Born Robert Walken in Queens, NY. "I am the malevolent WASP," he described himself to one journalist. To director Paul Schrader, who was lighting him from below for one shot in 1991's THE COMFORT OF STRANGERS he said, "I don't need to be made to look evil. I can do that on my own." And indeed, many of Walken's most compelling screen turns have been as evil characters, or tragic victims haunted by unnameable terrors. He played one such role in THE DEER HUNTER (1978), which shocked audiences, won him a Supporting Actor Oscar®, and made him a recognizable player. (The stage-seasoned Walken, who started as a chorus boy in New York, had been working in films for years, winning memorable bits in 1972's THE ANDERSON TAPES and 1977's ANNIE HALL particularly effective in the latter as Diane Keaton's creepy brother.) He has appeared in a variety of films since, most effectively as quietly menacing characters, but occasionally surprising audiences as he did in PENNIES FROM HEAVEN (1981), contributing a show-stopping dance routine. He was chilling as the telepathic lead in THE DEAD ZONE (1983), and as a purely evil father initiating his son into a life of crime in the underrated AT CLOSE RANGE (1986). He also had a campy turn playing a James Bond villain in A VIEW TO A KILL (1985). Walken exhibited a seldom-seen comic ability as an eccentric drill sergeant in BILOXI BLUES (1988), but was back in form as an icy mobster/philanthropist in the hyperviolent KING OF NEW YORK (1990). Younger viewers accustomed to seeing him in villainous parts may have been surprised by his warm portrayals opposite Glenn Close in the acclaimed TV dramas "Sarah, Plain and Tall" (1991) and its sequel, "Skylark" (1993). Feature-film casting directors still seem to favor malevolent roles for him, however: he was the flamboyant Max Shreck in BATMAN RETURNS (1992), a mobster who interrogates Dennis Hopper in TRUE ROMANCE (1993), Tia Carrere's self-centered record producer in WAYNE'S WORLD 2 (also 1993), and a vampire in THE ADDICTION (1995). Other notable film appearances include THE HAPPINESS CAGE (1972), NEXT STOP, GREENWICH VILLAGE (1976), ROSELAND and THE SENTINEL (1977), LAST EMBRACE (1979), THE DOGS OF WAR and HEAVEN'S GATE (both 1980), BRAINSTORM (1983), HOMEBOY and THE MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR (both 1988), COMMUNION (1989), McBAIN (1991), MISTRESS (1992), PULP FICTION (unforgettably delivering a monologue about the history of a very special watch - 1994), SEARCH AND DESTROY, THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU'RE DEAD, THE PROPHECY, THE ADDICTION and NICK OF TIME (all 1995), CELLULOIDE, BASQUIAT, THE FUNERAL and LAST MAN STANDING (all 1996), TOUCH, EXCESS BAGGAGE, SUICIDE KINGS and MOUSE HUNT (all 1997), THE PROPHECY II, ILLUMINATA, TRANCE, ANTZ (voice) and NEW ROSE HOTEL (all 1998), BLAST FROM THE PAST, SLEEPY HOLLOW and KISS TOLEDO GOODBYE (all 1999), THE PROPHECY 3: THE ASCENT and THE OPPORTUNISTS (both 2000), JOE DIRT, AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS, CHELSEA WALLS, THE AFFAIR OF THE NECKLACE and JUNGLE JUICE (all 2001), POOLHALL JUNKIES, THE COUNTRY BEARS, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, ENGINE TROUBLE and PLOTS WITH A VIEW (all 2002), KANGAROO JACK, ENVY, GIGLI, THE RUNDOWN and HELLDORADO (all 2003), MAN ON FIRE, ENVY, THE STEPFORD WIVES and AROUND THE BEND (all 2004), WEDDING CRASHERS, ROMANCE & CIGARETTES and DOMINO (all 2005), CLICK, FADE TO BLACK and MAN OF THE YEAR (all 2006), HAIRSPRAY, BALLS OF FURY and CITIZEN BRANDO (all 2007), FIVE DOLLARS A DAY and THE LONELY MAIDEN (both scheduled for 2008), and THE DIRT (scheduled for 2009).  Supporting Actor 1978: THE DEER HUNTER  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 2002: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN 1 nomination