Christopher Walken, who took inspiration from the legendary rock and roll singer Elvis Presley for his hairstyle and has never changed it, has often inspired the imitation of his speaking style due to its uniqueness.
Walken is one of those few actors in Hollywood (Arnold Schwarzenneger, Jack Nicholson, Robert DeNiro, and Al Pacino) who is not only known for his acting abilities but also his distinctive yet recognizable way of speaking.
The Dune: Part Two star has gained a reputation in the industry as one of the best actors. Even so, his distinctive speaking style is something that is considered his prominent asset and can be recognized easily. He once revealed the story behind his unique speaking style.
Christopher Walken on How He Got His Unique Speaking Style
Christopher Walken began working as a lion tamer in a circus when he was a teenager. Presently, he is best known as an actor, which is perhaps partly thanks to his unique way of speaking. However, it has to be noted that he embarked on his career as an entertainer with his dancing talent.
Walken and his brothers were TV child actors in the 1950s. At the age of 20, he landed the role of Clayton Dutch Miller in an off-Broadway revival of Best Foot Forward alongside Liza Minnelli. Before having his breakout with the 1977 comedy Annie Hall, he appeared in plays like The Lion in Winter and The Merchant of Venice.
Speaking to the Observer about his manner of speaking, he did not credit his acting training for in. Instead, he said:
“I guess I do have a particular way of speaking. It has to do I think with where I come from in the city, and also the neighborhood. Both my parents had accents, European accents; they were pretty strong. And so did all the people that they knew, and all the people who worked in my father’s bakery.”
The actor grew up in Astoria, in Queens, New York, with his Scottish mother and German father. This added to the fact that he grew up around people with accents, which is also part of the reason he has such a different way of speaking.
Christopher Walken Grew Up in a Neighborhood Where Numerous Languages Were Spoken
The Pulp Fiction star and his brothers used to take the elevated train from Queens to the city to audition for Sid Caesar’s Hour. Speaking of the neighborhood he grew up in, he said:
“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.”
Walken also credited this for a particular character of his speech, saying:
“People tell me I end a sentence before it’s finished. And I understand that. But I think it might have to do with growing up around people who spoke English as a second language.”
The reality about how Christopher Walken got his distinct speaking style would certainly serve as a good story for a Wes Anderson film since the renowned director is well-known for movies with unique visual and narrative styles.
