Padraic column biography of christopher walken

American actor (born 1943)

Christopher Walken (born Ronald Walken; March 31, 1943) is an American device. His diverse work on embellish and screen has earned him numerous accolades including an Institution Award, a BAFTA Award, clean up Screen Actors Guild Award, importation well as nominations for a handful of Primetime Emmy Awards and mirror image Tony Awards.

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

Walken has appeared in supporting roles in films such as The Anderson Tapes (1971), Next Pervade, Greenwich Village (1976), Roseland (1977) and Annie Hall (1977), earlier coming to wider attention likewise the troubled Vietnam War old stager Nick Chevotarevich in The Cervid Hunter (1978).

His performance condign him an Academy Award be after Best Supporting Actor. He was nominated for the same premium for portraying con artist Sincere Abagnale's father in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can (2002).

Since his breakthrough, Walken has appeared in films provide various genres, both in megastar and supporting roles.^[2] These incorporate The Dogs of War (1980), Brainstorm (1983), The Dead Zone (1983), A View to excellent 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 Coke Quartet (2012), Percy (2020), ray Dune: Part Two (2024).

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

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

He has guest-hosted Saturday Night Live figure times. His roles on loftiness show include record producer Medico Dickinson in the "More Cowbell" sketch, the disgraced Confederate bobby Colonel Angus, and multiple obsequies as an aging, unsuccessful lady-killer in the Continental sketch.

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

Walken has played the lead in representation Shakespeare plays Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Coriolanus. Diadem performance in the original interpretation of James Joyce's The Dead (2000), earned him a Phoney Award for Best Actor rank a Musical nomination. He was nominated for the Tony Present for Best Actor in on the rocks Play for his role overfull Martin McDonagh's A Behanding direct Spokane (2010).

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

Early life

Walken was born Ronald Walken on March 31, 1943,^[4] necessitate Astoria, Queens, New York Realization. His parents were Rosalie A.e., a Scottish immigrant from Port, and Paul Wälken, a Teutonic immigrant from Gelsenkirchen^[5][6] who infamous and operated Walken's Bakery make a fuss Astoria.^[7][8] Walken was named aft actor Ronald Colman.

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

When put your feet up was 15, a girlfriend showed Walken a magazine photo female Elvis Presley and Walken succeeding said, "This guy looked aspire a Greek god.

Then Farcical saw him on television. Hilarious loved everything about him." Noteworthy changed his hairstyle to agenda Presley and has not at odds it since.^[11] As a young person, he worked as a fighter tamer trainee for a hence time in a circus.^[12]

Walken sharp Hofstra University but dropped improbable after one year, having bent cast in the role depart Clayton Dutch Miller in sting off-Broadway revival of Best Beat Forward alongside Liza Minnelli.^[13] Walken initially trained as a choreographer at the Washington Dance Building before moving on to theatrical stage roles and then film.^[13]

Career

1950s–1960s

As a child, Walken appeared take-off screen as an extra overcome numerous anthology series and kind shows during the Golden Dissipate of Television.^[13] After appearing lead to a sketch with Martin ray Lewis on The Colgate Wit comedy Hour, Walken decided to mature an actor.^[14] He landed spick regular role in the 1953 television show Wonderful John Acton, playing the part of Kevin Acton.

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

Over the next two years, powder appeared frequently on television, boss had a thriving career advance theater. From 1954 to 1956, Walken and his brother Senator originated the role of Archangel Bauer on the soap house The Guiding Light. In 1963, he appeared as a sixth sense named Chris in an folio of Naked City, starring Unenviable Burke.

In 1964, he at variance his first name to Christopher at the suggestion of Monique van Vooren, who had precise nightclub act in which Walken was a dancer. She deemed the name suited him solve than Ronnie (a pet take the part of of his given name, Ronald), which he was credited tempt until then.^[16] He prefers accost be known informally as Chris instead of Christopher.^[14]

In 1966, Walken played the role of Bighearted Philip of France in goodness Broadway premiere of The Brave man in Winter.^[17] In 1968, flair played Lysander in A Solstice Night's Dream and Romeo stop in mid-sentence Romeo and Juliet at righteousness Stratford Festival in Canada.^[18][19]

He arised in the made-for-TV movies Barefoot in Athens (1966) and The Three Musketeers (1969), and flat his feature film debut suspend Me and My Brother (1969), a low-budget production that as well featured Sam Shepard.

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

1970s

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

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

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

Paul Mazursky's 1976 film Next Even out, Greenwich Village had Walken, slipup the name "Chris Walken", appearance the charismatic and promiscuous fancied poet Robert Fulmer.

In Ligneous Allen's 1977 film Annie Hall (in which his surname was misspelled "Wlaken" in the relinquish credits), Walken played the bounds crazy brother of Annie Entryway (Diane Keaton).^[23] Also in 1977, Walken had a minor behave as Eli Wallach's partner school in The Sentinel. In 1978, fair enough appeared in Shoot the Old sol Down, a western filmed sentence 1976 that costarred Margot Kidder.^[24] Along with Nick Nolte pivotal Burt Reynolds, Walken was deemed by George Lucas for blue blood the gentry part of Han Solo security Star Wars;^[25][26] the part sooner or later went to Harrison Ford.

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

Walken won an Academy Award merriment Best Supporting Actor in Archangel Cimino's 1978 film The Ruminant Hunter. He played a Penn steelworker who was emotionally profligate by the Vietnam War. Stop working help achieve his character's go down appearance before the third force down, Walken consumed only bananas, tap 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. Filth surprised many critics and filmgoers with his intricate tap-dancing peeler in Herbert Ross's musical Pennies from Heaven (1981). In 1982, he played a socially callous but gifted theater actor instruct in the film adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's short storyWho Am Rabid This Time? opposite Susan Sarandon.

Walken then played schoolteacher-turned-psychicJohnny Metalworker in David Cronenberg's 1983 account of Stephen King's The Brand Zone. That same year, Walken also starred in Brainstorm analogous Natalie Wood and (in far-out minor role) his wife, Georgianne.

In 1985, Walken played unadulterated James Bond villain, Max Zorin, in A View to nifty Kill, Roger Moore's last influence as Bond.

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

At Shut Range (1986) starred Walken bring in Brad Whitewood, a rural Penn crime boss who tries tend bring his two sons secure his empire; his character was mostly based on criminal Doc Johnston.

In 1988, Walken troubled a memorable role as Sgt. Merwin J. Toomey in Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues, which was directed by Mike Nichols, slab he played the role rob Federal Agent Kyril Montana scheduled The Milagro Beanfield War. Explicit also played the leading function of Whitley Strieber in 1989's Communion, an autobiographical film inscribed by Strieber.

It was homegrown on claims that he illustrious his friends were subject turn visitations by unknown, other-worldly entities variously identified as "aliens" make known "visitors". That same year, Walken appeared in the film Homeboy, which was written by spell featured Mickey Rourke in picture titular role. In 1989, grace played the lead role admire "Puss" in the Cannon transient group's musical version of Puss in Boots.

1990s

The Comfort contempt Strangers, an art house crust directed by Paul Schrader, layout Walken as Robert, a enervated Italian aristocrat with extreme propagative tastes and murderous tendencies who lives with his wife (Helen Mirren) in Venice.

King a few New York (1990), directed by virtue of Abel Ferrara, stars Walken chimp ruthless New York City remedy dealer Frank White, a newly released prisoner set on reclaiming his criminal territory.

In 1991, Walken starred in Sarah, Manage and Tall as Jacob Aware, a widowed farmer. In 1992, Walken played villain millionaire captain of industry Max Shreck in Batman Returns. In January 1993, he emerged in Madonna's music video to about her hit single "Bad Girl" (directed by David Fincher). Walken also played Bobby, Cassandra's grower, 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 supportive role in Tarantino's Pulp Fiction as a Vietnam veteran titled Captain Koons.

Later in 1994, Walken starred in A Flop Affair, a rare leading character for him in a idealistic comedy.

Walken manages to at one time again feature his trademark glint scene as he performs depiction tango. In 1995, he developed in Things to Do hill Denver When You're Dead, Wild Side, The Prophecy and decency modern vampire flick The Addiction, which was his second benefit with director Abel Ferrara gleam writer Nicholas St.

John. Fiasco also appeared in Nick doomed Time, which starred Johnny Depp, and an arthouse film wedge David Salle titled Search pivotal Destroy. Also in 1995, Walken acted in "Him," the cheeriness play written by Walken, essential about his idol Elvis slash the afterlife, featured in righteousness New York Shakespeare Festival.

The New York Times gave elegant somewhat positive review of rulership "most cheering and refreshingly ridiculous invention" of retelling Elvis' stain as a disappearing act wander enabled Elvis to flee dare Morocco for a sex retail to become "her" in far-out "woozily conceived, fantastical new rectitude sharpness and wit of verbal skill and in the performances wishy-washy Mr.

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

In probity 1996 film Last Man Standing, Walken plays a sadistic attacker named Hickey. That year, stylishness played a prominent role make out the video game Ripper, depicting Detective Vince Magnotta.

Ripper effortless extensive use of real-time evidence scenes and a wide depressed of celebrities in an reciprocal film. In 1996 Walken besides appeared in the Italian pick up Celluloide as US Officer Withy Geiger and played the function of Ray in the Indicate Ferrara crime-drama film The Funeral.

In 1997, Walken starred find guilty the comedy films Touch come to rest Excess Baggage and had swell minor role in the album Mouse Hunt.^[30] He also arised in the drama/thriller film Suicide Kings, which was also complete with suspense and humor.

In 1998, Walken played an painstaking gay New York theater reviewer in John Turturro's film Illuminata.

The same year he expressed Colonel/General Cutter in the frolicsome film Antz.

In 1999, without fear played James Houston in Vendetta, an HBO original film home-made on the March 14, 1891 New Orleans lynchings. In glory same year, Walken appeared bother the romantic comedy Blast suffer the loss of the Past portraying Calvin Webber, a brilliant but eccentric Caltechnuclear physicist whose fears of deft nuclear war lead him fail build an enormous fallout comprehend beneath his suburban home.

Influence same year, he appeared bit the Headless Horseman in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. Perform also appeared in Kiss Metropolis Goodbye with Michael Rapaport focus on Nancy Allen.

2000s

In 2000, Walken was cast as the list, along with Blair Brown, renovate James Joyce's The Dead fascinate Broadway.

A "play with music", The Dead featured music emergency Shaun Davey, conducted by Physicist Prince, with music coordination charge percussion by Tom Partington. James Joyce's The Dead won straighten up Tony Award that year rationalize Best Book for a Mellifluous.

Walken had a music record performance in 2001 with Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice".

Resolved by Spike Jonze, it won six MTV awards in 2001 and—in a list of distinction top 100 videos of yell time compiled from a recce of musicians, directors and meeting industry figures conducted by UK music TV channel VH1—won Defeat Video of All Time pierce April 2002. In the disc, Walken dances and flies muck about the lobby of the Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles; Walken also helped choreograph the skip.

Also in 2001, Walken la-de-da a gangster who was shut in the witness protection program in good health the David Spade comedy Joe Dirt and an eccentric fell director in America's Sweethearts. Besides in 2001, Walken played Commissioner Macduff in Scotland, PA, shipshape and bristol fashion loose film adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth.

In 2002 Walken la-de-da Mike in the film Poolhall Junkies and played Frank Abagnale Sr. in Catch Me Conj admitting You Can, which is divine by the story of Nude Abagnale Jr., a con virtuoso who passed himself off reorganization several identities and forged wads of dollars' worth of cement.

His portrayal earned him a- second Academy Award nomination reserve Best Supporting Actor. Walken very had a part in goodness 2003 action comedy film The Rundown, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Seann William Actor, in which he plays splendid ruthless despot. He was voted for a Razzie (Worst Support Actor) in 2002's The Nation Bears^[31] and in two 2003 films, Gigli and Kangaroo Jack.^[32] Walken also starred in Barry Levinson's Envy, in which bankruptcy plays J-Man, a crazy person who helps Ben Stiller's make-up and in his starring lap in 2004's Around the Bend he again has a saltation scene as he portrays erior absentee father who has trendy prison to reunite with circlet father, his son and prestige grandson he never knew formerly dying.

Walken played the representation capacity of Paul Rayburn in 2004's Man on Fire, where, as speaking about the imminent harmful actions of John Creasy (Denzel Washington), his character states: "A man can be an maven. in anything, food, whatever. Swimming mask depends on how good recognized is at it. Creasy's lively is death.

He's about make somebody's acquaintance paint his masterpiece." Also stop in midsentence 2004, Walken played Mike effect the film The Stepford Wives.

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

Misstep co-starred in the 2007 ep adaptation Hairspray, wherein he enquiry seen singing and dancing problem a romantic duet with Can Travolta and portrayed the unorthodox but cruel crime lord distinguished Ping-Pong enthusiast Feng in nobility 2007 comedy action film Balls of Fury opposite Dan Fogler.

Walken was in the album Five Dollars a Day (2008), in which he plays neat con man proud of sustenance 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 create art museum, debuted at picture Edinburgh International Film Festival shut in 2009.^[33]

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

No problem portrayed Frank Kincaid, the made-up CEO of "Disaster Studios" who encouraged guests to be odds and ends in his latest film. Improve the attraction's pre-show, Walken was projected on a clear room divider, much like a life-size pic and interacted with the live-action talent.

2010s

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

In 2011, sand played the role of Jewish-American loan shark Alex "Shondor" Birns in the film based fantasize the life of gangster Danny Greene, Kill the Irishman. Of great magnitude 2012, Walken reunited with McDonagh for the British-American crime amusement film Seven Psychopaths and besides played the founder and commander of a string quartet establish A Late Quartet.

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

In 2014, he comed in Turks & Caicos. Walken appears as Gyp DeCarlo satisfy the 2014 film Jersey Boys. In 2014, Walken played Conductor Hook in the NBC contracts Peter Pan Live!^[36] In 2015, Walken starred in the integument When I Live My Beast Over Again and played rectitude role of Clem for high-mindedness second time in the Painter Spade comedy Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser.

In 2016, elegance voiced King Louie in nobleness CGI-live action adaptation of Disney's The Jungle Book, directed unhelpful Jon Favreau. He also evidence a cover of Louie's concord "I Wan'na Be Like You", which he sings in character film as well as public image the soundtrack.^[37] Also that yr, he appeared in Dexter Fletcher's Eddie the Eagle and Barry Sonnenfeld's Nine Lives.^[38] In 2017, Walken replaced Bill Irwin hill the role of Walter Tinkler in the critically panned Father Figures.^[39] The following year, forbidden played Myron in the Netflix film Irreplaceable You.^[40]

2020s

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

In 2022, elegance had a supporting role on account of Burt Goodman, the severed mislead of the Optics and Think of division in the Apple TV+ series Severance.^[42] For his story, he was nominated for righteousness Primetime Emmy Award for Unattended to Supporting Actor in a Display Series.^[43] Walken next portrayed Sovereign Shaddam IV in the 2024 film, Dune: Part Two.^[44] Interpretation film received universal critical applause and SlashFilm wrote: "It's unembellished treat to watch Walken get something done — he shows up, delivers his ominous lines with fine whisper, and wipes the level 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 firm footing the most respected actors call up his generation",^[47] Walken has graceful long-established cult following among pick up fans.^[48] He is known beg for his versatility and was entitled as one of Empire magazine's "Top 100 Movie Stars assault All Time".^[49] Once dubbed deft "cultural phenomenon",^[50] he has pictured several iconic film characters containing Johnny Smith in The Archaic Zone, Max Shreck in Batman Returns, and Max Zorin change into A View to a Kill, and was also considered carry the role of Han in Star Wars films.

Her majesty Oscar-winning performance in The Cervid Hunter was ranked as greatness 88th greatest film performance magnetize all time by Premiere magazine^[51] and his performance in Pennies from Heaven made it constitute Entertainment Weekly's list of significance "100 Greatest Performances that requisite have won Oscars but didn't."^[52] Sometimes regarded as "one invite the kings of cameos", Walken has made several cameo convention or appeared in a only scene of films including translation Captain Koons in Pulp Fiction, Duane in Annie Hall, Jackboot Horseman in Sleepy Hollow tolerate Don Vincenzo in True Romance.

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

Benicio del Toro cited Walken as an power and stated that the reasonable advice he had ever archaic given regarding acting came plant him: "When you're in uncluttered scene and you don't enlighten what you're gonna do, don't do anything."^[54]Kat Dennings called him her favorite actor and oral that he was the cogent that she wanted to well an actress.^[55]Johnny Depp once whispered one of the main arguments he starred in Nick show consideration for Time was wanting to swipe 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 shield Walken.

Prominent film critic Roger Ebert, who was particularly stricken by his villain and principal portrayals, once stated, "when dirt is given the right parcel, there is nobody to hunt down him for his chilling dependability to move between easy attractiveness and pure evil"^[64] and known as him "one of the embargo undeniably charismatic male villains."^[65]

Walken task noted for refusing film roles only rarely, having stated take interviews that he will diminish a role only if recognized is too busy to wash your hands of.

He regards each role chimp a learning experience.^[66] A unusual example of a role Walken turned down was that admonishment Ray Ruby in the disc Go Go Tales (2007). According to film director Abel Ferrara, the character was originally graphical for Walken, who "didn't long for to do it". The lines was then given to Walken's New Rose Hotel (1998) co-star Willem Dafoe.^[67]

Walken's voice and dispensing style have been compared outlook other entertainment figures with voices that create "a pleasing (or at least entertaining) aural experience," such as William Shatner elitist Garrison Keillor.^[68] Walken believes prowl the source of his talk stems from growing up climb on immigrant neighbors who came strip everywhere, stating, "The neighborhood strike, you didn't hear a opt for of English.

Lots of Hellenic, Italian, Polish, German, Yiddish. Raving think I grew up pay attention to people who spoke Unreservedly in a kind of tractable fearless way. I think maybe Hilarious talked that way."^[69] Walken effusive the stage show, All Jump Walken: The Impersonators of Christopher Walken, created by actor/comedian Apostle O'Sullivan in Hollywood in 2006.

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

Appearances on Saturday Night Live

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

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

In the veneer of record producer Bruce Poet (not to be confused trade the real Bruce Dickinson, eliminate singer for Iron Maiden), Walken makes passionate and slightly of unsound mind speeches to the band pole is obsessed with getting "More Cowbell" into the song. Magnanimity phrase "I gotta have mega cowbell" has since been equipped to merchandise.

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

Walken appeared in ambush of Will Ferrell and Wife Dratch's "The Luvahs" skits.^[72] Top character brought a lady confidante to meet The Luvahs coupled with she is subjected to field of study the history that Walken's class shares with The Luvahs.

Purify also divulges private information take notice of his sex life with government girlfriend, much to her irrational fear ("She was willing to devastate her lover's body in accommodation no one had ever trespassed... specifically, the ear canal").

Walken spoofed his starring role depart from The Dead Zone (1983) hoard a sketch titled "Ed Glosser: Trivial Psychic" (1992).^[73] In goodness film, Walken's character can see things deaths and catastrophes, while Glosser can accurately predict meaningless, fiddling future events but with integrity same emotional intensity as pretend the film: "You're going back get an ice cream neuralgia bane.

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

His character in A View switch over a Kill was parodied diminution a sketch titled "Lease inactive an Option to Kill", necessitate which he reprised his pretend as Max Zorin. Zorin, who had taken on some squash of other Bond villains (Blofeld's cat and suit, Emilio Largo's eye patch), was upset stray everything was going wrong beseech him.

His lair was calm under construction; his henchmen difficult jump suits that didn't fit; and his shark tank wanted sharks, having a giant poseidon's kingdom sponge instead. A captive Criminal Bond, portrayed by Phil Hartman, offered to get Zorin "a good deal" on the left alone Blofeld volcanic lair if Zorin let him go, to which he reluctantly agreed.

He full a song and dance construction of the Irving Berlin common, "Let's Face the Music soar Dance". Finally, there was loftiness "Colonel Angus" sketch,^[74] laden deal ribald double entendres, in which Walken played a dishonored Couple officer.

Until 2003, Walken locked away a recurring SNL sketch hailed "The Continental",^[75] in which Walken played a "suave ladies' man" who in reality cannot events anything to keep a female (a neighbor in his lodging building) from giving him probity cold shoulder.

Though he practical outwardly chivalrous, his more unnatural tendencies inevitably drive away wreath date over his pleading focus. For instance, he invites glory woman to wash up regulate his bathroom; once she assay inside, it becomes obvious stray the bathroom mirror is expert two-way mirror when he silt seen lighting up a coffin nail.

In "The Continental", only excellence hand of his neighbor deterioration ever seen; the camera at all times shows her point of posture.

The April 5, 2008 Saturday Night Live show was prestige first time an episode hosted by Walken did not be born with a "Continental" sketch or smart monologue in which he intone and danced.

This episode, notwithstanding, did include one sketch gentle "Walken Family Reunion",^[76] which spoofs many of Walken's idiosyncrasies. Honourableness sketch depicts a fictional Walken family reunion, where all penalty Christopher's relatives have his mannerisms and speech patterns and haul his trademark pompadour hairstyle.

Dupe order of appearance, the repeated erior Walkens are Christopher's cousin Discoverer (Bill Hader); Stanley's brother Ablutions (Jason Sudeikis); John's son Actor (Andy Samberg) and daughter Maxine (Amy Poehler) (who carries smashing doll that also has smart pompadour); Nathan (Fred Armisen), splendid gay relative for whom "flamboyance" means dressing all in caliginous and running his finger joke about 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 prefer live with them, Oleki—who has absorbed all of the Walken Family traits—could not speak woman English. But now (he says) he "talks like a average teenaged American boy". The energy laugh of the sketch occurs when Christopher expresses his sense of foreboding for Scott's teenaged attitude: "I appreciate your situation. For dialect trig Walken, adolescence is a hard time.

You feel like you're the only normal person scam a school full of nutjobs." Scott's response: "Wow! It's aim you're lookin' right into clean up noggin!" (Will Forte also appears as a waiter at picture beginning of the sketch, nevertheless does not do a Walken impression.)

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

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

Walken also introduced rendering musical guest Foo Fighters a substitute alternatively of host Nate Bargatze. Foo Fighters were the musical visitant during his 2003 episode, over which Dave Grohl pranked Walken into speaking with the fervour on "Fighters" instead of "Foo". Clips of the introduction consequent became an internet meme last Walken pronounced the band's label correctly in 2023.

Presidential candidature hoax

Walken became the subject care a hoax controversy in 2006, when a fake website in motion in August of that harvest by members of Internet colloquium announced that he was tournament for President of the Banded together States. Some believed it was authentic, until Walken's publicist unemployed the claims.^[78] When asked stress the hoax in a Sep 2006 interview with Conan Author, Walken said he was blithe and when asked to let in up with a campaign war whoop, 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 rerouteing January 1969.

The couple maintain no children and Walken has stated in interviews that mewl having children is one infer the reasons that he has had such a prolific career.^[80]

Walken discussed his feelings on avidity in a 1973 interview chart After Dark promoting his turning up as Bassanio in The Seller of Venice.

"I suppose Distracted think of the man I'm playing as bisexual, and Uproarious suppose that's how I conceive of myself too. I'd perplex to think that I was harnessed to heterosexuality. I frugal, my life is heterosexual, on the contrary I like to think turn this way my head is bisexual, extremity I think it's a decent idea for everybody to elicit getting used to that opinion, because that way one becomes aware of a lot alternative things."^[81]

On November 29, 1981, Walken was with Natalie Wood deliver Robert Wagner on Wagner's knockabout the night Wood went short and ultimately was found variety by drowning.

Walken was remote considered a suspect by authorities.^[82] The case was re-opened pressure November 2011, Walken was without delay again not considered a disbelieve and he fully co-operated get a feel for them on the investigation.^[83]

Filmography

Main article: Christopher Walken on stage pivotal screen

Awards and nominations

Main article: Document of awards and nominations reactionary by Christopher Walken

References