1. Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
2. Joe Viterelli to Orson Welles

Christopher Walken Biography (1943-)

Original name, Ronald Walken; born March 31, 1943, in Astoria, Queens, New York, NY; son of Paul (a baker) and Rosalie (a baker) Walken; brother of GlennWalken (an actor); married Georgianne Thon (a casting director, dancer, and production assistant), 1969. Addresses: Agent: International Creative Management, 8942 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211.; Publicist: I/D Public Relations, 8409 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Occupation

Actor, dancer

Birth Details

March 31, 1943

New York, New York, United States

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Film Appearances
• Me and My Brother, New Yorker, 1968
• The kid, The Anderson Tapes, Columbia, 1971
• Private James H. Reese, The Happiness Cage (also known as The Demon within and The Mind Snatchers), Cinerama, 1972
• (As Chris Walken) Robert, Next Stop, Greenwich Village, TwentiethCentury- Fox, 1976
• Detective Rizzo, The Sentinel, Universal, 1977
• (As Christopher Wlaken) Duane Hall, Annie Hall, United Artists, 1977
• Russel (the Hustle), Roseland, Cinema Shares, 1977
• Nikanor "Nick" Chevotarevich, The Deer Hunter, Universal, 1978
• Eckart, Last Embrace, United Artists, 1979
• Nathan D. Champion, Heaven's Gate (also known as Johnson CountyWars), United Artists, 1980
• Jamie Shannon, The Dogs of War, United Artists, 1981
• Mr. Rainbow, Shoot the Sun Down, 1981
• Tom, Pennies from Heaven (musical), United Artists, 1981
• Dr. Michael Anthony Brace, Brainstorm, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/UnitedArtists, 1983
• Johnny Smith, The Dead Zone, Paramount, 1983
• (In archive footage) Terror in the Aisles, 1984
• Max Zorin, A View to a Kill (also known as Ian Fleming's "A View to a Kill"), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1985
• Brad Whitewood, Sr., At Close Range, Orion, 1986
• Don Stevens, Deadline (also known as Witness in the War Zone and War Zone--Todeszone), Skouras Pictures, 1987
• Kyril Montana, The Milagro Beanfield War, Universal, 1988
• Sergeant Merwin J. Toomey, Biloxi Blues (also known as Neil Simon's "Biloxi Blues"), Universal, 1988
• Wesley Pendergrass, Homeboy, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1989
• Whitley Strieber, Communion, New Line Cinema, 1989
• Frank White, King of New York, New Line Cinema, 1990
• Title role, McBain, Glickenhaus Entertainment, 1991
• Robert, The Comfort of Strangers (also known as Cortesie per gli ospiti), Skouras Pictures, 1991
• Max Schreck, Batman Returns, Warner Bros., 1992
• Pasco Meisner, Le grand pardon II (also known as Day of Atonement), Vidmark Entertainment, 1992
• P. J. Decker, All-American Murder, Prism Entertainment, 1992
• Warren Zell, Mistress (also known as Hollywood Mistress), Tribeca Productions, 1992
• Bobby Cahn, Wayne's World 2, Paramount, 1993
• Don Vincenzo Coccotti, True Romance (also known as Breakaway), Warner Bros., 1993
• Captain Koons, Pulp Fiction, Miramax, 1994, alternate versions also released
• Vanni Corso, A Business Affair (also known as Astucias de mujer, D'une femme a l'autre, and Liebe und Andere Geschaefte),Castle Hill Productions, 1994
• Angel Gabriel, The Prophecy (also known as God's Army and God's Secret Army), Dimension Films, 1995
• Kim Ulander, Search and Destroy (also known as The Four Rules), October Films, 1995
• The man with the plan, Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead, Miramax, 1995
• Mr. Smith, Nick of Time (also known as Counted Moments), Paramount, 1995
• Peina, The Addiction, October Films, 1995
• Hickey, Last Man Standing, New Line Cinema, 1996
• The interviewer, Basquiat (also known as Build a Fort, Set It on Fire), Miramax, 1996
• Ray Tiempo, The Funeral, October Films, 1996
• United States officer, Celluloide, Civite, 1996
• Bill Hill, Touch, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1997
• Caesar, Mouse Hunt (also known as Mousechase), DreamWorks,1997
• Charles Barrett/Carlo Bartolucci, Suicide Kings (also known as Boys Night Out and Bred and Bored), New Films International, 1997
• Raymond "Ray" Perkins, Excess Baggage, Columbia, 1997
• Fox, New Rose Hotel, Avalanche Releasing, 1998
• Gabriel, The Prophecy II (also known as God's Army II and Prophecy II: Ashtown), Dimension Films, 1998
• Umberto Bevalaqua, Illuminata, Artisan Entertainment, 1998
• Uncle Bill Ferriter, Trance (also known as The Eternal andThe Eternal: Kiss of the Mummy), Trimark Pictures, 1998
• Voice of Colonel Cutter, Antz (animated; also known as Ants), DreamWorks, 1998
• Calvin Webber, Blast from the Past, New Line Cinema, 1999
• Himself, Cast and Crew (short film), TVI's Productions, 1999
• Hessian horseman, Sleepy Hollow, Paramount, 1999
• Gabriel, The Prophecy III: The Ascent (also known as God's ArmyIII), Dimension Films, 2000
• Victor "Vic" Kelly, The Opportunists, Fist Look Pictures Releasing, 2000
• Clem, Joe Dirt (also known as The Adventures of Joe Dirt),Columbia, 2001
• Count Cagliostro, The Affair of the Necklace, Warner Bros., 2001
• Hal Weidmann, America's Sweethearts, Columbia, 2001
• Lieutenant Ernie McDuff, Scotland, Pa., Lot 47 Films, 2001
• Roy, Jungle Juice, Miracle Entertainment, 2001
• Frank Featherbed, Plots with a View (also known as Plotz with aView, Undertaking Betty, Grabgefluester, Grabgefluester--Liebe kann Saerge, and Grabgefluester--Liebe versetzt Saerge), Miramax, 2002
• Frank W. Abagnale, Sr., Catch Me If You Can, DreamWorks, 2002
• Reed Thimple, The Country Bears, Buena Vista, 2002
• Detective Stanley Jacobellis, Gigli (also known as Tough Love), Columbia/TriStar, 2003
• Hatcher, The Rundown (also known as Welcome to the Jungle),Universal, 2003
• Mike, Poolhall Junkies, Samuel Goldwyn, 2003
• Salvatore "Sal" Maggio, Kangaroo Jack, Warner Bros., 2003
• J-Man, Envy, DreamWorks, 2004
• Mike Wellington, The Stepford Wives, Paramount, 2004
• Rayburn, Man on Fire, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2004
• Secretary Cleary, Wedding Crashers, New Line Cinema, 2004
• Turner Lair, Around the Bend, Warner Bros., 2004
• Cousin Bo, Romance and Cigarettes, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 2005
• Mark Heiss, Domino, New Line Cinema, 2005
• CIA agent, Fade to Black, Miramax, 2006
• Morty, Click, Sony Pictures Releasing, 2006
• Man of the Year, Universal, 2006
• Fang, Balls of Fury, c. 2007
• Film Work
• Coproducer, New Rose Hotel, Avalanche Releasing, 1998
• Stage Appearances
• (As Ronnie Walken) David, J. B., American National Theatre and Academy Theatre, New York City, 1959
• (As Ronnie Walken) Clayton "Dutch" Miller, Best Foot Forward (musical), Stage 73, New York City, 1963
• (As Ronnie Walken) Chorus member, High Spirits (musical), Alvin Theatre, New York City, 1964-65
• Killer, Baker Street (musical), Broadway Theatre and Martin Beck Theatre, both New York City, 1965
• Claudio, Measure for Measure, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, Delacorte Theatre, New York City, 1966
• Jack Hunter, The Rose Tattoo, New York City Center Drama Company,City Center Theatre, then Billy Rose Theatre, both New York City, 1966
• Philip (king of France), The Lion in Winter, Ambassador Theatre, New York City, 1966
• Unknown soldier, The Unknown Soldier and His Wife, Lincoln Center,Vivian Beaumont Theater, then George Abbott Theatre, both New York City, 1967
• Achilles, Iphigenia in Aulis, Circle in the Square Downtown, New York City, 1967-68
• Felton, The Three Musketeers, Stratford Festival of Canada, Stratford, Ontario, Canada, 1968
• Lysander, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Stratford Festival of Canada,1968
• Romeo, Romeo and Juliet, Stratford Festival of Canada, 1968
• Priest, The Chronicles of Hell, APA Repertory Company, Ann Arbor,MI, 1969
• Rosencrantz, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Parker Playhouse, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 1969
• The Comedy of Errors, San Diego Shakespeare Festival, San Diego, CA, 1969
• Julius Caesar, San Diego Shakespeare Festival, 1969
• Alan, Lemon Sky, Playhouse Theatre, New York City, 1970
• Posthumus Leonatus, Cymbeline (also known as The Tale of Cymbeline), New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, Delacorte Theatre, 1971
• Thoreau, The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, Goodman Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1971
• Scenes from American Life, Forum Theatre, New York City, 1971
• Title role, Caligula, Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT, 1971-72
• George, The Judgment, American Place Theatre, New York City, 1972
• Oedipus, The Palace at 4 a.m., John Drew Theatre, East Hampton, NY, 1972
• Sinstov, Enemies, Lincoln Center, Vivian Beaumont Theater, 1972
• Achilles, Troilus and Cressida, New York Shakespeare Festival, Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, New York City, 1973
• Bassanio, The Merchant of Venice, Lincoln Center, Vivian BeaumontTheater, 1973
• Title role, Houdini, Lenox Art Center, Lenox, MA, 1973
• Jack Clitheroe, The Plough and the Stars, Lincoln Center, Vivian Beaumont Theater, 1973
• Dance of Death, Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, CT, 1973
• Miss Julie, Long Wharf Theatre, 1973
• Antonio, The Tempest, New York Shakespeare Festival, Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, 1974
• Title role, Hamlet, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Center Playhouse, Seattle, WA, 1974
• Title role, Macbeth, New York Shakespeare Festival, Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, 1974
• Title role, Kid Champion, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, Anspacher Theatre, New York City, 1975
• Chance Wayne, Sweet Bird of Youth, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York City, then Rebehak Harkness Theatre, New York City, 1975, JohnF. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, c. 1975, AcademyFestival Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1976
• Gregers Werle, The Wild Duck, Yale Repertory Theatre, 1978
• Measure for Measure, Yale Repertory Theatre, 1979
• Trigorin, The Seagull, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, Estelle R. Newman Theatre, New York City, 1980
• Title role, Hamlet, American Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford, CT, 1982
• Henry Percy (Hotspur), Henry IV, Part I, American Shakespeare Theatre, 1982
• Leonard Charteris, The Philanderer, Yale Repertory Theatre, 1982
• Title role, Ivanov, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, MA, 1983
• The director, Cinders, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, LuEsther Hall, New York City, 1984
• Mickey, Hurlyburly, Promenade Theatre, then Ethel Barrymore Theatre, both New York City, between 1984 and 1985
• A Bill of Divorcement, Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, CT, 1985
• Billy Einhorn, The House of Blue Leaves, Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, 1986
• Stanley Kowalski, A Streetcar Named Desire, Williamstown Theatre Festival, 1986
• Uncle Vanya, American Repertory Theatre, Cambridge, MA, 1988
• Caius Marcius Coriolanus (title role), Coriolanus, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, Anspacher Theatre, New York City, 1988-89
• William Makepeace Ladd III, Love Letters, Promenade Theatre, 1989
• Night of 100 Stars III (also known as Night of One Hundred Stars), Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1990
• Iago, Othello, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, Delacorte Theatre, 1992
• Title role, Him (solo show), New York Shakespeare Festival, PublicTheatre, LuEsther Hall, 1995
• Gabriel Conroy, James Joyce's "The Dead" (musical), Playwrights Horizons, Belasco Theatre, New York City, 1999-2000
• Piotr Nikolayevich Sorin, The Seagull, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, Delacorte Theatre, 2001
• Major Tours
• Riff, West Side Story (musical), c. 1960
• Television Appearances
• Series
• (As Ronnie Walken) Kevin Acton, The Wonderful John Acton, NBC, 1953
• (As Ronnie Walken) Michael "Mike" Bauer (shared role with brother Glenn Walken), The Guiding Light (also known as Guiding Light), CBS, 1954-56
• Voice of Dr. Mayhem, Defenders of Dynatron City (animated), Fox, beginning c. 1992
• Miniseries
• Max Zorin, "I Love 1985," I Love 1980s, BBC-2, 2001
• Marcus Porcius Cato, Julius Caesar (also known as Caesar and Guilio Cesare), TNT, 2002
• Himself, The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, Channel 4 (England), 2003
• Himself, The 100 Greatest War Films, Channel 4, 2005
• Movies
• Puss, Cannon Movie Tales: Puss in Boots (musical; also known as Puss in Boots), 1988
• Jack Shanks, Scam, Showtime, 1993
• Bruno Buckingham, Wild Side, HBO, 1996
• James Houston, Vendetta, HBO, 1999
• Max, Kiss Toledo Goodbye, Starz!, 1999
• Specials
• Lamprocles, "Barefoot in Athens," Hallmark Hall of Fame (also known as George Schaefer's "Showcase Theatre: Barefoot in Athens"), NBC, 1966
• Felton, The Three Musketeers, [Canada], 1969
• The Hessian, "Valley Forge," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1975
• Harry Nash, "Sense of Humor: Who Am I This Time?," American Playhouse, PBS, 1982
• "Celebrating Gershwin" (also known as "The Jazz Age" and "'S Wonderful"),Great Performances, PBS, 1987
• (In archive footage) Happy Anniversary 007: 25 Years of James Bond, ABC, 1987
• Night of 100 Stars III (also known as Night of One Hundred Stars), NBC, 1990
• Jacob Witting, "Sarah, Plain and Tall," Hallmark Hall of Fame, CBS, 1991
• Jacob Witting, "Skylark" (also known as "Sarah, Plain and Tall: Skylark"), Hallmark Hall of Fame, CBS, 1993
• The Second Annual Saturday Night Live Mother's Day Special, NBC, 1993
• Himself, Anatomy of Horror, UPN, 1995
• The Secret World of Antz, NBC, 1998
• Jacob Witting, "Sarah, Plain and Tall: Winter's End," Hallmark Hall ofFame, CBS, 1999
• Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary (also known as Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Primetime Special), NBC, 1999
• Narrator, David Blaine: Frozen in Time, ABC, 2000
• Himself, "The Papp Project," American Masters, PBS, 2001
• Rusty, "Engine Trouble," Reflections from Ground Zero, Showtime, 2002
• (Uncredited; In archive footage) Best Ever Bond, Independent Television (England), 2002
• (In archive footage) Saturday Night Live: The Best of Will Ferrell, NBC, 2002
• Comedy Central Roast of Denis Leary, Comedy Central, 2003
• The Making of "Man on Fire," 2004
• (In archive footage) Saturday Night Live: The Best of Cheri Oteri,NBC, 2004
• (In archive footage) Saturday Night Live: The Best of Christopher Walken, NBC, 2004
• (In archive footage) Saturday Night Live: The Best of Tom Hanks, NBC, 2004
• Himself, Reel Comedy: Wedding Crashers, Comedy Central, 2005
• Awards Presentations
• The 51st Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1979
• Presenter, The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Fox, 1991
• Presenter, 50th Annual Golden Globe Awards, TBS, 1993
• Presenter, The 54th Annual Golden Globe Awards, NBC, 1997
• The 54th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 2000
• Presenter, MTV Video Music Awards 2001, MTV, 2001
• The 15th Annual American Comedy Awards, Comedy Central, 2001
• The 75th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 2003
• Presenter, On Stage at the Kennedy Center: The Mark Twain Prize Celebrating Lorne Michaels, PBS, 2005
• Episodic
• (As Ronnie Walken) "The Muldoon Matter," The Motorola Television Hour (also known as The Motorola TV Hour and Motorola TV Theatre), ABC, 1954
• (As Ronnie Walken) Chris, "Robin Hood and Clarence Darrow, They Went outwith Bow and Arrow," Naked City, ABC, 1963
• Walt Kramer, "Run, Johnny, Run," Hawaii Five-0 (also known as McGarrett), CBS, 1970
• Ben Wiley, "Kiss It All Goodbye," Kojak, CBS, 1977
• Himself, Inside the Actors Studio, Bravo, 1995
• Rotten TV, VH1, 2000
• "Man on Fire," HBO First Look, HBO, 2004
• (In archive footage) 101 Most Unforgettable SNL Moments (also known as E's "101"), E! Entertainment Television, 2004
• Appeared in other programs, including episodes of The Colgate Comedy Hour, NBC; Ernie Kovacs, NBC and CBS; Mama, CBS; Omnibus, CBS, ABC, and NBC; and Philco Television Playhouse, NBC.
• Television Guest Appearances
• Episodic
• Guest host, Saturday Night Live (also known as NBC's "SaturdayNight," Saturday Night, Saturday Night Live '80, SNL, and SNL 25), NBC, multiple appearances between 1990 and 2003
• Late Night with David Letterman, NBC, 1992
• The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1997
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC, 2000, 2003, 2004
• The Movie Chart Show, 2001
• Live with Regis and Kelly, syndicated, 2004
• The Late Show with David Letterman (also known as The Late Show and Late Show Backstage), CBS, 2005
• Today (also known as NBC News Today and The Today Show), NBC, 2005
• Television Director
• Specials
• Popcorn Shrimp, Showtime, 2001
• RECORDINGS
• Videos
• Guardian angel in "Bad Girl" music video, Madonna: The Video Collection 93:99, 1999
• Sleepy Hollow: Behind the Legend, Mandalay/Paramount, 2000
• Breaking the Silence: The Making of "Hannibal," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment, 2001
• Performer in "Weapon of Choice" music video, The Work of Director Spike Jonze, Palm Pictures, 2003
• A Perfect World: The Making of "The Stepford Wives," Paramount Home Video, 2004
• The Rundown: Rumble in the Jungle (short), Universal, 2004
• The Rundown: Running down the Town (short), Universal, 2004
• The Rundown: Walken's World (short), Universal, 2004
• Stepford: A Definition, Paramount Home Video, 2004
• The Stepford Husbands, Paramount Home Video, 2004
• It's a Good Day: The Making of "Around the Bend," Warner Home Video, 2005
• Vengeance Is Mine: Reinventing "Man on Fire," Twentieth Century-Fox Home Entertainment, 2005
• Music Videos
• Madonna, "Bad Girl," 1993
• Fatboy Slim, "Weapon of Choice," 2001
• Video Games
• Voice of David Hassan, Privateer 2: The Darkening, Electronic Arts, 1996
• Voice of Detective Vince Magnotta, Ripper, Take 2 Interactive, 1996
• Voice of George, True Crime: Streets of LA, Activision, 2003
• Voice of Gabriel Whitting, True Crime: New York City, Activision,2005
• Audiobooks
• "The Raven," Closed on Account of Rabies: Poems and Tales of Edgar Allan Poe, Mercury/Universal, 1997
• WRITINGS
• Screenplays
• The Prophecy (also known as God's Army and God's SecretArmy), Dimension Films, 1995
• Author of other screenplays.
• Writings for the Stage
• Him (solo show), New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, LuEsther Hall, New York City, 1995
• Teleplays
• Specials
• Popcorn Shrimp, Showtime, 2001

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books

• International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 3: Actors and Actresses, fourth edition, St. James Press, 2000

Periodicals

• Details, December, 1993, pp. 145-47, 198-200
• Empire, issue 60, 1994, pp. 46-47; December, 1997, pp. 62-63
• Entertainment Weekly, March 17, 2000, pp. 30-35; October 22, 2004,p. 14
• Esquire, January, 1981
• Feature, April, 1979
• Film Comment, July/August, 1992
• Films Illustrated, March, 1979
• Interview, August, 1977; February, 1979; March, 1988, p. 76; July,1993; June, 2004, pp. 68-73
• Mademoiselle, December, 1980
• Movieline, December, 1993; November, 1998, pp. 56-59, 82-83, 91
• Movieline's Hollywood Life, May, 2004, pp. 80-83
• New York, June 15, 1981
• New York Daily News, March 24, 1988, pp. 1, 62
• New Yorker, January 9, 1995
• New York Times, December 26, 1978; June 24, 1992
• People Weekly, May 26, 1986, pp. 59-62
• Photoplay, July, 1985
• Playboy, September, 1997, pp. 51-59
• Premiere, issue 237, 1996, p. 82; July, 2004, pp. 104-108, 128
• Rolling Stone, March 8, 1979
• Sight & Sound, January, 1997
• Starlog, October, 1992
• Tropopkin, October, 1995
• Village Voice, January 15, 1979
• Washington Post, July 24, 2005, pp. N1, N5