Christopher Walken, born Ronald Walken, has been in over 100 films during his career starting in 1953. His feature film debut was a small role opposite Sean Connery in The Anderson Tapes. Prior to his debut in film, he acted in plays and television.
Walken worked as a lion tamer as a teenager in the circus. He attended Hofstra University for one year and then dropped out after a year to star opposite Liza Minnelli in an off-Broadway play. His work as an actor continued from there and he never returned to his lion taming ways. He married casting director Georgianne Thon in 1969.
Walken’s skit on Saturday Night Live has become legendary. The line famous from the skit is “More cow bell!” He plays the role of music director Bruce Dickinson who makes long speeches and continually wants to hear the cow bell played by Will Ferrell’s character. Walken was given an open invitation to host Saturday Night Live whenever he wanted after the skit was such a hit.