# Christopher Walken on stage and screen

Christopher Walken is an American actor, whose career has spanned over 50 years with appearances in theater, film, and television. He has appeared in over 100 movies and television shows, including A View to a Kill, At Close Range, The Deer Hunter, King of New York, Batman Returns, Pulp Fiction, Sleepy Hollow, True Romance, and Catch Me If You Can, as well as music videos by recording artists such as Madonna and Fatboy Slim.
Walken's early career was primarily in theater and television where he often played small roles. During this period of his career, Walken was credited as "Ken Walken" and later as "Ronnie Walken", until he finally settled on "Christopher Walken". He began acting in films in 1969 and, after a series of increasingly larger roles, won an Academy Award in 1978 as Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Deer Hunter. Since then, Walken has become a highly sought-after actor, typically performing in numerous films every year.
Walken has been a primary character in two film franchises: as Gabriel the fallen angel in The Prophecy series, and as Jacob Witting in the made-for-television films based on Patricia MacLachlan's Sarah, Plain and Tall novels. Other notable roles include Johnny Smith in The Dead Zone, Captain Koons in Pulp Fiction, and Frank Abagnale Sr. in Catch Me If You Can. He also sings and dances, as seen in some of his films including: Pennies from Heaven, Romance & Cigarettes, and Hairspray.

## Film

Following his early (1950s) work in television and theater, Walken has acted primarily in films. This list includes credits in studio films, independent films, animated films, and television films. The list includes the 2001 short five-minute film Popcorn Shrimp which Walken wrote, produced and directed.
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
| 1966 | Barefoot in Athens | Lamprocles | George Schaefer | |
| 1969 | Me and My Brother | The Director | Robert Frank | |
| 1969 | The Three Musketeers | John Felton | John Hirsch | |
| 1971 | The Anderson Tapes | The Kid | Sidney Lumet | |
| 1972 | The Happiness Cage | Private James H. Reese | Bernard Girard | |
| 1975 | Valley Forge | The Hessian | Fielder Cook | |
| 1976 | Next Stop, Greenwich Village | Robert | Paul Mazursky | |
| 1977 | Annie Hall | Duane Hall | Woody Allen | |
| 1977 | Roseland | Russell | James Ivory | |
| 1977 | The Sentinel | Detective Rizzo | Michael Winner | |
| 1978 | Shoot the Sun Down | "Mr. Rainbow" | David Leeds | |
| 1978 | The Deer Hunter | Nikanor "Nick" Chevotarevich | Michael Cimino | |
| 1979 | Last Embrace | Eckart | Jonathan Demme | |
| 1980 | Heaven's Gate | Nathan D. Champion | Michael Cimino | |
| 1980 | The Dogs of War | James "Jamie" Shannon | John Irvin | |
| 1981 | Pennies from Heaven | Tom | Herbert Ross | |
| 1983 | Brainstorm | Dr. Michael Anthony Brace | Douglas Trumbull | |
| 1983 | The Dead Zone | Johnny Smith | David Cronenberg | |
| 1985 | A View to a Kill | Max Zorin | John Glen | |
| 1986 | At Close Range | Brad Whitewood Sr. | James Foley | |
| 1987 | Deadline | Don Stevens | Nathaniel Gutman | |
| 1988 | Biloxi Blues | Technical Sergeant Merwin J. Toomey | Mike Nichols | |
| 1988 | Homeboy | Wesley Pendergass | Michael Seresin | |
| 1988 | Puss in Boots | Puss | Eugene Marner | |
| 1988 | The Milagro Beanfield War | Kyril Montana | Robert Redford | |
| 1989 | Communion | Louis Whitley Strieber | Philippe Mora | |
| 1990 | King of New York | Frank White | Abel Ferrara | |
| 1990 | The Comfort of Strangers | Robert | Paul Schrader | |
| 1991 | All-American Murder | P.J. Decker | Anson Williams | |
| 1991 | McBain | Bobby McBain | James Glickenhaus | |
| 1992 | Batman Returns | Max Shreck | Tim Burton | |
| 1992 | Day of Atonement | Pasco Meisner | Alexandre Arcady | |
| 1992 | Mistress | Warren Zell | Barry Primus | |
| 1993 | True Romance | Vincenzo Coccotti | Tony Scott | |
| 1993 | Wayne's World 2 | Robert C. "Bobby" Cahn | Stephen Surjik | |
| 1994 | A Business Affair | Vanni Corso | Charlotte Brändström | |
| 1994 | Pulp Fiction | Captain Koons | Quentin Tarantino | |
| 1995 | Nick of Time | Mr. Smith | John Badham | |
| 1995 | Search and Destroy | Kim Ulander | David Salle | |
| 1995 | The Addiction | Peina | Abel Ferrara | |
| 1995 | The Prophecy | Gabriel | Gregory Widen | |
| 1995 | Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead | The Man With The Plan | Gary Fleder | |
| 1995 | Wild Side | Bruno Buckingham | Donald Cammell | |
| 1996 | Basquiat | The Interviewer | Julian Schnabel | |
| 1996 | Celluloide | US Officer Rod Geiger | Carlo Lizzani | |
| 1996 | Last Man Standing | Hickey | Walter Hill | |
| 1996 | The Funeral | Raimundo Tempio | Abel Ferrara | |
| 1997 | Excess Baggage | Ray Perkins | Marco Brambilla | |
| 1997 | Mouse Hunt | Caesar | Gore Verbinski | |
| 1997 | Suicide Kings | Carlo Bartolucci / Charlie Barret | Peter O'Fallon | |
| 1997 | Touch | Bill Hill | Paul Schrader | |
| 1998 | Antz | Colonel Cutter (voice) | Eric Darnell | |
| 1998 | Illuminata | Umberto Bevalaqua | John Turturro | |
| 1998 | New Rose Hotel | Fox | Abel Ferrara | Also co-producer |
| 1998 | The Prophecy II | Gabriel | Greg Spence | Direct-to-DVD |
| 1998 | Trance | Uncle Bill Ferriter | Michael Almereyda | |
| 1999 | Blast from the Past | Calvin Webber | Hugh Wilson | |
| 1999 | Kiss Toledo Goodbye | Max | Lyndon Chubbuck | |
| 1999 | Sleepy Hollow | Headless Horseman | Tim Burton | |
| 1999 | The Opportunists | Victor "Vic" Kelly | Myles Connell | |
| 2000 | The Prophecy 3: The Ascent | Gabriel | Patrick Lussier | Direct-to-DVD |
| 2001 | America's Sweethearts | Hal Weidmann | Joe Roth | |
| 2001 | Joe Dirt | Anthony Benedetti / Clem Doore / Gert B. Frobe | Dennie Gordon | |
| 2001 | Popcorn Shrimp | | Christopher Walken | Short film; Also writer |
| 2001 | Scotland, PA | Lieutenant McDuff | Billy Morrissette | |
| 2001 | The Affair of the Necklace | Alessandro Cagliostro | Charles Shyer | |
| 2002 | Catch Me If You Can | Frank William Abagnale Sr. | Steven Spielberg | |
| 2002 | Engine Trouble | Rusty (voice) | Brad Barnes | Short film |
| 2002 | Poolhall Junkies | Uncle Mike Flynn | Mars Callahan | |
| 2002 | The Country Bears | Reed Thimple / Benny Bogswaggle | Peter Hastings | |
| 2002 | Undertaking Betty | Frank Featherbed | Nick Hurran | |
| 2003 | Gigli | Detective Stanley Jacobellis | Martin Brest | |
| 2003 | Kangaroo Jack | Salvatore "Sal" Maggio | David McNally | |
| 2003 | The Rundown | Cornelius Hatcher | Peter Berg | |
| 2004 | Around the Bend | Turner Lair | Jordan Roberts | |
| 2004 | Envy | "J-Man" | Barry Levinson | |
| 2004 | Man on Fire | Paul Rayburn | Tony Scott | |
| 2004 | The Stepford Wives | Mike Wellington | Frank Oz | |
| 2005 | Domino | Mark Heiss | Tony Scott | |
| 2005 | Romance & Cigarettes | Cousin Bo | John Turturro | |
| 2005 | Wedding Crashers | William Cleary | David Dobkin | |
| 2006 | Click | Morty | Frank Coraci | |
| 2006 | Fade to Black | Brewster | Oliver Parker | |
| 2006 | Man of the Year | Jack Menkan | Barry Levinson | |
| 2007 | Balls of Fury | Feng | Robert Ben Garant | |
| 2007 | Hairspray | Wilbur Turnblad | Adam Shankman | |
| 2008 | Five Dollars a Day | Nat Parker | Nigel Cole | |
| 2009 | The Maiden Heist | Roger Barlow | Peter Hewitt | |
| 2011 | Dark Horse | Jackie | Todd Solondz | |
| 2011 | Kill the Irishman | Alex "Shondor" Birns | Jonathan Hensleigh | |
| 2012 | A Late Quartet | Peter Mitchell | Yaron Zilberman | |
| 2012 | Life's a Beach | Roy Callahan | Tony Vitale | |
| 2012 | Seven Psychopaths | Hans Kieslowski / The Quaker | Martin McDonagh | |
| 2012 | Stand Up Guys | "Doc" | Fisher Stevens | |
| 2013 | Gods Behaving Badly | Zeus | Marc Turtletaub | |
| 2013 | The Power of Few | Doke | Leone Marucci | |
| 2014 | Jersey Boys | Angelo "Gyp" DeCarlo | Clint Eastwood | |
| 2015 | Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser | Anthony Benedetti / Clem Doore / Gert B. Frobe | Fred Wolf | |
| 2015 | One More Time | Paul Francis Lippman / Paul Lombard | Robert Edwards | |
| 2015 | The Family Fang | Caleb Fang | Jason Bateman | |
| 2016 | Eddie the Eagle | Warren Sharp | Dexter Fletcher | |
| 2016 | Nine Lives | Felix Perkins | Barry Sonnenfeld | |
| 2016 | The Jungle Book | King Louie (voice) | Jon Favreau | |
| 2017 | Father Figures | Dr. Walter Tinkler | Lawrence Sher | |
| 2018 | Irreplaceable You | Myron | Stephanie Laing | |
| 2019 | The Jesus Rolls | The Warden | John Turturro | |
| 2020 | The War with Grandpa | Jerry | Tim Hill | |
| 2020 | Percy | Percy Schmeiser | Clark Johnson | |
| 2020 | Wild Mountain Thyme | Tony Reilly | John Patrick Shanley | |
| 2024 | Dune: Part Two | Shaddam IV | Denis Villeneuve | |
| TBA | That's Amore! | | Nick Vallelonga | Post-production |

## Television

In the beginning of his acting career, Walken had relatively small roles in episodes for a number of television shows. This list includes appearances in various episodes of fictional shows, while excluding appearances as himself on talk shows, interview shows, ceremonies, and the like.
| Year | Show | Role | Run |
| 1953 | Wonderful John Acton | Kevin Acton | Recurring character |
| 1954 | The Motorola Television Hour | | Episode: "The Muldoon Matter" |
| 1954–1956 | The Guiding Light | Michael "Mike" Bauer#1 | |
| 1963 | Naked City | Chris Johannis / Brian Trust | 2 episodes |
| 1970 | Hawaii Five-O | Walt Kramer | Episode: "Run, Johnny, Run" |
| 1977 | Kojak | Ben Wiley | Episode: "Kiss It All Goodbye" |
| 1982 | Who Am I This Time? | Harry Nash | Television film |
| 1990–2023 | Saturday Night Live | Himself (host) / various | 8 episodes |
| 1991 | Sarah, Plain and Tall | Jacob Witting | Television film |
| 1993 | Skylark | Jacob Witting | Television film |
| 1993 | Scam | Jack Shanks | Television film |
| 1999 | Vendetta | James Houston | Television film |
| 1999 | Sarah, Plain and Tall: Winter's End | Jacob Witting | Television film |
| 2003 | Julius Caesar | Cato the Younger | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Turks & Caicos | Curtis Pelissier | Television film |
| 2014 | Peter Pan Live! | Captain Hook | Live television special |
| 2021–2024 | The Outlaws | Frank Sheldon | 13 episodes |
| 2022–present | Severance | Burt Goodman | Main role |
^ III Credited as "Ronnie Walken".

## Theater

In addition to acting for film and television, Walken has acted in numerous Broadway and off-Broadway theater productions. He has acted in more than 100 additional plays including some by Shakespeare. This list includes the most popular of them.
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Run |
| 1952 | The Climate of Eden | Berton | Martin Beck Theatre | November 13, 1952 – November 22, 1952 |
| 1958 | The Visit | Karl Schill | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre | May 5, 1958 – July 5, 1958 |
| 1958 | The Visit | Karl Schill | Morosco Theatre | August 20, 1958 – November 29, 1958 |
| 1958 | J.B. | David | ANTA Playhouse | December 11, 1958 – October 24, 1959 |
| 1964 | High Spirits | musical ensemble | Alvin Theatre | April 7, 1964 – February 27, 1965 |
| 1965 | Baker Street | One of the Killers | The Broadway Theatre | February 2, 1965 – November 30, 1965 |
| 1965 | Baker Street | One of the Killers | Martin Beck Theatre | November 3, 1965 – November 14, 1965 |
| 1966 | The Lion in Winter | Philip Capet (King of France) | Ambassador Theatre | March 3, 1966 – May 21, 1966 |
| 1966 | The Rose Tattoo | Jack Hunter | Billy Rose Theatre | November 9, 1966 – December 31, 1966 |
| 1967 | The Unknown Soldier and His Wife | Unknown Soldier | Vivian Beaumont Theater | July 6, 1967 – September 16, 1967 |
| 1967 | The Unknown Soldier and His Wife | Unknown Soldier | George Abbott Theatre | September 18, 1967 – November 12, 1967 |
| 1968 | Romeo and Juliet | Romeo | Stratford Shakespeare Festival | |
| 1968 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Lysander | Stratford Shakespeare Festival | |
| 1970 | Lemon Sky | Alan | Playhouse Theatre | May 17–31, 1970 |
| 1972 | Enemies | Sintsov | Vivian Beaumont Theater | November 9, 1972 – December 16, 1972 |
| 1973 | The Plough and the Stars | Jack Clitheroe | Vivian Beaumont Theater | January 4, 1973 – February 10, 1973 |
| 1973 | The Merchant of Venice | Bassanio | Vivian Beaumont Theater | March 1, 1973 – April 7, 1973 |
| 1975 | Sweet Bird of Youth | Chance Wayne | Harkness Theatre | December 29, 1975 – February 8, 1976 |
| 1984 | Hurlyburly | Mickey | Ethel Barrymore Theatre | August 7, 1984 – June 2, 1985 |
| 1995 | Him | Elvis Presley, director, writer | New York Shakespeare Festival | |
| 2000 | James Joyce's The Dead | Gabriel Conroy | Belasco Theatre | January 11, 2000 – April 16, 2000 |
| 2001 | The Seagull | Sorin | Delacorte Theater | July 24, 2001 – August 26, 2001 |
| 2010 | A Behanding in Spokane | Carmichael | Schoenfeld Theatre | March 4, 2010 – June 6, 2010 |

## Video games

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1996 | Ripper | Detective Vince Magnotta |
| 1996 | Privateer 2: The Darkening | David Hassan |
| 2003 | True Crime: Streets of LA | Sergeant George |
| 2005 | True Crime: New York City | Gabriel Whitting |

## Music videos

* 1993 Madonna – "Bad Girl" as Madonna's Guardian Angel
* 1995 Skid Row – "Breakin' Down" as Gabriel from The Prophecy trilogy
* 2001 Fatboy Slim – "Weapon of Choice" (also co-choreographer)

## CD

* 1997 "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe on Closed on Account of Rabies