Christopher Walken is a versatile actor known worldwide for unmatched charisma, eclecticism and of course, a distinct voice. In a career spanning more than 60 years, Walken has worked in more than 100 movies and has also proved his strong presence as a singer and director. His role as Cpl. Nikanor "Nick" Chevotarevich in the movie “The Deer Hunter” earned him his first Academy Award in the supporting role category.
We thought we knew everything that this man could pull off, but his life before fame has many interesting chapters that we may not be aware of.
Walken Has A Ton Of Working Experience
Walken’s path to becoming a successful Hollywood actor passes through a number of different show business careers. Before moving on to stage roles and films, he worked as a dancer in a cabaret nightclub, having trained as a dancer at Washington Dance Club.
Additionally, to make money, Walken tried his hands on many seasonal jobs. One of those jobs was as an assistant lion tamer in a circus. Chris is fond of animals... particularly, cats.
What Walken Has To Say About His Lion Taming Experience
Christopher Walken’s “king of the jungle speech” quite defines what he has learned working as a lion tamer. “They're barking at him, laughing at him. But every once in a while, the lion has to show the jackals who he is”, says Mike (Christopher Walken) from Poolhall Junkies.
When asked how he got into Lion Taming, Chris said he saw the job in a trade paper, and that’s how he got most of his work those days. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Chris highlights his experience of working as a lion Tamer, saying, “When he [Head Tamer] would finish his act, there would be one lion left, and I used to go in with the whip and have this lion do tricks. It was a female lion named Sheba, and she was very sweet. Like a dog, really. I would wave the whip, and she would run and sit up and roll over and do things.”
In contrast, he finds the flip side of the experience allowed him to notice that the act was fake and unnecessary. However, Chris cherishes all of his memories with his favorite old lioness, Sheba.
Christopher Walken’s Idea Of Working
Christopher Walken’s persona, driven by his unconventional yet charming style, has reached an iconic level. He doesn’t like to turn down offers to work and he has a relevant explanation for why; he says he doesn’t have any kids, no hobbies, and he doesn’t even like to travel. The work he does is the only thing he's into.
