He spent the next decade on the NYC stage before finally breaking into film.
With five-plus decades as a screen actor, discussing Walken’s best cinematic roles is a tricky subject.
He has enough scene-stealing cameos in his film catalog to makeStan Leeblush.
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Conversely, he has been known to provide brilliant performances in otherwise lackluster pictures.
His tremendous performance even earned him his first and still only Academy Award.
It’s another tragic and impressive portrayal by Walken that has easily withstood the test of time.
Christopher Walken, John Cazale, and Robert De Niro in ‘The Deer Hunter’.Everett Collection
A product of Nazi experiments to birth a super race, Zorin is left brilliant, but also sociopathic.
In dedication to the role, Walken even dyed his hair blonde to better fit the Aryan/Nazi ideal.
Walken plays the role exactly as he should: quietly scheming and incomprehensibly ruthless.
Christopher Walken in ‘The Dead Zone’.Everett Collection
A shrewd businessman with nefarious plans?
Willing to commit murder?
Swept-back hairstyle and impeccable taste in suits?
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It’s Walken at his criminal best.
Is he the slimy scam artist that inspired his son but was charged early on for his crimes?
Or is he just a silver-tongued, working-class man who caught the ire of the IRS?
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Walken makes sure that Frank code-switches so frequently, you’re never completely sure of his intentions.
It’s no wonder why this role is considered one of his finest performances.
However, they wind up stealing the pup of an erratic gangster (Woody Harrelson) and hijinks ensue.
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And on top of all that, it’s arguably also one of his most tragic roles as well.
It deservedly earned Walken his first Emmy nomination in 31 years.
Bonus: Various appearances, Saturday Night Live
“I got a fever!
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And the only prescription is more cowbell!”
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Chuck Zlotnick/CBS Films
Christopher Walken and John Turturro on ‘Severance’.Apple TV+
NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
