Christopher Walken

Christopher Walken poses at The Essex House Hotel in Manhattan on June 4, 2004.

The Academy Award-winning actor has appeared in more than 100 movies and TV shows, including "Annie Hall," "The Deer Hunter," "Pulp Fiction," "Catch Me If You Can," a slew of memorable "Saturday Night Live" skits, and a rhapsodic Fatboy Slim music video.

Born nearly 70 years ago in Queens, New York, Walken trained as a dancer from age 3, and moved from the New York stage to movies in the early '70s in the Sidney Lumet thriller "The Anderson Tapes."

By CBSNews.com senior editor David Morgan

Christopher Walken's first starring role was in the 1972 science fiction film "The Happiness Cage," about a scientist's efforts to use a microchip to control excessively-aggressive soldiers.

Walken made an impression playing Diane Keaton's brother Duane in Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" (1977).

DUANE: I tell you this because, as an artist, I think you'll understand. Sometimes when I'm driving, on the road at night, I see two headlights coming toward me. Fast. I have this sudden impulse to turn the wheel quickly, head-on into the oncoming car. I can anticipate the explosion. The sound of shattering glass. The flames rising out of the flowing gasoline.

ALVY: Right. Well, I have to, I have to go now, Duane, because I'm due back on the planet Earth."

In Michael Cimino's wrenching Vietnam-era drama "The Deer Hunter," Christopher Walken played one of a group of blue collar Pennsylvanians whose attitudes and relationships are torn by their experience at war. The film won the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Director, and accolades for its exceptional cast, including Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage and Meryl Streep.

Christopher Walken as "Nick" Chevotarevich in "The Deer Hunter."

Christopher Walken and Robert De Niro as prisoners of war in "The Deer Hunter,"

Christopher Walken (photographed backstage at the Academy Awards with his "Anderson Tapes" co-star and "Heaven Can Wait" nominee Dyan Cannon) is seen holding his Best Supporting Actor Oscar, won for his performance in "The Deer Hunter," April 9, 1979.

Based on the Frederick Forsyth novel, "The Dogs of War" starred Christopher Walken and Tom Berenger as mercenaries hired to depose an African president.

Christopher Walken re-teamed with director Michael Cimino for the 1980 western "Heaven's Gate," a film better remembered for its disastrous reception than for its epic qualities.

Christopher Walken played a hired gun for a ruthless cattleman's association in the 1980 western "Heaven's Gate."

Christopher Walken's talents as a dancer were well displayed in the Depression-Era musical "Pennies From Heaven" (1981), adapted from Dennis Potter's acclaimed British TV series.

In the science fiction thriller "Brainstorm," Christopher Walken played a scientist developing a brainwave-reading device that could record the sensations and memories of others. The production was almost never completed due to the death of co-star Natalie Wood during filming.

Christopher Walken and Natalie Wood in "Brainstorm."

One of Walken's best performances was in David Cronenberg's "The Dead Zone," adapted from the Stephen King thriller. Walken's telepathic abilities lead to trouble when he susses a possible future if the presidential candidate played by Martin Sheen were to be elected.

Christopher Walken played the head of an extended criminal family in "At Close Range," which co-starred Sean Penn and Chris Penn.

Christopher Walken starred as Bond villain Max Zorin, who had big plans for Silicon Valley, in the 007 adventure "From a View to a Kill" (1985) - the 16th James Bond film and the last the feature Roger Moore as 007. Grace Jones also starred as Zorin's henchwoman May Day.

A mysterious gentleman played by Christopher Walken ensnares an accountant played by Johnny Depp is a deadly race against the clock in the thriller "Nick of Time" (1995).

Draftee Matthew Broderick has a heart-to-heart with Christopher Walken's Sergeant Toomey in the Neil Simon comedy "Biloxi Blues" (1988), directed by Mike Nichols.

Christopher Walken and Ruben Blades were among the ensemble cast of Robert Redford's "The Milagro Beanfield War" (1988).

Paul Schrader directed "The Comfort of Strangers," adapted from a novel by Ian McEwan, about two couples who cross paths in Venice. Christopher Walken co-starred with Rupert Everett, Natasha Richardson and Helen Mirren.

Both Glenn Close and Christopher Walken received Emmy Award nominations for the 1991 TV film "Sarah Plain and Tall," based on Patricia MacLachlan's novel about a widowed Kansas farmer who advertises for a mail-order bride. The two reunited for the 199 sequel, "Sarah, Plain and Tall: Winter's End," which co-starred Jack Palance.

In Abel Ferrara's "King of New York" (1990), Christopher Walken played Frank White, a drug lord just released from prison who nonetheless returns to his old business ways, going to war with both his competitors in drug trafficking and New York's Finest.

Christopher Walken as sociopathic businessman Max Shreck in Tim Burton's "Batman Returns."

Christopher Walken as the Hessian Horseman in Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow" (1999).

In a flashback in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction," Christopher Walken explains the provenance of a dead soldier's watch to the soldier's son.

Christopher Walken demonstrates why few can play a gangster as threatening as he, in "True Romance."

Christopher Walken and Sissy Spacek play the heads of a family hiding out in a bomb shelter for 35 years in "Blast From the Past."

Christopher Walken received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for "Catch Me If You Can," playing the father of con man Leonardo DiCaprio.

Actor Christopher Walken turns sideways for photographers as he puts his hands in cement during a ceremony in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 8, 2004.

In the 2007 film version of the Broadway musical "Hairspray," Christopher Walken played Wilbur Turnblad, owner of the "Hardy-Har Hut" joke store.

Christopher Walken arrives for a ceremony at the Marrakech International Film Festival on December 5, 2009.

Christopher Walken on "CBS This Morning." — CBS

Christopher Walken was asked on "CBS This Morning" why he often plays unusual, eccentric characters. He said it stems from his early days in Hollywood:

"My early time in the movies had to do with 'Annie Hall' and 'The Deer Hunter,' and both times I was troubled and suicidal," he said. "I think that movies are so expensive that if you do something that works a little bit, you know, whether you're the leading man or best friend or the funny guy or the villain, that you might get asked to do that again."

He doesn't mind if he's asked to repeat himself. "I think that actors who work are lucky," he replied.

Woody Harrelson and Christopher Walken star in "Seven Psychopaths," a comedy from writer-director Martin McDonagh ("In Bruges"). Walken's character, Hans, is a non-violent guy who kidnaps dogs for the reward money.

Chrisopher Walken stars in "A Late Quartet," playing the leader of a renowned string ensemble diagnosed with a terrible disease.

In the movie he's a convincing cello player - and rarest of all for him, a nice guy.

"You don't even really do anything strange in this movie," said correspondent Tracy Smith.

"No, I'm really good. I'm a very nice man," he replied.

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