Christopher Walken

:This article describes the actor. For other uses see Walken (disambiguation).

Career

Walken initially trained as a dancer in musical theatre before moving on to more serious roles in theatre and then film. A select number of his movies include dance moves that he has worked in, reflecting this early background.

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He has been in nearly one hundred movies and television shows since 1953, including The Dead Zone (1983), Brainstorm (1983), A View to a Kill (1985), Batman Returns (1992) True Romance (1993), Pulp Fiction (1994), Nick of Time (1995), Catch Me If You Can (2002) and Around the Bend (2004). He was George Lucas' second choice for Han Solo after Harrison Ford. http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,4120,1286587,00.html http://www.timburtoncollective.com/walken.html He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in The Deer Hunter (1978) where he played a disturbed Vietnam vet alongside Robert De Niro. He was nominated again in 2002 for Catch Me if You Can.

Related Topics:
1953 - The Dead Zone - 1983 - Brainstorm - A View to a Kill - 1985 - Batman Returns - 1992 - True Romance - 1993 - Pulp Fiction - 1994 - Nick of Time - 1995 - Catch Me If You Can - 2002 - Around the Bend - 2004 - George Lucas - Han Solo - Harrison Ford - Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor - The Deer Hunter - 1978 - Vietnam - Robert De Niro

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He also has a considerable body of work in theatre with over 100 plays to his credit. He won the Clarence Derwent award for his performance in The Lion in Winter in 1966 and an Obie for his 1975 performance in Kid Champion. He has played the main role in a number of Shakespeare plays ? notably Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and Coriolanus.

Related Topics:
The Lion in Winter - 1966 - 1975 - Shakespeare - Hamlet - Macbeth - Romeo and Juliet - Coriolanus

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He tried his hand at writing and directing with the short five minute film Popcorn Shrimp in 2001.

Related Topics:
Directing - Popcorn Shrimp - 2001

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In November 1981, Walken was on a yacht docked off of Catalina Island with Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood (as well as the skipper of the boat), when Wood drowned.

Related Topics:
November - 1981 - Yacht - Catalina Island - Robert Wagner - Natalie Wood

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He is also a frequent guest on Saturday Night Live where he has a recurring character and sketch called "The Continental". Another skit for which Walken has become famous was a spoof recording session for Blue Öyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper." Playing Bruce Dickinson, a music producer, he repeatedly stopped the recording to request "More cowbell!" This sketch has become a huge cult hit.

Related Topics:
Saturday Night Live - The Continental - Blue Öyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper - Cowbell

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He has also starred in two music videos. His first video role was as Madonna's guardian angel in her 1993 "Bad Girl" video, and the second appearance was in Fatboy Slim's Weapon of Choice video in 2001.

Related Topics:
Music video - Madonna - 1993 - Fatboy Slim - 2001

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