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Christopher Walken Biography

(1943–)

Related Works

Films
1971 The Anderson Tapes
1975 Greenwich Village

1977 Annie Hall
1978 The Deer Hunter
1981 The Dogs of War
1983 The Dead Zone
1984 A View to a Kill
1988 Biloxi Blues
1990 The Comfort of Strangers
1992 Batman Returns
1993 True Romance
1994 Pulp Fiction
1995 Nick of Time
1995 Search and Destroy
1995 The Addiction
1995 The Prophecy
1995 Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead
1996 Basquiat
1996 Last Man Standing
1996 The Funeral
1997 Touch
1997 Mouse Hunt
1997 Excess Baggage
1998 Suicide Kings
1999 Vendetta
1999 New Rose Hotel
1999 Sleepy Hollow
2000 The Opportunists
2001 America's Sweethearts
2002 Catch Me If You Can
2004 The Stepford Wives
2004 Around the Bend
2004 Envy
2005 Domino
2006 Click
2007 Hairspray
Theatre
1963 Best Foot Forward
1964 Killer
1966 The Lion In Winter
1966 Measure For Measure
1966 The Rose Tattoo
1967 The Unknown Soldier and His Wife
1968 A Midsummer Night's Dream
1969 The Chronicles of Hell
1970 Lemon Sky
1971 The Tales of Cymbeline
1973 The Plough and The Stars
1975–6 Sweet Bird of Youth
1984–5 Hurlyburly
1988-9 Coriolanus
1989 Love Letters
Television
1981 Who Am I This Time?
1991 Plain and Tall
1993 Skylark
1996 The Wild Side

» More

Christopher Walken was born Ronald Walken in Queens, New York on March 31, 1943. The middle son of a German immigrant father and a Scottish immigrant mother, Walken worked at his parents’ bake shop as a boy. Together with his older brother, Kenneth, and his younger brother, Glenn, Walken began modeling, acting, and dancing at a young age. Ronald and Glenn were often used for the same part, and both played Kevin Acton in the 1950s television show “The Wonderful John Acton.” After graduating from the Professional Children’s School, he attended Hofstra University for some time. He considered becoming an English teacher, but then returned to his first love: theater acting. He toured in a production of “West Side Story,” where he met his wife, Georgianne. The two married in 1969 and she currently works as a casting director.

When Ronald Walken was 22, he was a backup dancer for singer/actress Monique Van Vooren. Ms. Van Vooren decided that Ronald looked more like a Christopher, so Walken adopted a new stage name. To this day, Walken is called Ronnie by family members and old friends. Walken expanded his range beyond musical comedies and earned himself the Clarence Derwent Award for “The Lion in Winter” and an Obie for “Kid Champion” in 1975.

Already a success in the theater, Walken became interested in working on the big screen. His first role was in 1968’s “Me and My Brother,” and his first lead role was in 1972’s “The Mind Snatchers.” Walken took home an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his disturbing role in “The Deer Hunter” in 1979. This win contributed to his cult status as an intense and eerie actor. Christopher Walken has worked nonstop in movies, television, and theater and he often finds a way to slip a dance routine into his screen work. In addition to his theater and film work, Walken has hosted Saturday Night Live six times and has a standing offer to host whenever his schedule permits. This prolific actor has worked steadily for over 50 years and shows no signs of slowing down.