16 Photos of Young Christopher Walken

This slideshow features photos of a young, handsome Christopher Walken. There are some who argue that young Christopher Walken looks exactly like Scarlett Johansson, but we'll let you be the judge of that. Born Ronald Walken on March 31, 1943 in Astoria, Queens, New York, Christopher Walken began his career in show business at a very young age. In the early 1950s, he began appearing in small roles on television with his two brothers.   

Walken was classically trained in dance and musical theater when he dropped out of Hofstra University to co-star alongside Liza Minnelli in an Off-Broadway revival of Best Foot Forward. He made his first major film debut in The Anderson Tapes, starring Sean Connery. In 1972, he landed his first lead role in The Happiness Cage. In 1977, Walken landed a role in Woody Allen's classic film Annie Hall. He was also considered for the role of Han Solo in Star Wars, but the role obviously went to Harrison Ford instead. Walken's role in The Deer Hunter earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. 

In the 1980s,  Walken appeared in the controversial film, Heaven's Gate, followed by The Dogs of War. He surprised everyone with his incredibly complicated tap-dance/striptease in Pennies From Heaven in 1981. Tragedy struck later that decade when Walken was the last person to see actress Natalie Wood alive before she drowned at Santa Catalina Island. Walken was never named as a suspect, but her death was incredibly difficult for all who had worked with her closely, Walken included. In 1985, Walken played a Bond villain in Roger Moore's last James Bond film. He died his hair blond to fit the role of a Nazi experiment. 

The '90s brought Walken some of his most iconic roles to date, such as The Kings of New York, Batman Returns, Wayne's World II, True Romance, Pulp Fiction, A Business Affair, and Sleepy Hollow. In the 2000s and 2010s, Walken starred in Catch Me If You Can, Click, The Rundown, Man of the Year, Balls of Fury, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, and Peter Pan Live.  

Christopher Walken is probably best remembered for his many performances on Saturday Night Live. He was responsible for bringing "more cowbell" to our world through his many humorous guest appearances on SNL.  

Vote for your favorite picture of Christopher Walken when he was young!