Christopher Walken

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9.6 Superb
86 votes

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Biography

Recent Role:
Himself on Live! with Kelly
Gender:
Male
Born:
3-31-1943
Birthplace:
Queens, New York, U.S.A.
Birth Name:
Ronald Walken
AKA:
Chris Walken
"I am the malevolent WASP," Chris described himself to one journalist. To director Paul Schrader, who was lighting him from below for one shot in 1991's The Comfort of Strangers he said, "I don't need to be made to look evil. I can do that on my own". Indeed, many of Chris' most compelling screen turns have been as evil characters, or tragic victims haunted by unnameable terrors. He played one such role in More href="http://www.movietome.com/movie/297081/the-deer-hunter/index.html">The Deer Hunter (1978), which shocked audiences, won him a Supporting Actor Oscar, and made him a recognizable player. (Chris started as a chorus boy in New York, had been working in films for years, winning memorable bits in 1972's The Anderson Tapes and 1977's Annie Hall particularly effective in the latter as Diane Keaton's creepy brother.) He has appeared in a variety of films since, most effectively as quietly menacing characters, but occasionally surprising audiences as he did in Pennies From Heaven (1981), contributing a show-stopping dance routine. He was chilling as the telepathic lead in The Dead Zone (1983), and as a purely evil father initiating his son into a life of crime in the underrated At Close Range (1986). He also had a campy turn playing a James Bond villain in A View to a Kill (1985). Chris exhibited a seldom-seen comic ability as an eccentric drill sergeant in Biloxi Blues (1988), but was back in form as an icy mobster/philanthropist in the hyper-violent King of New York (1990). Younger viewers accustomed to seeing him in villainous parts may have been surprised by his warm portrayals opposite Glenn Close in the acclaimed TV dramas Sarah, Plain and Tall (1991) and its sequel, Skylark(1993). Feature-film casting directors still seem to favor malevolent roles for him, however; he was the flamboyant Max Shreck in Batman Returns (1992), a mobster who interrogates Dennis Hopper in True Romance (1993), Tia Carrere's self-centered record producer in Wayne's World 2 (also 1993), and a vampire in The Addiction (1995). Good or evil, one thing is certain, it seems that Chris was destined for show business even at the age of 10 when he appeared as an extra on Jerry Lewis's Colgate Comedy Hour.

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    10 Perfect
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    Walken is absolutely awesome. He's almost mystical. Shiver and ovations when this guy takes on a role. Simply a legend in his own time. The transformer!

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    9 Superb
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    He is an awesome actor. Despite all the fame and everything he has, he always appears in all kind of movies from comedy to drama and action-adventure, I think that he is really cool and his acting style is great. Also, his face makes him a perfect candidate for any "villain" role, Christopher Walken is awesome.

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    10 Perfect
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    Christopher Walken is a true actor. You really believe that he got into acting because he loves it for what it is. You'll never see him in any tabloids and you won't hear any gossip about him. In his roles, you sense more realism than many other actor's who are considered more talented than he. Of all of his roles in all of his movies, my favorite has to be "A View To A Kill."

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    10 Perfect
    A unique, zany, entertaining and all-around great actor in anything he's in. hide show

    I count Christopher Walken as one of the greatest men on Earth. I am always awed by his performances. He can play crazy, silly and laughable but he also does also scary, creepy and dangerous. I love that he'll never turn down a script, no matter what it is. He's not a snob. He's very down to Earth. He wrote an introduction to a book about cats. I think SNL is how I first realized my love and respect for the man, when he did the Continental and, of course, the Cowbell sketch. But his performances in films are always spectacular. He steals the show. I'll watch movies just for him. If I hear about a movie and decide it sounds like crap, but then hear that he's in it, I'll watch. Although, I haven't gotten around to watching Gigli yet. He's a great man and it would be awesome to shake his hand one day.

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    10 Perfect
    Christopher Walken is the man. hide show

    I love almost every movie he was ever in. He did a fabulous job in the deer hunter. Dead Zone is a great movie, and Walken gave a fine performanc, delivering my favorite line of the movie "The Ice..Is going to Break!!!". In the Rundown Christopher Walken is excellent, probably one his best roles ever. " Luckily I had my finger crossed the whole time" " It would seem young mr. walker here has found something of value in MY jungle and... yup... I'm going to need him to lead me to it." " Enlighten me, how many more are there. Enlighten me, where are they hiding. ENLIGTHEN ME!!!" Things to do in denver when your dead is the best creepy walken. " I'm a criminal Jim my word don't mean dick" Joe Dirt is classic, and there is a movie made in the eightys called dogs of war with tom berenger which he does a great job. now for his crowning acheivemnet, King Of New York. Frank White. " Something is wrong...I feel no remorse." " there is a 250,000 contract on anyone involved in this case"

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