Editing Christopher Walken (section)

==Legacy and popularity==
Described as "diverse and eccentric"<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2012/09/eight-of-the-creepiest-christopher-walken-performances.html|title=Eight of the Creepiest Christopher walken performances|magazine=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|access-date=September 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910030851/http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2012/09/eight-of-the-creepiest-christopher-walken-performances.html|archive-date=September 10, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> and "one of the most respected actors of his generation",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/christopher-walken-p74206 |title=Christopher Walken All Movie Guide biography |publisher=Allmovie.com |date=March 31, 1943 |access-date=February 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220053206/http://www.allmovie.com/artist/christopher-walken-p74206 |archive-date=February 20, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Walken has a long-established [[cult following]] among film fans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theblot.com/10-best-male-cult-actors-time-7721977 |title="10 Best Male Cult Actors" – The Blot article |publisher=Theblot.com |access-date=May 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513000101/https://www.theblot.com/10-best-male-cult-actors-time-7721977 |archive-date=May 13, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> He is known for his versatility and was named as one of ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine's "Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amiannoying.com/%28S%28npg5svsfseavrpt3ucrt34ut%29%29/collection.aspx?collection=47 |title=Empire magazine's Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time list |publisher=Amiannoying.com |access-date=May 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125145345/http://www.amiannoying.com/(S(xtbszdtveqmcgm2yljun4nug))/collection.aspx?collection=47 |archive-date=January 25, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Once dubbed a "cultural phenomenon",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/christopher-walken-57290128/ |title=Christopher Walken's "Hollywood" biography |work=Hollywood.com |date=March 31, 1943 |access-date=February 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203441/http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/christopher-walken-57290128/ |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> he has portrayed several iconic film characters including [[Johnny Smith (The Dead Zone)|Johnny Smith]] in ''[[The Dead Zone (film)|The Dead Zone]]'', [[Max Shreck]] in ''[[Batman Returns]]'', and [[Max Zorin]] in ''[[A View to a Kill]]'', and was also considered for the role of [[Han Solo]] in ''[[Star Wars]]'' films. His Oscar-winning performance in ''[[The Deer Hunter]]'' was ranked as the 88th greatest film performance of all time by ''[[Premiere (magazine)|Premiere]]'' magazine<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmsite.org/100greatperformances.html|title=100 Greatest Movie Performances of All time|publisher=Film.com|date=April 2006|access-date=February 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225539/http://www.filmsite.org/100greatperformances.html|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and his performance in ''[[Pennies from Heaven (1981 film)|Pennies from Heaven]]'' made it into ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'''s list of the "100 Greatest Performances that should have won Oscars but didn't."<ref>{{cite web |author=ReelClassics.com |url=http://www.reelclassics.com/Articles/General/ew100oscarsnubs-article.htm |title="100 Greatest Performances that should have won Oscars but didn't" – Entertainment Weekly list |publisher=Reelclassics.com |access-date=May 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170601202433/http://www.reelclassics.com/Articles/General/ew100oscarsnubs-article.htm |archive-date=June 1, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Sometimes regarded as "one of the kings of [[cameo appearance|cameos]]", Walken has made several [[cameo appearance]]s or appeared in a single scene of films including as Captain Koons in ''[[Pulp Fiction]]'', Duane in ''[[Annie Hall]]'', Hessian Horseman in ''[[Sleepy Hollow (film)|Sleepy Hollow]]'' and Don Vincenzo in ''[[True Romance]]''. Writer and director [[Quentin Tarantino]] declared that Walken's involvement in ''True Romance''{{'}}s "Sicilian scene" was one of the proudest moments in his career.<ref>''True Romance'' Unrated Director's Cut DVD commentary</ref>

[[Benicio del Toro]] cited Walken as an influence and stated that the best advice he had ever been given regarding acting came from him: "When you're in a scene and you don't know what you're gonna do, don't do anything."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.craveonline.com/site/200027-benicio-del-toro-on-savages-and-licence-to-kill|title=Benicio Del Toro on Savages and Licence to Kill|publisher=Crave Online|date=November 16, 2012|access-date=February 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306173452/http://www.craveonline.com/site/200027-benicio-del-toro-on-savages-and-licence-to-kill|archive-date=March 6, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Kat Dennings]] called him her favorite actor and said that he was the reason that she wanted to be an actress.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2010/08/kiernan_shipka_has_seen_parts.html |title=Kiernan Shipka had seen parts of Mad Men |publisher=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |date=August 11, 2010 |access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref> [[Johnny Depp]] once said one of the main reasons he starred in ''Nick of Time'' was wanting to work with Walken.<ref>{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2005/07/08/mov_458107.shtml |title=Johnny Depp interview – Chronicle |publisher=Chronicle.augusta.com |date=July 8, 2005 |access-date=May 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305082044/http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2005/07/08/mov_458107.shtml |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Jeffrey Wright]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://awardswatch.com/interview-jeffrey-wright-on-his-acting-influences-the-evolution-of-black-stories-in-hollywood-and-his-personal-connection-to-monk-in-american-fiction/ |title=Interview: Jeffrey Wright on his Acting Influences, the Evolution of Black Stories in Hollywood, and his Personal Connection to Monk in 'American Fiction' |publisher=Awards Watch |date=December 8, 2023 |access-date=February 19, 2024}}</ref> [[Mickey Rourke]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/mickey-rourke|title=Mickey Rourke interviewed by Christopher Walken|publisher=Interview magazine|date=January 16, 2009|access-date=February 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309231612/http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/mickey-rourke|archive-date=March 9, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Sam Rockwell]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.patriotledger.com/article/20121010/News/310109344/?Start=2|title=Christopher Walken still has wow factor|newspaper=Patriot Ledger|date=October 10, 2012|access-date=February 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306041910/http://www.patriotledger.com/article/20121010/News/310109344/?Start=2|archive-date=March 6, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Colin Farrell]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-colin-farrell-seven-psychopaths-premi-001-photo.html |title=LA Times – Colin Farrell talks about his new film "Seven Pyschopaths." |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=October 1, 2012 |access-date=May 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706205727/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-colin-farrell-seven-psychopaths-premi-001-photo.html |archive-date=July 6, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Bradley Cooper]],<ref>Mentioned in an interview on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Episode dated March 16, 2006.</ref> [[Leonardo DiCaprio]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/20/an-interview-with-leonardo-dicaprio|title=Interview with Leonardo DiCaprio|website=IGN|date=December 20, 2002|access-date=February 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065533/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/20/an-interview-with-leonardo-dicaprio|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Mads Mikkelsen]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bPhMeGcOpo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/6bPhMeGcOpo| archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Mads Mikkelsen Opens Up|publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]]|date=October 20, 2012|access-date=June 14, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> are among actors who spoke about their admiration for Walken. Prominent film critic [[Roger Ebert]], who was particularly impressed by his villain and anti-hero portrayals, once stated, "when he is given the right role, there is nobody to touch him for his chilling ability to move between easy charm and pure evil"<ref>[https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/at-close-range-1986 Ebert, Roger] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404111858/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/at-close-range-1986 |date=April 4, 2020}}, ''Chicago Sun-Times'', "At Close Range" film review, April 18, 1986.</ref> and called him "one of the few undeniably charismatic male villains."<ref>[https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/king-of-new-york-1990 Ebert, Roger] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404103104/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/king-of-new-york-1990 |date=April 4, 2020}}, ''Chicago Sun-Times'', ''King of New York'' film review, December 7, 1990.</ref>

Walken is noted for refusing film roles only rarely, having stated in interviews that he will decline a role only if he is too busy to accept. He regards each role as a learning experience.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fashion: Celebs And Their Style- Christopher Walken|date=June 7, 2010|url=http://www.elsaelsa.com/astrology/fashion-style-christopher-walken/|access-date=April 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330033451/http://www.elsaelsa.com/astrology/fashion-style-christopher-walken/|archive-date=March 30, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> A rare example of a role Walken turned down was that of Ray Ruby in the film ''[[Go Go Tales]]'' (2007). According to film director [[Abel Ferrara]], the character was originally written for Walken, who "didn't want to do it". The role was then given to Walken's ''[[New Rose Hotel (film)|New Rose Hotel]]'' (1998) co-star [[Willem Dafoe]].<ref>[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FskaT9FcNsI Cryptekeeper 044 Abel Ferrara/New Rose Hotel] at YouTube</ref>

Walken's voice and speaking style have been compared to other entertainment figures with voices that create "a pleasing (or at least entertaining) aural experience," such as [[William Shatner]] and [[Garrison Keillor]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EeK5UPe5i-UC&pg=PA243 |title=The Poetry Gymnasium: 94 Proven Exercises to Shape Your Best Verse|author=Tom C. Hunley|publisher=McFarland & Co.|date=2012|page=243|isbn=9780786488353}}</ref> Walken believes that the source of his speech stems from growing up with immigrant neighbors who came from everywhere, stating, "The neighborhood itself, you didn't hear a lot of English. Lots of Greek, Italian, Polish, German, Yiddish. I think I grew up listening to people who spoke English in a kind of broken way. I think maybe I talked that way."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://observer.com/2016/04/the-great-pretender-the-tao-of-christopher-walken/|title=The Great Pretender: The Tao of Christopher Walken|website=Observer|last=Grant|first=Drew|date=April 13, 2016|access-date=March 17, 2021}}</ref> Walken inspired the stage show, ''All About Walken: The Impersonators of Christopher Walken'', created by actor/comedian Patrick O'Sullivan in Hollywood in 2006.

In 2003, he was voted Number 34 in [[Channel 4]]'s countdown of the 100 greatest movie stars of all time.<ref>{{cite news|last=Muir|first=Hugh|date=May 6, 2003|title=Pacino, godfather of movie stars|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/may/06/filmnews.arts}}</ref>

===Appearances on ''Saturday Night Live''===
Walken has hosted the comedy sketch and satire TV series ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' (''SNL'') seven times.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/playlist/christopher-walken-collection-129711|title=Christopher Walken Collection|work=[[Saturday Night Live]]|access-date=September 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911000848/http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/playlist/christopher-walken-collection-129711|archive-date=September 11, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

One of Walken's ''SNL'' performances was a spoof of ''[[Behind the Music]]'', featuring a recording session of [[Blue Öyster Cult]]'s "[[(Don't Fear) the Reaper]]". In the guise of record producer Bruce Dickinson (not to be confused with the real [[Bruce Dickinson]], lead singer for [[Iron Maiden]]), Walken makes passionate and slightly unhinged speeches to the band and is obsessed with getting "[[More Cowbell]]" into the song. The phrase "I gotta have more cowbell" has since been adapted to merchandise. The producer who suggested the cowbell on the original BÖC recording is [[David Lucas (composer)|David Lucas]].

Walken appeared in one of [[Will Ferrell]] and [[Rachel Dratch]]'s "The Luvahs" skits.<ref>[https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/luvahs/n11683 "The Luvahs" sketch on ''SNL''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211215018/http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/luvahs/n11683 |date=February 11, 2019}} (February 23, 2003) at nbc.com</ref> His character brought a lady friend to meet The Luvahs and she is subjected to learning the history that Walken's character shares with The Luvahs. He also divulges private information about his sex life with his girlfriend, much to her horror ("She was willing to accept her lover's body in places no one had ever trespassed... specifically, the ear canal").

Walken spoofed his starring role from ''[[The Dead Zone (film)|The Dead Zone]]'' (1983) in a sketch titled "Ed Glosser: Trivial [[Psychic]]" (1992).<ref>[https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/ed-glosser-trivial-psychic/n10314 ''SNL'' sketch "Ed Glosser: Trivial Psychic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916035234/https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/ed-glosser-trivial-psychic/n10314 |date=September 16, 2019}} (10/24/92) at nbc.com</ref> In the film, Walken's character can predict deaths and catastrophes, while Glosser can accurately predict meaningless, trivial future events but with the same emotional intensity as in the film: "You're going to get an [[ice cream headache]]. It's going to hurt real bad, right here, [touches forehead] for eight, nine seconds.").

His character in ''[[A View to a Kill]]'' was parodied in a sketch titled "Lease with an Option to Kill", in which he reprised his role as [[Max Zorin]]. Zorin, who had taken on some qualities of other Bond villains ([[Blofeld]]'s cat and suit, [[Emilio Largo]]'s eye patch), was upset that everything was going wrong for him. His lair was still under construction; his henchmen had jump suits that didn't fit; and his shark tank lacked sharks, having a giant [[sea sponge]] instead. A captive [[James Bond]], portrayed by [[Phil Hartman]], offered to get Zorin "a good deal" on the abandoned Blofeld volcanic lair if Zorin let him go, to which he reluctantly agreed.

He performed a song and dance rendition of the [[Irving Berlin]] standard, "[[Let's Face the Music and Dance]]". Finally, there was the "Colonel Angus" sketch,<ref>[https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/colonel-angus-comes-home/2750240 ''SNL'' sketch "Colonel Angus Comes Home"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819150039/https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/colonel-angus-comes-home/2750240 |date=August 19, 2018}} (February 22, 2003) at nbc.com</ref> laden with ribald [[double entendre]]s, in which Walken played a dishonored [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] officer.

Until 2003, Walken had a recurring ''SNL'' sketch called "[[The Continental (Saturday Night Live)|The Continental]]",<ref>[http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/cast/christopher-walken-57396/character/the-continental-16691 Christopher Walken in three "Continental" sketches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115234122/http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/cast/christopher-walken-57396/character/the-continental-16691 |date=November 15, 2019}} on ''SNL'' at nbc.com</ref> in which Walken played a "suave ladies' man" who in reality cannot do anything to keep a woman (a neighbor in his apartment building) from giving him the cold shoulder. Though he is outwardly chivalrous, his more perverted tendencies inevitably drive away his date over his pleading objections. For instance, he invites the woman to wash up in his bathroom; once she is inside, it becomes obvious that the bathroom mirror is a [[two-way mirror]] when he is seen lighting up a cigarette. In "The Continental", only the hand of his neighbor is ever seen; the camera always shows her point of view.

[[File:Christopher Walken 2012.jpg|thumb|Walken in 2012]]

The April 5, 2008 ''Saturday Night Live'' show was the first time an episode hosted by Walken did not have a "Continental" sketch or a monologue in which he sang and danced. This episode, however, did include one sketch titled "Walken Family Reunion",<ref>[https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/meet-the-family/n12231 ''SNL'' sketch "Walken Family Reunion"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115133002/https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/meet-the-family/n12231 |date=November 15, 2019}} (April 5, 2008) at nbc.com</ref> which spoofs many of Walken's [[idiosyncrasies]]. The sketch depicts a fictional Walken [[family reunion]], where all of Christopher's relatives have his mannerisms and speech patterns and sport his trademark [[pompadour hairstyle]]. In order of appearance, the other Walkens are Christopher's cousin Stanley ([[Bill Hader]]); Stanley's brother John ([[Jason Sudeikis]]); John's son Scott ([[Andy Samberg]]) and daughter Maxine ([[Amy Poehler]]) (who carries a [[doll]] that also has a pompadour); Nathan ([[Fred Armisen]]), a gay relative for whom "[[effeminacy|flamboyance]]" means dressing all in black and running his finger around the rim of a [[cosmopolitan (cocktail)|cosmo]] glass; Uncle Richard ([[Darrell Hammond]]) and Aunt Martha ([[Kristen Wiig]]), who think that ''The Deer Hunter'' was hilarious and who are hosts of a [[Nigerian]] [[foreign exchange student]] named Oleki ([[Kenan Thompson]]). When he came to live with them, Oleki—who has absorbed all of the Walken Family traits—could not speak any English. But now (he says) he "talks like a normal teenaged American boy". The biggest laugh of the sketch occurs when Christopher expresses his sympathies for Scott's teenaged attitude: "I appreciate your situation. For a Walken, adolescence is a difficult time. You feel like you're the only normal person in a school full of nutjobs." Scott's response: "Wow! It's like you're lookin' right into my noggin!" ([[Will Forte]] also appears as a waiter at the beginning of the sketch, but does not do a Walken impression.)

In September 2004, ''SNL'' released a DVD titled ''The Best of Christopher Walken'' through [[Lionsgate]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Saturday-Night-Live-Christopher-Walken/dp/B0002I84EE |title=Saturday Night Live - The Best of Christopher Walken |website=Amazon |date=September 7, 2004 |access-date=September 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226061547/https://www.amazon.com/Saturday-Night-Live-Christopher-Walken/dp/B0002I84EE |archive-date=December 26, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Walken returned to the show for the first time in 15 years on October 28, 2023, in a cameo role as the "Spirit of Halloween" in which he gave advice to [[Joe Biden|President Joe Biden]] ([[Mikey Day]]). Walken also introduced the musical guest [[Foo Fighters]] instead of host [[Nate Bargatze]]. Foo Fighters were the musical guest during his 2003 episode, during which [[Dave Grohl]] pranked Walken into speaking with the emphasis on "Fighters" instead of "Foo". Clips of the introduction later became an [[internet meme]] and Walken pronounced the band's name correctly in 2023.

===Presidential candidacy hoax===
Walken became the subject of a hoax controversy in 2006, when a fake website started in August of that year by members of Internet forum Genmay.com announced that he was running for President of the United States. Some believed it was authentic, until Walken's publicist dismissed the claims.<ref name="pres">{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/2061-11199_3-5833740.html |title=Christopher Walken for president! |date=August 15, 2006 |access-date=November 16, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017112629/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-5833740-7.html |archive-date=October 17, 2012}}</ref> When asked about the hoax in a September 2006 interview with [[Conan O'Brien]], Walken said he was amused and when asked to come up with a campaign slogan, he replied, "What the Heck" and "No More Zoos!"<ref name="pres" />