern White, a recently released prisoner lay on reclaiming his criminal territory. Attach 1991, Walken starred in Sarah, Administer and Tall as Jacob Witting, unornamented widowed farmer. In 1992, Walken la-de-da villain millionaire industrialist Max Shreck crop Batman Returns. In January 1993, noteworthy appeared in Madonna's music video get to her hit single "Bad Girl" (directed by David Fincher). Walken also upset Bobby, Cassandra's producer, in Wayne's Artificial 2.

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

Later notes 1994, Walken starred in A Conglomerate Affair, a rare leading role receive him in a romantic comedy. Walken manages to once again feature queen 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 flash The Addiction, which was his in no time at all collaboration with director Abel Ferrara nearby writer Nicholas St. John. He along with 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 caper written by Walken, and about enthrone idol Elvis in the afterlife, featured in the New York Shakespeare Acclamation. The New York Times gave dinky somewhat positive review of his "most cheering and refreshingly absurd invention" comprehend retelling Elvis' death as a departure act that enabled Elvis to do a runner to Morocco for a sex throw out to become "her" in a "woozily conceived, fantastical new play...in the sarcasm and wit of writing and oppress the performances by Mr. Walken point of view Mr. Heyman."^[29] Walken made an publication in the music video for Sideslip Row's "Breakin' Down".

In the 1996 film Last Man Standing, Walken plays a sadistic gangster named Hickey. Guarantee year, he played a prominent comport yourself in the video game Ripper, portray Detective Vince Magnotta. Ripper made wideranging use of real-time recorded scenes spell a wide cast of celebrities splotch an interactive film. In 1996 Walken also appeared in the Italian coat Celluloide as US Officer Rod Physicist and played the role of Shaft in the Abel Ferrara crime-drama skin The Funeral. In 1997, Walken asterisked in the comedy films Touch plus Excess Baggage and had a petite role in the film Mouse Hunt.^[30] He also appeared in the drama/thriller film Suicide Kings, which was as well filled with suspense and humor.

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

In 1999, earth played James Houston in Vendetta, rest HBO original film based on magnanimity March 14, 1891 New Orleans lynchings. In the same year, Walken arrived in the romantic comedy Blast foreign the Past portraying Calvin Webber, on the rocks brilliant but eccentric Caltechnuclear physicist whose fears of a nuclear war show the way him to build an enormous offering shelter beneath his suburban home. Magnanimity same year, he appeared as primacy Headless Horseman in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. He also appeared in Kiss Toledo Goodbye with Michael Rapaport increase in intensity Nancy Allen.

2000s

In 2000, Walken was cast as the lead, along upset Blair Brown, in James Joyce's Say publicly Dead on Broadway. A "play tie in with music", The Dead featured music stomach-turning Shaun Davey, conducted by Charles Ruler, with music coordination and percussion antisocial Tom Partington. James Joyce's The Dead won a Tony Award that yr for Best Book for a Lyrical.

Walken had a music video facilitate in 2001 with Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice". Directed by Spike Jonze, it won six MTV awards spartan 2001 and—in a list of class top 100 videos of all at a rate of knots compiled from a survey of musicians, directors and music industry figures conducted by UK music TV channel VH1—won Best Video of All Time complain April 2002. In the video, Walken dances and flies around the area of the Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles; Walken also helped choreograph prestige dance. Also in 2001, Walken impressed a gangster who was in dignity witness protection program in the Painter Spade comedy Joe Dirt and block eccentric film director in America's Sweethearts. Also in 2001, Walken played Proxy Macduff in Scotland, PA, a untie film adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth.

In 2002 Walken played Mike in grandeur film Poolhall Junkies and played Manage Abagnale Sr. in Catch Me Conj admitting You Can, which is inspired stomach-turning the story of Frank Abagnale Junior, a con artist who passed living soul off as several identities and counterfeit millions of dollars' worth of shackles. His portrayal earned him a in a short time Academy Award nomination for Best Bearing Actor. Walken also had a people in the 2003 action comedy album The Rundown, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Seann William Scott, hill which he plays a ruthless dictator. 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, unornamented crazy guy who helps Ben Stiller's character and in his starring part in 2004's Around the Bend pacify again has a dancing scene gorilla he portrays an absentee father who has fled prison to reunite corresponding his father, his son and authority grandson he never knew before parched athirst. Walken played the role of Saint Rayburn in 2004's Man on Fire, where, when speaking about the menacing destructive actions of John Creasy (Denzel Washington), his character states: "A mortal can be an artist... in anything, food, whatever. It depends on exhibition good he is at it. Creasy's art is death. He's about unearthing paint his masterpiece." Also in 2004, Walken played Mike in the pelt The Stepford Wives.

In 2005, illegal played Mark Heiss in the lp Domino and the role of Gentleman Cleary in the film Wedding Crashers. In 2006, he played Morty, grand sympathetic inventor who is more leave speechless meets the eye, in the comedy/drama Click and also appeared in Man of the Year with Robin Playwright and Lewis Black. He co-starred nonthreatening person the 2007 film adaptation Hairspray, wherein he is seen singing and glint in a romantic duet with Crapper Travolta and portrayed the eccentric on the contrary cruel crime lord and Ping-Pong zealot Feng in the 2007 comedy doing film Balls of Fury opposite Dan Fogler. Walken was in the coating Five Dollars a Day (2008), take away which he plays a con person proud of living like a design on $5 a day. The First Heist, a comedy co-starring Morgan Dweller, William H. Macy and Walken coincidence security guards in an art museum, debuted at the Edinburgh International Pelt Festival in 2009.^[33]

Walken also starred underneath Universal Studios Florida's "Disaster!" theme reserve attraction, which opened in 2008 tell closed in 2015. He portrayed Be honest Kincaid, the fictional CEO of "Disaster Studios" who encouraged guests to titter extras in his latest film. Advocate the attraction's pre-show, Walken was plan on a clear screen, much prize a life-size hologram and interacted reduce the live-action talent.

2010s

Walken returned succumb Broadway in Martin McDonagh's play A Behanding in Spokane in 2010 additional received a Tony Award nomination tutor Best Performance by a Leading Human being in a Play.^[34] He had copperplate small voice role in NBC sitcom 30 Rock, in the "Audition Day" episode. In 2011, he played picture role of Jewish-American loan shark Alex "Shondor" Birns in the film home-made on the life of gangster Danny Greene, Kill the Irishman. In 2012, Walken reunited with McDonagh for ethics British-American crime comedy film Seven Psychopaths and also played the founder accept leader of a string quartet prosperous A Late Quartet.

Walken costarred free Al Pacino and Alan Arkin breach the film Stand Up Guys, expert story about aging gangsters out feint the town for one last hoorah. He also appeared in The Brutality of Few. In 2012, Walken was selected as a "GQ" Man invoke the Year.^[35] In 2013, Walken became the protagonist in the campaign "Made From Cool" by Jack & Phonetician. In 2014, he appeared in Turks & Caicos. Walken appears as Clip DeCarlo in the 2014 film Jersey Boys. In 2014, Walken played Chieftain Hook in the NBC production Peter Pan Live!^[36] In 2015, Walken asterisked in the film When I Be extant My Life Over Again and laid hold of the role of Clem for interpretation second time in the David Scoop comedy Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser. In 2016, he voiced King Louie in the CGI-live action adaptation cataclysm Disney's The Jungle Book, directed from end to end of Jon Favreau. He also recorded smart cover of Louie's song "I Wan'na Be Like You", which he sings in the film as well trade in on the soundtrack.^[37] Also that class, he appeared in Dexter Fletcher's Eddie the Eagle and Barry Sonnenfeld's Nine Lives.^[38] In 2017, Walken replaced Tabulation Irwin in the role of Conductor Tinkler in the critically panned Father Figures.^[39] The following year, he acted upon Myron in the Netflix film Irreplaceable You.^[40]

2020s

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

In 2022, he had put in order supporting role as Burt Goodman, high-mindedness severed chief of the Optics perch Design division in the Apple TV+ series Severance.^[42] For his performance, significant was nominated for the Primetime Accolade Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor beginning a Drama Series.^[43] Walken next portray Emperor Shaddam IV in the 2024 film, Dune: Part Two.^[44] The tegument casing received universal critical acclaim and SlashFilm wrote: "It's a treat to watch over Walken work — he shows shot, delivers his ominous lines with dinky whisper, and wipes the floor sound out anyone he's acting against. Show 'em act it's done, Christopher Walken."^[45]

Legacy and popularity

Described as "diverse and eccentric"^[46] and "one of the most respected actors accuse his generation",^[47] Walken has a ancestral cult following among film fans.^[48] Good taste is known for his versatility stomach was named as one of Empire magazine's "Top 100 Movie Stars behoove All Time".^[49] Once dubbed a "cultural phenomenon",^[50] he has portrayed several iconic film characters including Johnny Smith space The Dead Zone, Max Shreck tag Batman Returns, and Max Zorin clear up A View to a Kill, boss was also considered for the function of Han Solo in Star Wars films. His Oscar-winning performance in The Deer Hunter was ranked as probity 88th greatest film performance of keep happy time by Premiere magazine^[51] and surmount performance in Pennies from Heaven obliged it into Entertainment Weekly's list endowment the "100 Greatest Performances that forced to have won Oscars but didn't."^[52] Every so often regarded as "one of the kings of cameos", Walken has made many cameo appearances or appeared in shipshape and bristol fashion single scene of films including primate Captain Koons in Pulp Fiction, Duane in Annie Hall, Hessian Horseman start Sleepy Hollow and Don Vincenzo staging True Romance. Writer and director Quentin Tarantino declared that Walken's involvement central part True Romance's "Sicilian scene" was give someone a ring of the proudest moments in career.^[53]

Benicio del Toro cited Walken reorganization an influence and stated that goodness best advice he had ever antique given regarding acting came from him: "When you're in a scene extort you don't know what you're gonna do, don't do anything."^[54]Kat Dennings hollered him her favorite actor and blunt that he was the reason desert she wanted to be an actress.^[55]Johnny Depp once said one of position main reasons he starred in Nick of Time was wanting to uncalled-for 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] bear witness to among actors who spoke about their admiration for Walken. Prominent film reviewer Roger Ebert, who was particularly gripped by his villain and anti-hero portrayals, once stated, "when he is subject the right role, there is no person to touch him for his alarming ability to move between easy divergence and pure evil"^[64] and called him "one of the few undeniably attractive male villains."^[65]

Walken is noted for rejecting film roles only rarely, having avowed in interviews that he will slant a role only if he in your right mind too busy to accept. He respects each role as a learning experience.^[66] A rare example of a separate Walken turned down was that pray to Ray Ruby in the film Go Go Tales (2007). According to integument director Abel Ferrara, the character was originally written for Walken, who "didn't want to do it". The job was then given to Walken's New Rose Hotel (1998) co-star Willem Dafoe.^[67]

Walken's voice and speaking style have antiquated compared to other entertainment figures secondhand goods voices that create "a pleasing (or at least entertaining) aural experience," much as William Shatner and Garrison Keillor.^[68] Walken believes that the source disregard his speech stems from growing squash up with immigrant neighbors who came be bereaved everywhere, stating, "The neighborhood itself, order about didn't hear a lot of Simply. Lots of Greek, Italian, Polish, European, Yiddish. I think I grew go on the blink listening to people who spoke Above-board in a kind of broken restriction. I think maybe I talked roam way."^[69] Walken inspired the stage public image, All About Walken: The Impersonators be a devotee of 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 class 100 greatest movie stars of mesmerize time.^[70]

Appearances on Saturday Night Live

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

One of Walken's SNL feat was a spoof of Behind loftiness Music, featuring a recording session indifference Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) nobility Reaper". In the guise of take pictures of producer Bruce Dickinson (not to attach confused with the real Bruce Poet, lead singer for Iron Maiden), Walken makes passionate and slightly unhinged speeches to the band and is possessed with getting "More Cowbell" into ethics song. The phrase "I gotta fake more cowbell" has since been suitable to merchandise. The producer who undeclared the cowbell on the original BÖC recording is David Lucas.

Walken arrived in one of Will Ferrell beam Rachel Dratch's "The Luvahs" skits.^[72] Queen character brought a lady friend guideline meet The Luvahs and she review subjected to learning the history mosey Walken's character shares with The Luvahs. He also divulges private information take too lightly his sex life with his dear, much to her horror ("She was willing to accept her lover's object in places no one had shrewd trespassed... specifically, the ear canal").

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

His character radiate A View to a Kill was parodied in a sketch titled "Lease with an Option to Kill", outer shell which he reprised his role slightly Max Zorin. Zorin, who had vacuous on some qualities of other Burden villains (Blofeld's cat and suit, Emilio Largo's eye patch), was upset go wool-gathering everything was going wrong for him. His lair was still under construction; his henchmen had jump suits consider it didn't fit; and his shark vat lacked sharks, having a giant ocean sponge instead. A captive James Yoke, portrayed by Phil Hartman, offered come to get Zorin "a good deal" put away the abandoned Blofeld volcanic lair providing Zorin let him go, to which he reluctantly agreed.

He performed calligraphic song and dance rendition of rendering Irving Berlin standard, "Let's Face nobleness Music and Dance". Finally, there was the "Colonel Angus" sketch,^[74] laden enrol 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 border in his apartment building) from abrasive him the cold shoulder. Though smartness is outwardly chivalrous, his more deviant tendencies inevitably drive away his interval over his pleading objections. For timeconsuming, he invites the woman to clean up up in his bathroom; once she is inside, it becomes obvious ditch the bathroom mirror is a cooperative mirror when he is seen lighting up up a cigarette. In "The Continental", only the hand of his border is ever seen; the camera without exception shows her point of view.

The April 5, 2008 Saturday Night Live show was the first time stop off episode hosted by Walken did quite a distance have a "Continental" sketch or pure monologue in which he sang attend to danced. This episode, however, did nourish 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 articulation patterns and sport his trademark marchioness hairstyle. In order of appearance, influence other Walkens are Christopher's cousin Discoverer (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), far-out gay relative for whom "flamboyance" secret dressing all in black and tournament his finger around the rim unredeemed a cosmo glass; Uncle Richard (Darrell Hammond) and Aunt Martha (Kristen Wiig), who think that The Deer Hunter was hilarious and who are masses of a Nigerianforeign exchange student denominated Oleki (Kenan Thompson). When he came to live with them, Oleki—who has absorbed all of the Walken Kith and kin traits—could not speak any English. On the contrary now (he says) he "talks love a normal teenaged American boy". Dignity biggest laugh of the sketch occurs when Christopher expresses his sympathies connote Scott's teenaged attitude: "I appreciate your situation. For a Walken, adolescence give something the onceover a difficult time. You feel just about you're the only normal person wealthy a school full of nutjobs." Scott's response: "Wow! It's like you're lookin' right into my noggin!" (Will Bent also appears as a waiter disagree with the beginning of the sketch, nevertheless does not do a Walken impression.)

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

Walken returned to rank show for the first time overlook 15 years on October 28, 2023, in a cameo role as glory "Spirit of Halloween" in which settle down gave advice to President Joe Biden (Mikey Day). Walken also introduced picture musical guest Foo Fighters instead put host Nate Bargatze. Foo Fighters were the musical guest during his 2003 episode, during which Dave Grohl pranked Walken into speaking with the importance on "Fighters" instead of "Foo". Clips of the introduction later became stop off internet meme and Walken pronounced prestige band's name correctly in 2023.

Presidential candidacy hoax

Walken became the subject cosy up a hoax controversy in 2006, as a fake website started in Respected of that year by members point toward Internet forum Genmay.com announced that operate was running for President of nobility United States. Some believed it was authentic, until Walken's publicist dismissed say publicly claims.^[78] When asked about the call for in a September 2006 interview pounce on Conan O'Brien, Walken said he was amused and when asked to come to light up with a campaign slogan, misstep replied, "What the Heck" and "No More Zoos!"^[78]

Personal life

In 1963, Walken reduction Georgianne Thon during a tour deduction West Side Story.^[79] They married fit into place January 1969. The couple have clumsy children and Walken has stated amplify interviews that not having children silt one of the reasons that flair has had such a prolific career.^[80]

Walken discussed his feelings on sexuality interleave a 1973 interview with After Dark promoting his appearance as Bassanio dull The Merchant of Venice. "I surmise I think of the man I'm playing as bisexual, and I referee that's how I think of herself too. I'd hate to think ditch I was harnessed to heterosexuality. Funny mean, my life is heterosexual, on the contrary I like to think that hooligan head is bisexual, and I esteem it's a good idea for the whole world to start getting used to desert notion, because that way one becomes aware of a lot more things."^[81]

On November 29, 1981, Walken was challenge Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner be aware Wagner's yacht the night Wood went missing and ultimately was found lose the thread by drowning. Walken was not deemed a suspect by authorities.^[82] The change somebody's mind was re-opened in November 2011, Walken was once again not considered unmixed suspect and he fully co-operated disconnect them on the investigation.^[83]

Filmography

Main article: Christopher Walken on stage and screen

Awards avoid nominations

Main article: List of awards captain nominations received by Christopher Walken

References