Christopher Walken has been keeping fans glued to their screens as Burt Goodman, the gentle head of Optics and Design in Apple TV+'s Severance. Season two arrived in January 2025 and gave Burt some of the show's most touching moments, and with season three now filming, fans are hoping to see more of him. That came hot on the heels of his turn as Emperor Shaddam IV in Dune: Part Two (2024).
From Oscar-winning drama to Bond villainy and that famous dance video, few actors are as instantly recognisable. For more screen legends, browse our Movie Stars collection.
Christopher Walken Fact File
| Birth name | Ronald Walken |
| Born | 31 March 1943 (age 83) |
| Place of birth | Astoria, Queens, New York City, USA |
| Occupation | Actor, dancer |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1952-present |
| Known for | The Deer Hunter, A View to a Kill, Pulp Fiction, Catch Me If You Can, Severance |
| Training | Dance, musical theatre, one year at Hofstra University |
| Signature | His unmistakable voice and rhythm of speech |
Career History
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Annie Hall | Duane |
| 1978 | The Deer Hunter | Nick Chevotarevich |
| 1983 | The Dead Zone | Johnny Smith |
| 1985 | A View to a Kill | Max Zorin |
| 1992 | Batman Returns | Max Shreck |
| 1994 | Pulp Fiction | Captain Koons |
| 1999 | Sleepy Hollow | The Headless Horseman |
| 2002 | Catch Me If You Can | Frank Abagnale Sr. |
| 2022-present | Severance (TV) | Burt Goodman |
| 2024 | Dune: Part Two | Emperor Shaddam IV |
These are just highlights from well over a hundred screen credits - Walken has moved between prestige drama, blockbusters and comedy for more than five decades.
Early Years: A Child of the Stage
Born Ronald Walken in Queens, he and his brothers Kenneth and Glenn worked as child actors on 1950s television. As a teenager he even spent time working with a lion tamer at a circus. He trained as a dancer and spent a year at Hofstra University before leaving for a role in an off-Broadway revival of Best Foot Forward. Broadway followed, including King Philip in the original 1966 production of The Lion in Winter, and those dance roots never left him.
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Breakthrough: The Deer Hunter
After his first major studio film, The Anderson Tapes (1971), and a memorable scene in Annie Hall, Walken delivered a haunting performance as Nick in Michael Cimino's The Deer Hunter. It won him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and made him one of the most watchable actors of his generation. The 1980s brought The Dead Zone, At Close Range and his turn as Bond villain Max Zorin opposite Roger Moore.
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Defining Moments: Cowbell, Dancing and Cult Classics
The 1990s and 2000s made Walken a pop culture favourite. He was Max Shreck in Batman Returns, delivered an unforgettable monologue in Pulp Fiction and earned a second Oscar nomination for Catch Me If You Can. In 2001 he danced and flew around a hotel lobby in Fatboy Slim's Weapon of Choice video, directed by Spike Jonze, which VH1 later named the best video of all time. He has hosted Saturday Night Live seven times, and his "More Cowbell" sketch is still quoted everywhere.
Later Career and Legacy
Walken has stayed busy and adventurous, voicing King Louie in The Jungle Book (2016), joining Dune: Part Two and finding a whole new audience through Severance, which earned him an Emmy nomination in 2022.
Awards
Film
- Academy Award, Best Supporting Actor - The Deer Hunter
- Academy Award nomination - Catch Me If You Can
- BAFTA Award, Best Supporting Actor - Catch Me If You Can
- Screen Actors Guild Award - Catch Me If You Can
Television
- Primetime Emmy nomination - Sarah, Plain and Tall (1991)
- Primetime Emmy nomination, Supporting Actor in a Drama - Severance (2022)
Stage
- Tony nomination - James Joyce's The Dead (2000)
- Tony nomination, Best Actor in a Play - A Behanding in Spokane (2010)
Away From the Spotlight
Walken has been married to Georgianne Walken, a casting director, since January 1969 - the pair met in 1963 on a touring production of West Side Story. He has also written for the stage, creating and starring in the play Him in 1995.
FAQs
How old is Christopher Walken?
Christopher Walken is 83, born on 31 March 1943.
What is Christopher Walken's real name?
He was born Ronald Walken.
Did Christopher Walken win an Oscar?
Yes - he won Best Supporting Actor for The Deer Hunter (1978).
Who does Christopher Walken play in Severance?
He plays Burt Goodman, head of Lumon's Optics and Design department.
Is Christopher Walken in Dune?
Yes - he plays Emperor Shaddam IV in Dune: Part Two (2024).
Was Christopher Walken a Bond villain?
Yes - he played Max Zorin in A View to a Kill (1985).
Shop the Christopher Walken Collection
Our Christopher Walken tribute designs are made to order for fans of his iconic roles, from The Deer Hunter to Severance.
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Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Al Pacino Career Story and Pulp Fiction (1994): The Story, the Cast, Awards and Legacy.
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