Lead and supporting actor of the American stage and films, with sandy colored hair, and pale complexion. He won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Die durch die Hölle gehen (1978), and has been seen in mostly character roles, often portraying psychologically unstable individuals, though that generalization would not do justice to Walken's depth and breadth of performances.
Walken was born in Astoria, Queens, New York. His mother, Rosalie (Russell), was a Scottish emigrant, from Glasgow. His father, Paul Wälken, was a German emigrant, from Horst, who ran Walken's bakery. Christopher learned his stage craft, including dancing, at Hofstra University & ANTA, and picked up a Theatre World award for his performance in the revival of the Tennessee Williams play "The Rose Tattoo". Walken then first broke through into cinema in 1969 appearing in Me and My Brother (1968), before appearing alongside Sean Connery in the sleeper heist movie Der Anderson-Clan (1971). His eclectic work really came to the attention of critics in 1977 with his intense portrayal of Diane Keaton suicidal younger brother in Der Stadtneurotiker (1977), and then he scooped the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award in 1977 for his role as Nick in the electrifying Die durch die Hölle gehen (1978). Walken was lured back by Die durch die Hölle gehen (1978) director Michael Cimino for a role in the financially disastrous western Heaven's Gate - Das Tor zum Himmel (1980), before moving onto surprise audiences with his wonderful dance skills in Tanz in den Wolken (1981), taking the lead as a school teacher with telepathic abilities in the Stephen King inspired Dead Zone: Der Attentäter (1983) and then as billionaire industrialist Max Zorin trying to blow up Silicon Valley in the 007 adventure James Bond 007 - Im Angesicht des Todes (1985). Looking at many of Walken's other captivating screen roles, it is easy to see the diversity of his range and even his droll comedic talents with humorous appearances in Biloxi Blues (1988), Wayne's World 2 (1993), Joe Dreck (2001), Mäusejagd (1997) and America's Sweethearts (2001). Most recently, he continued to surprise audiences again with his work as a heart broken and apologetic father to Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can (2002).
