Editing Christopher Walken (section)

===1950s–1960s===
As a child, Walken appeared on screen as an [[Extra (actor)|extra]] in numerous [[anthology series]] and [[variety shows]] during the [[Golden Age of Television]].<ref name=tca/> After appearing in a sketch with [[Martin and Lewis]] on ''[[The Colgate Comedy Hour]]'', Walken decided to become an actor.<ref name="tiscali">{{cite web|url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/christopher_walken_biog/2|title=Christopher Walken Biography|publisher=[[Tiscali SpA]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101033429/http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/christopher_walken_biog/2|archive-date=January 1, 2007}}</ref> He landed a regular role in the 1953 television show ''Wonderful John Acton,'' playing the part of Kevin Acton. During this time, he was credited as Ronnie Walken.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EDsYAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA54 |title=Television Introductions: Narrated TV Program Openings since 1949|author=Vincent Terrace|publisher=Scarecrow Press|date=November 7, 2013|page=54|isbn=9780810892507|access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref>

Over the next two years, he appeared frequently on television, and had a thriving career in theater. From 1954 to 1956, Walken and his brother Glenn originated the role of Michael Bauer on the soap opera ''[[Guiding Light|The Guiding Light]].'' In 1963, he appeared as a character named Chris in an episode of ''[[Naked City (TV series)|Naked City]]'', starring [[Paul Burke (actor)|Paul Burke]].

In 1964, he changed his first name to Christopher at the suggestion of [[Monique van Vooren]], who had a nightclub act in which Walken was a dancer. She believed the name suited him better than nickname Ronnie, which he was credited as until then.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celebratingchristopherwalken.com/biography.htm|title=Christopher Walken: The Song and Dance Man|publisher=Celebrating Christopher Walken|access-date=September 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005054824/http://www.celebratingchristopherwalken.com/biography.htm|archive-date=October 5, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> He prefers to be known as Chris instead of Christopher.<ref name="tiscali"/>

In 1966, Walken played the role of King Philip of France in the Broadway premiere of ''[[The Lion in Winter]]''.<ref name=site>{{cite web |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/200775%7c0/Christopher-Walken/ |title=Christopher Walken Biography |publisher=[[Turner Classic Movies]] |access-date=January 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307185148/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/200775%7C0/Christopher-Walken/ |archive-date=March 7, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1968, he played Lysander in ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' and Romeo in ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' at the [[Stratford Festival]] in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archives.stratfordfestival.ca/AIS/Details/people/10149|title=Stratford Festival Archives &#124; Details|website=archives.stratfordfestival.ca|access-date=April 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406224143/https://archives.stratfordfestival.ca/AIS/Details/people/10149|archive-date=April 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cda.mrs.umn.edu/~webbrl/WalkenStratford.html|title=Christopher Walken at Stratford 1968|website=cda.mrs.umn.edu|access-date=April 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117150537/http://cda.mrs.umn.edu/~webbrl/WalkenStratford.html|archive-date=November 17, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

He appeared in the made-for-TV movies ''[[Barefoot in Athens]]'' (1966) and ''[[The Three Musketeers (1969 film)|The Three Musketeers]]'' (1969), and made his feature film debut in ''[[Me and My Brother (film)|Me and My Brother]]'' (1969), a low-budget production that also featured [[Sam Shepard]].