Trivia

Manages to insert a little dance number into nearly all of his roles, no matter how small, scripted or not.

Danced with Judy Garland at Liza Minnelli's 16th birthday party.

Worked briefly as a lion tamer in a circus at age 15.

Doesn't use a computer or own a cell phone.

He lives in his house in the country, while his wife lives in their New York apartment. Walken says the only people he sees when he is not working are the garbage men.

Was on Natalie Wood's yacht the night she drowned.

He said in an interview that he has never turned down a role.

In his 35 years in film, he has acted in well over 90 films. He rarely turns down a part, under the belief that making movies (whether they turn out good or bad) is always a rewarding experience.

He appeared on Saturday Night Live (1975) doing a Christmas medley called "Walken In A Winter Wonderland" which he dedicated to his mother who hated that he played so many villains.

Was assaulted in a street in New York in 1980 when he asked two men to turn down their music. His nose was broken in the incident.

Is a very skilled chef.

Has different-colored eyes (one blue and one hazel). This is a condition known as heterochromia.

Was George Lucas' second choice for the role of Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977).

Adopted the name "Christopher" when a friend told him the name suited him better than "Ronnie". Has since stated that his adopted name sounds "like a sneeze", and he prefers to be called "Chris".

In order to achieve the gaunt, withdrawn and hollow look of his character in The Deer Hunter (1978), it's reported that he ate a diet consisting of only rice and bananas in preparation for this film.

His wife, Georgianne Walken, and his brothers, Ken Walken & Glenn Walken, still call him "Ronnie".

When he did the Russian roulette scene in The Deer Hunter (1978), he was remembering being sent to summer camp by his parents, which he hated. He felt betrayed, ostracized, alone - which he felt the character was experiencing at that point in the film.

Along with Alec Baldwin, he has a standing invitation to host Saturday Night Live (1975) every year (if scheduling permits).

Jerry Lewis influenced Walken to make show business his career. At age 10, he met Lewis on The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950), where Lewis and Dean Martin were guest hosts. Walken was an extra on the show and was in a skit with Lewis.

Rosie O'Donnell said he was one of the scariest people alive. Later, he appeared on her show, gave her flowers and a box of chocolates, and sang "Getting to Know You" with her.

Walken initially intended to study dancing instead of acting, but dropped out of Hofstra University after one year when he landed an off-Broadway musical "Best Foot Forward" in 1963.

At the time of filming The Rundown (2003), he had never seen the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), and was therefore reluctant to use the phrase "Oompah Loompah" in his final scene. When learning of this, director Peter Berg gave him a copy of the film, and he finally decided to use the phrase.

Has said that a 200-film career is not out of the question.

He has been a huge fan of Elvis Presley since his mid-teens.

Won an MTV Video Music Award for choreographing his own dancing in Fatboy Slim's 2001 music video "Weapon Of Choice", directed by Spike Jonze.

Lives in Wilton, Connecticut, and has a vacation home on Block Island, Rhode Island.

Was considered for the role of Capt. Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).

When hosting Saturday Night Live (1975), he likes to sing during his monologues (which has become a crowd pleasing favorite). So naturally, when co-hosting SNL specials, his introduction song "I'm Walkin, Im 'Talkin" (for the rhyme of his last name) is played.

One of the few hosts of Saturday Night Live (1975) who has hosted enough times to have his own recurring skit ("The Continental").

His performance as Nick Chevotarevich in The Deer Hunter (1978) is ranked #88 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

Was named after his mother's favorite actor, Ronald Colman.

His father, Paul Wälken (1903-2001), was a German emigrant, from Essen, and moved to New York in 1928. His mother, Rosalie (Russell), was from Glasgow, Scotland, and came to the U.S. in 1930. She lived to be 102 years old (May 16, 1907 - March 26, 2010).

Alternated with his brother Glenn Walken in the role of Mike Bauer on the soap opera Guiding Light (1952) (1954-1956).

In the early 1960s he earned a job as one of three men dancing and singing with Andy Warhol favorite Monique van Vooren in her sultry nightclub act.

Met wife, casting agent Georgianne Walken (née Thon), while touring with "West Side Story" in Chicago. (1963)

Member of Saturday Night Live (1975)'s prestigious "Five Timers Club".

He has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Annie Hall (1977), The Deer Hunter (1978) and Pulp Fiction (1994).

Was robbed at the airport in Venice and his The Prophecy II (1998) script, glasses, keys, drivers licence, and $100 were stolen. All items were later found, except for the money.

Was considered for the role of Number Two in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997).

Was cast in the role of Eric Qualen in Cliffhanger (1993) but left before filming began. The part went to John Lithgow.

Lost out to Ryan O'Neal for the romantic lead in Love Story (1970).

In 2009, he had the honor of interacting with the entire cast of Saturday Night Live (1975) at the time they were doing impersonations of him in a sketch called "Walken Family Reunion".

Wilton, Connecticut: lives there with his wife, Georgianne, and their cat, Bowtie (January 2013)

The August 28, 1985, issue of Variety, in the Production Pulse section announced that the film "The Conspiracy" began filming August 26, 1985, in Yugoslavia. Director was Michael Anderson with stars Christopher Walken, Robert Mitchum, Paul Scofield, Alice Krige, and others. No evidence the film was ever completed or released.

Has twice played a Hessian: in Valley Forge (1975) and Sleepy Hollow (1999).

At the beginning of The Dead Zone (1983), he tells his class to read "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". Sixteen years later, he plays The Headless Horseman in Sleepy Hollow (1999). Later in the film, he has a student whom he's tutoring to read Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven". Later in life, Walken read the poem for an audio book.

He and Nick Nolte were both considered for the role of Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977).

Gave a dramatic reading of the lyrics of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (2001).

Owns an original pair of Muhammad Ali's boxing shorts inscribed with "Muhammad Ali (1971) - The Real Champ". He keeps them framed at his home.

He has appeared in four films that have been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Annie Hall (1977), The Deer Hunter (1978), Pulp Fiction (1994) and Dune: Part Two (2024). Annie Hall and The Deer Hunter won in the category.