Christopher Walken's Life and Career in Photos

01of 18Christopher Walken’s Life in PhotosAl Barry/Three Lions/GettyBorn Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Walken on March 31, 1943, in Queens, New York, the future Oscar-winning actor got his start as a child star in the 1950s. In celebration of his 80th birthday, we’re looking back at some of his most memorable roles and moments, from his award-winning turn as a Vietnam veteran inThe Deer Hunterto a billionaire Bond villain inA View to Kill.

01of 18

Christopher Walken’s Life in Photos

Al Barry/Three Lions/Getty

Born Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Walken on March 31, 1943, in Queens, New York, the future Oscar-winning actor got his start as a child star in the 1950s. In celebration of his 80th birthday, we’re looking back at some of his most memorable roles and moments, from his award-winning turn as a Vietnam veteran inThe Deer Hunterto a billionaire Bond villain inA View to Kill.

02of 18Christopher Walken’s First Acting RoleOrlando /Three Lions/GettyWalken’s small screen debut came in 1953, as young Kevin in the sitcomThe Wonderful John Acton,which followed his character’s Irish-American family living in Kentucky.

02of 18

Christopher Walken’s First Acting Role

Orlando /Three Lions/Getty

Walken’s small screen debut came in 1953, as young Kevin in the sitcomThe Wonderful John Acton,which followed his character’s Irish-American family living in Kentucky.

03of 18Christopher Walken Learning LinesHulton Archive/GettyHere, Walken is captured memorizing lines in the mid-’60s. His first film role was in 1969’sMe and My Brother; almost a decade passed before his big break arrived with his portrayal of Diane Keaton’s tortured younger brother in 1977’sAnnie Hall.“Even when I was young, it was very difficult for me to learn lines. Some actors pick up a script and seem to know the part. For me, it’s tedious and endless. Laurence Olivier used to call it pounding lines. That’s what it is. You’re pounding them into your head,” Walken toldThe New York Times.

03of 18

Christopher Walken Learning Lines

Hulton Archive/Getty

Here, Walken is captured memorizing lines in the mid-’60s. His first film role was in 1969’sMe and My Brother; almost a decade passed before his big break arrived with his portrayal of Diane Keaton’s tortured younger brother in 1977’sAnnie Hall.

“Even when I was young, it was very difficult for me to learn lines. Some actors pick up a script and seem to know the part. For me, it’s tedious and endless. Laurence Olivier used to call it pounding lines. That’s what it is. You’re pounding them into your head,” Walken toldThe New York Times.

04of 18Christopher Walken on ActingJack Mitchell/Getty"There’s nothing I can be other than an actor," Walken, photographed here in 1973, toldThe New York Times.“Somebody said to me once that I was foreign,” he told the outlet, adding, “And I think, Yes, I come from the country of show business. There aren’t many people like me.”

04of 18

Christopher Walken on Acting

Jack Mitchell/Getty

“There’s nothing I can be other than an actor,” Walken, photographed here in 1973, toldThe New York Times.

“Somebody said to me once that I was foreign,” he told the outlet, adding, “And I think, Yes, I come from the country of show business. There aren’t many people like me.”

05of 18

Christopher Walken Wins an Oscar

Ron Galella/GETTY

06of 18Christopher Walken and His ‘Deer Hunter’ Costarsilver Screen Collection/GettyHere, he’s seen withDeer Huntercostars Robert De Niro, Chuck Aspegren, John Savage and John Cazale.

06of 18

Christopher Walken and His ‘Deer Hunter’ Costars

ilver Screen Collection/Getty

Here, he’s seen withDeer Huntercostars Robert De Niro, Chuck Aspegren, John Savage and John Cazale.

07of 18Christopher Walken’s Lasting LoveRon Galella/GETTYThe actor has been married for more than 50 years to his wife Georgianne, an Emmy Award-winning casting director for hit HBO series includingThe SopranosandEntourage.The pair met in the ’60s and have worked together throughout their careers on films likeBrainstorm. The couple does not have children.

07of 18

Christopher Walken’s Lasting Love

The actor has been married for more than 50 years to his wife Georgianne, an Emmy Award-winning casting director for hit HBO series includingThe SopranosandEntourage.The pair met in the ’60s and have worked together throughout their careers on films likeBrainstorm. The couple does not have children.

08of 18Christopher Walken’s Relationship to Natalie WoodGETTYThe actor was on board the yacht with hisBrainstormcostar and friend Natalie Wood and her husband Robert Wagner the night that she drowned in 1981. He’s rarely spoken out about the tragic event, tellingPEOPLEpreviously, “I don’t know what happened. She slipped and fell in the water. I was in bed then. It was a terrible thing.”

08of 18

Christopher Walken’s Relationship to Natalie Wood

GETTY

The actor was on board the yacht with hisBrainstormcostar and friend Natalie Wood and her husband Robert Wagner the night that she drowned in 1981. He’s rarely spoken out about the tragic event, tellingPEOPLEpreviously, “I don’t know what happened. She slipped and fell in the water. I was in bed then. It was a terrible thing.”

09of 18Christopher Walken Becomes a Bond VillainSunset Boulevard/Corbis/GETTYOne of Walken’s best-known roles is as Bond villain Max Zorin in 1985’sA View to Kill.Here, he’s seen in character alongside costar Grace Jones.

09of 18

Christopher Walken Becomes a Bond Villain

Sunset Boulevard/Corbis/GETTY

One of Walken’s best-known roles is as Bond villain Max Zorin in 1985’sA View to Kill.Here, he’s seen in character alongside costar Grace Jones.

10of 18Christopher Walken Filming with Robert RedfordSunset Boulevard/GettyDressed up as a farmer, Walken is seen on the set of 1988’sThe Milagro Beanfield Waralongside director Robert Redford.

10of 18

Christopher Walken Filming with Robert Redford

Sunset Boulevard/Getty

Dressed up as a farmer, Walken is seen on the set of 1988’sThe Milagro Beanfield Waralongside director Robert Redford.

11of 18

Christopher Walken Plays a Farmer

CBS

12of 18

Christopher Walken Does the Late Night Talk Show Circuit

Margaret Norton/NBCU

13of 18Christopher Walken and Costar Leonardo DiCaprioJeff Kravitz/FilmMagicWalken earned an Oscar nomination for his turn as Frank Abagnale Sr., the father ofLeonardo DiCaprio’s con man character in 2002’sCatch Me If You Can.

13of 18

Christopher Walken and Costar Leonardo DiCaprio

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Walken earned an Oscar nomination for his turn as Frank Abagnale Sr., the father ofLeonardo DiCaprio’s con man character in 2002’sCatch Me If You Can.

14of 18Christopher Walken Wins a SAG AwardL. Cohen/WireImageWhile he didn’t take home the Oscar, Walken did earn a Screen Actors Guild award for best supporting actor for his role inCatch Me If You Can.

14of 18

Christopher Walken Wins a SAG Award

L. Cohen/WireImage

While he didn’t take home the Oscar, Walken did earn a Screen Actors Guild award for best supporting actor for his role inCatch Me If You Can.

15of 18

Lincoln Center Honors Christopher Walken

Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic

16of 18Christopher Walken Cements His StatusFrazer Harrison/GettyPals Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Pollak showed support for Walken at a Hollywood hand and footprints ceremony honoring him at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Oct. 8, 2004.

16of 18

Christopher Walken Cements His Status

Frazer Harrison/Getty

Pals Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Pollak showed support for Walken at a Hollywood hand and footprints ceremony honoring him at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Oct. 8, 2004.

17of 18Christopher Walken Gets a ‘Deer Hunter’ ReunionMike Coppola/GettyWalken reunited with hisDeer Huntercostars Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep at the 2017 Chaplin Award Gala in New York City.

17of 18

Christopher Walken Gets a ‘Deer Hunter’ Reunion

Mike Coppola/Getty

Walken reunited with hisDeer Huntercostars Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep at the 2017 Chaplin Award Gala in New York City.

18of 18Christopher Walken Returns to the OscarsCraig Sjodin via Getty ImagesWalken made an appearance at the 2018 Oscars to present Alexandre Desplat with the award for Original Score forThe Shape of Water.

18of 18

Christopher Walken Returns to the Oscars

Craig Sjodin via Getty Images

Walken made an appearance at the 2018 Oscars to present Alexandre Desplat with the award for Original Score forThe Shape of Water.

source: people.com