Christopher Walken is a renowned American actor, both on stage and screen, distinguished by his sandy blond hair and pale complexion. He has garnered widespread acclaim for his performances, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Deer Hunter (1978). Walken's character roles often portray psychologically complex individuals, but his talent and range extend far beyond this generalization.
Born in Astoria, Queens, New York, Walken's mother, Rosalie (Russell),was a Scottish emigrant from Glasgow, while his father, Paul Wälken, was a German emigrant from Horst, who owned a bakery. Christopher Walken honed his stage craft, including dance, at Hofstra University and ANTA, earning a Theatre World award for his performance in the revival of Tennessee Williams' play "The Rose Tattoo".
Walken's early film career began in 1969 with a role in Me and My Brother (1968),followed by appearances alongside Sean Connery in The Anderson Tapes (1971). His eclectic work gained critical attention in 1977 with his portrayal of Diane Keaton's suicidal younger brother in Annie Hall (1977),and then he won the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award in 1977 for his role as Nick in The Deer Hunter (1978).
Walken was subsequently lured back by The Deer Hunter (1978) director Michael Cimino for a role in the financially disastrous western Heaven's Gate (1980). He then surprised audiences with his dance skills in Pennies from Heaven (1981),taking the lead as a school teacher with telepathic abilities in The Dead Zone (1983),and as billionaire industrialist Max Zorin trying to blow up Silicon Valley in the 007 adventure A View to a Kill (1985).
Walken's diverse range of captivating screen roles includes humorous appearances in Biloxi Blues (1988),Wayne's World 2 (1993),Joe Dirt (2001),Mousehunt (1997),and America's Sweethearts (2001). Most recently, he continued to surprise audiences with his work as a heartbroken and apologetic father to Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can (2002).
