People Features

Oscar winner Christopher Walken celebrates 65

Mar 30, 2008, 12:36 GMT

New York - Christopher Walken specializes in villains, manic types and characters that step out of line. Christopher Walken EPA/PAUL BUCK

Christopher Walken EPA/PAUL BUCKHe turned in a memorable performance in Steven Spielberg's 2002 nostalgic crime caper Catch Me If You Can as the father of con man Frank Abagnale and played Wilbur Turnblad in last year's Hairspray. He received a best supporting actor Academy Award in 1979 for his portrayal of psychologically destroyed Vietnam veteran Nick in Michael Cimino's controversial war epic The Deer Hunter. Even so, Walken, who will be 65 on Monday, has remained more a second-tier star. Walken can be described as calm, unflappable and modest, but always a workaholic. He's been in about 100 films and about as many plays. There's nothing more frustrating than long breaks between jobs, said Walken. 'What I am going to do? Sit around the house? I'd much rather go to work and see actors and have fun,' said Walken, who attributes his work ethic to his German roots. His father, Paul, a baker originally from Essen, Germany, immigrated to the United States in the 1920s and ran a bakery in Queens with characteristic German thoroughness, working from morning to night. His mother, Rosali, had high hopes for her three sons, Ronald (as Christopher was called then), Ken and Glenn. They were sent to dance school, and she sought jobs for her children in theater and television. After an appearance on the 1950s blockbuster television show The Colgate Comedy Hour with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Walken knew that show business would be his life. For almost 10 years, he worked successfully in theater and had many television roles early in his career. His film debut came in 1971 with a small role alongside Sean Connery in Sidney Lumet's thriller The Anderson Tapes. Walken gained attention in the role of the suicidal Duane Hall in the 1977 Woody Allen movie Annie Hall, then achieved fame with his Oscar-winning performance in The Deer Hunter. But his career didn't continue in an unbroken line of success. Though he appeared in hit movies like King of New York in 1990, Batman Returns in 1992, Pulp Fiction in 1994 and Last Man Standing in 1995, there also were flops like Gigli and Kangaroo Jack, both in 2003. He admits there are movies he acted in that he hasn't even seen yet. His eyes - one blue, the other brown - reveal his cheekiness and humour. Walken is a favorite guest on the late-night television comedy show Saturday Night Live. With his poker face, his slow, choppy way of speaking and his sometimes almost irritating gaze, Walken has reached almost cult status among fans. Few Hollywood actors are imitated and portrayed more often by comedians and impressionists. A recent stage show, All About Walken, featured a troupe of men and women performing scenes from his career, wearing Walken wigs in a mix of homage and loving parody. In February, Walken was named man of the year by Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatrical Society and turned up to collect the wacky honour dressed in drag. Born in New York, Walken has steered clear of Hollywood's superficiality. He has been married to Georgianne, a successful casting director, for nearly 40 years. She lives in New York City, while he lives mostly in rural Connecticut, where he says he sees no one but the garbage collectors.