Christopher Walken, an American actor who prefers to play criminal geniuses, mystical personalities and crazy antiheroes, gained during his career a reputation as a cult person, not only in his native America, but also far beyond its borders. How did the creative artist’s career develop, and what films with his participation were appreciated by fans around the world? This is our article.
Actor's childhood
Christopher Walken was born in 1943 in the American city of Queens. The real name of the actor is Ronald Walken. The child was named in honor of the famous actor Ronald Coleman. The boy’s father was a baker, and in the family, in addition to the future actor, two more sons were brought up. The boy’s childhood passed in his hometown. As the actor later noted in an interview, he grew up among gypsies, musicians, and artists. At an early age he showed his artistic talent. Ronald was engaged in dancing and was fond of theater and cinema. At 10, the boy got a job at the circus, where he was paid nothing. Meanwhile, the child performed in various numbers, improving his creative abilities. Walken dreamed of working on television and from childhood took part in various television shows. Once, on one of these shootings, he met Jerry Lewis, and after that he decided to become an actor. In 1961, young Walken entered the University of Hofstra. By the way, his classmate at that time was Lisa Minelli herself. A year later, the young man decided to quit school. What the actor did not do during these years! For example, once he happened to work as a lion trainer. But his main goal - acting - remained the meaning of life. For some time he performs on stage, dancing in various musicals and touring the country. It was then, on the advice of a friend, that Walken changed his name to a creative pseudonym.
First movie roles
For the first time, Walken played a major role in the theatrical production of “Lion in Winter” in 1966. At the same time, he played the roles of Hamlet and Romeo. But the main dream of Christopher was the movie. At first he was offered only small roles. The most significant works of this period are the films “Division 5-O” and “Guiding Light”. In the big movie, actor Christopher Walken appears in 1969. The first picture in his Hollywood career is the work "Me and My Brother." In 1977, after a small role in the movie "Annie Hall" about Walken, they began to speak of as a talented actor. Following this, a new role in the film "Deer Hunter" brings him an Oscar. Despite its popularity, leading roles are rarely offered to an actor.
World fame
In the 80-90s, Christopher Walken continued to actively pursue his own career. He does not refuse practically any role proposed by the directors, perceiving each work as an invaluable experience. The actor especially plays the role of villains and antiheroes. He gained world-famous roles in the films Brainstorming and Dead Zone - The Dark Zone, in which he plays unbalanced personalities. Despite the growing popularity, during this period of leading roles the actor is offered very little. A new surge in career was outlined in the 2000s, when the role of the actor expands. He participates in successful comedy films such as Country of Bears and Four Funeral and One Wedding. After playing Catch Me If You Can, the actor is nominated for an Oscar. Another bright role came in 2007, when Walken starred in the movie "Balls of Fury."
Films featuring Christopher Walken
For the first time, the actor attracted the attention of critics after appearing on the big screen with a cameo in the film "Annie Hall" (1977). Christopher Walken played the brother of the protagonist suffering from a mental illness. For the sake of another role in the film "Deer Hunters" (1978), the actor went on a diet of bananas and rice and lost a lot of weight. For this picture, the actor was awarded the prestigious Oscar. Walken also played characters on the verge of complete loss of mind in other films: The Dead Zone (1983), The View of the Murder (1985), The King of New York (1990), McBane ( 1991), “Single Hero” (1996) and so on. Walken gained a reputation as a cult actor after filming in Quentin Tarantino's film Pulp Fiction (1994). Later, the actor strengthened his “creepy” role in the works “Prophecy” (1995) and “Sleepy Hollow” (1999). In 2002, Christopher Walken, whose filmography began to expand rapidly, was once again nominated for an Oscar for his role as the unbalanced father of a con man in Spielberg’s film “Catch Me If You Can.”
Films with Christopher Walken of recent years
In recent years, fans of the actor can often see him in comedy films: "Uninvited guests" (2005), "Person of the Year" (2006). In 2012, Christopher Walken, whose filmography is updated annually, starred in another comedy - “Seven Psychopaths” with Colin Farrell. According to the actor himself, Christopher almost never rejects the roles offered to him, considering them as a new creative experience. Each year, an actor starred in an average of five films. Without filming, according to Walken, his life becomes completely meaningless. In acting circles, an actor is called a workaholic. However, he himself does not hide this. In his filmography to date, more than 50 works in various films. Today the whole world knows who Christopher Walken is.
Celebrity Personal Life
A talented actor who played a lot of negative characters and unbalanced personalities, in life a very pedantic person. According to him, he gets up at the same time, does everything in exactly the same sequence: drinks coffee, does morning exercises, has breakfast, works with scripts. The actor is stable in relations with women. For 35 years, Walken has been officially married to one woman, Georganne, the director of selection of actors. The family uses the real name of the actor, and his wife calls him Ronald.
Some other details of the personal life of a genius are also interesting.
- For example, Christopher Walken's height is 1 meter 83 centimeters, and his eyes are naturally different in color (one is brown and the other is blue).
- Christopher cooks very well, basically does not use a mobile phone and a computer.
- Also, in principle, the actor does not want to have children, because, according to Walker, he simply does not like them. But she loves to watch movies about zombies and is afraid of fast driving.
- In addition, the actor does not like weapons. On the set, Walker prefers not to touch the pistols with his hands.
Scandals with Walken
The actor, known as an exemplary family man in real life, once fell into a very unpleasant situation that almost cost him his career. In 1981, he went for a walk with his friends Robert Wagner and his wife, actress Natalie Wood. The girl died on this trip under mysterious circumstances. However, the image of a decent man, not involved in any scandals, helped get rid of unpleasant litigation.
Shooting in music videos
Walken managed to star in several music videos. In 1993, the actor starred in Madonna’s music video for the song Bad Girl, where he brilliantly played the role of the Death Angel. By the way, only two years later, Christopher had to play a similar role already in the movie, in the film “Prophecy”.
In 2001, he took part in the recording of the clip of the famous English artist Fatboy Slim for his song Weapon of Choice. The clip was directed by Spike Jones. Walker, who at the time of filming was 58 years old, performed his solo dance, and also directed the choreography. In the video, the actor first dances in the lobby of the Mariot Hotel, and then takes off to the ceiling. Classes at the children's dance school were not in vain. The song and video instantly became popular, reaching the 10th line in the famous British hit parade Singles Chart. In 2001, a video featuring Walken was nominated in nine categories at once, in six of which he received an award, including for the best choreography.
Director's career
In 2001, Christopher Walken tried himself as a screenwriter and director by shooting the short film Popcorn Shrimp with the famous actress Laurel Hollomen. Also in 2001, the actor acted as co-director in the filming of the video for the song Weapon of Choice. In 2012, Walken also became one of the actors who actively participated in the creation of the popular computer game Privateer-2.
Awards and prizes
Since 1979, when critics first noted the talent of a novice actor, Walken is nominated for various awards and receives awards. In 1979, he was presented at the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in the film Deer Hunter. In the same year he receives an Oscar for this film. Two years later, in 1980, the British Academy nominated for the same film. In 1984 he was nominated for the Saturn Award nomination as the best actor for the film The Dead Zone. In 1991, he participated in the drawing of an Emmy Award nomination for Best Actor in the film Sarah, a Tall and Simple Woman. In 1996, Walker was nominated for the Saturn Award as the best male actor for the film Prophecy, and in 2000 for the film Sleepy Hollow. In 2003, the British Academy won the Best Actor nomination for the movie Catch Me If You Can. For the same film nominated for an Oscar. In 2008 he was awarded the “Award of the Guild of Actors” in the nomination “Best cast” in the film “Hairspray”.
Conclusion
Today, Christopher Walken, whose photo is presented here, is considered one of the most capable actors in Hollywood. He is not afraid to change his role, trying himself both in the role of criminal geniuses, and in the images of psychopaths and swindlers. Films with his participation in total collected at the box office about two billion dollars. The ominous mystical figures from Sleepy Hollow and Batman appealed to millions of fans around the world. Walken, who turned 71 in 2014, is not going to stop there, is actively filming, delighting with his wonderful game of the audience. His recognition, quoting phrases of heroes, vivid and imaginative roles are only additional confirmation of a high level of professional acting skills.