Christopher Walken Is Grateful for Care at Old Home from Wife of 53 Years Who Sold Cosmetics to Help Him
Christopher Walken and his wife, Georgianne Walken, have been inseparable since their 20s. Christopher's wife sold her stuff so he could pursue a career as an entertainer. Although he is a hardworking man, the actor makes time for his wife at their old rustic home.
In 1964, a yet-to-be-successful Christopher Walken was cast in a touring production of the classic musical, "West Side Story." Acting alongside him was a young Georgianne Thon. Christopher played the Jets leader, Riff, while Georgianne starred as Riff's girlfriend, Graziella.
Christopher was immediately enamored by her. They got along perfectly, and the actor mentioned, "She was a fox." Georgianne also commented that she knew he was going to be great. She mused that she had never met anyone like him before. The two fell in love almost right away.
Actor Christopher Walken and his wife Georgianne at the "Heaven's Gate" New York City Premiere, 1980 in New York | Source: Getty Images
Five years after "West Side Story," in 1969, the two decided to tie the knot. Ever since, the two have managed to stay together, and they love each other as much as the day they first met. Throughout the years, they have supported each other wholeheartedly, sometimes even giving certain things up so the other can succeed.
The two worked together for a while, both building their acting careers. In 1983, they ended up on the same set once more with the sci-fi thriller "Brainstorm." Although, Christopher had begun attracting some attention by that time. He took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1979 for his role in "Deer Hunter."
After "Deer Hunter," the actor had a few more opportunities. The role itself didn't come very easy, and the actor had to work hard to earn his place, but after he won the Academy Award, things started to look up. Despite his increasing fame, he still had to devote himself to his job.
Christopher Walken and Georgianne Walken, at the 51st Annual Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the L.A. Music Center in Los Angeles, CA, United States, 9th April 1979 | Source: Getty Images
The actor initially started as a dancer, while Georgianne set out to be an actress. Things soon changed, though, as Christopher started getting more roles. Since his wife knew that he had the talent to be great, she decided to give up her own career so he could devote his life to acting.
Christopher's Wife Sold Personal Things for Husband's Acting Career
In order for Christopher to find commercial success as an actor, he had to spend most of his time working. The "Seven Psychopaths" star made very little money at the start. Luckily, his wife, Georgianne, stepped in and supported the family financially.
He remarked that he has a great relationship with his wife because they were fortunate enough to complement each other.
The then-actress ended up sacrificing her career for her husband. She took to selling cosmetics to make enough money to support them both, while Christopher tried to make something of himself in film and television. That said, even though she had to give up her career, Georgianne hoped her husband would be successful.
Christopher Walken and wife Georgianne Walken attend a hand and footprints ceremony honoring Christopher Walken at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre on October 8, 2004 in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images
Her sacrifice paid off in the end, with Christopher not only finding success but also winning awards relatively early on in his career. He soon started featuring in several high-grossing films that served to gain him notoriety as an eccentric entertainer.
While her husband was out on set, Georgianne chose to stay home and support him as best she could. He had started making money, but he was gone a lot of the time, meaning she took over the things he couldn't get done. Christopher commented lovingly:
"My wife takes care of everything for me. She takes care of the bills, money. I don't have any part in it. Everybody has to do something. I do movies and she takes care of me."
Christopher Walken and Georgianne Walken attend Vanity Fair Party for the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2013 in New York City | Source: Getty Images
But Georgianne soon encountered an opportunity where she could also flourish and find recognition. During the 90s, she became known for her astute ability to cast actors for films and TV shows. She won several Emmys and award nominations for this, allowing her to build a career of her own.
However, Christopher's busy job came at a small cost. The couple never had any children. But that's not necessarily a bad thing in the actor's eyes. He remarked that his view is not everyone needs to have kids. When asked about his thoughts on child-rearing, the actor responded:
"It never happened. Somebody once said that children are a miracle. I think that's true. Not everybody has them."
Christopher Walken and wife Georgianne Walken attend the 2008 Princess Grace Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on October 15, 2008 in New York City | Souce: Getty Images
Apparently, the actor and his wife have never talked about the prospect of having children. Instead, it was just something that never happened to them. He did note that his brother has children and that they have always had them around.
He also said he did realize that his wife loved to spend time with his nieces and nephews. According to him, she enjoys spoiling the kids a little, and he referred to her as a mother hen of sorts. He also stated that he spends most of his time either with his wife or working. The family lifestyle never suited him, as he explained:
"I'm not a big one for opting to wait it out at home for a while for that juicy part. I more or less just try to keep going. And I don't have a lot of things to do otherwise. I don't have hobbies. I don't have children. I have my wife."
Actor Christopher Walken and wife Georgianne Walken attend the Vanity Fair party for the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival at the State Supreme Courthouse on April 21, 2009 in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Christopher feels satisfied with how his life has turned out despite not having children, though. He loves working and wouldn't trade his job for anything. He also feels that he came to where he is in life almost by chance. Although it did take a lot of sweat and effort, he thinks that luck played a big part:
"That's the way it goes. You show up, you try to be prepared; you try to do the best you can. And you're reliable; you're trustworthy. And the rest is just serendipity…or…something."
This quiet acceptance of fortune has seeped into other facets of his life as well. Although his hard work should once again not be dismissed, Christopher would not have been where he is if it wasn't for his mother. She was the one who got him into the entertainment industry at a young age, something he will always be grateful for.
He also noted that his marriage had lasted this long, partly due to luck. He remarked that he has a great relationship with his wife because they were fortunate enough to complement each other. Where one struggled, the other one could step in.
Christopher Takes Care of His Wife at Their Old Rustic Home
As Georgianne and her husband grew older, the actor's role in the relationship started to change. That's not to say he doesn't work anymore – he still loves his job, and he devotes a lot of time to it. But now that he's older and successful, he has more time to spend at home with his wife.
On-screen, he might seem like an intimidating character, but when he gets home, he enjoys spending time with Georgianne.
The couple owns more than one house, but they mainly spend their time at a secluded old home in Connecticut, two hours from Manhattan. After Georgianne started casting actors in roles, her husband realized it was time for him to start holding his own when it came to everyday life.
Christopher Walken's Connecticut house, 2012 | Source: www.youtube.com/c/FunnyOrDie
At that point, they also decided to move out of the apartment they were living in. They found the breathtaking old Connecticut home and permanently moved there. Although they do still use their other properties, this is the one they enjoy most.
The house fits Christopher and his wife's lifestyles and personalities very well. Instead of the often troubled or villainous characters that the actor has become known for, he is a rather calm person. He has been described as easy-going in the past, and Georgianne fits that depiction as well, making them a good pair.
He lives life at a slow, thoughtful pace, preferring to live sparingly and save money. He also keeps a clean house and chooses to live a routine-filled lifestyle by exercising regularly. He doesn't like going out too often and only really flies when he has no other option.
Christopher Walken at his Connecticut house, 2012 | Source: www.youtube.com/c/FunnyOrDie
The "Jersey Boys" actor also finds cooking to be a very relaxing pastime. His father was a baker, just like his grandfather, so he considers the kitchen his home turf. His father's German heritage and his mother's Scottish origins have blended well to give him a good palate.
He also mentioned that his wife never cooks for them. Instead, he prefers to handle all the meals, serving his wife anything from fish to pasta dishes. He shared that cooking also helps him when he needs to study scripts. He usually needs to rehearse his lines quite a lot, and multitasking makes it easier:
"I put the script on the counter and I cook and study my lines at the same time. It's the power of distraction, I find. I've read that a lot of people do one thing while there's something that they're doing at the same time."
Christopher Walken cooking at his Connecticut house, 2012 | Source: www.youtube.com/c/FunnyOrDie
This reserved lifestyle is more than enough for the actor. On-screen, he might seem like an intimidating character, but when he gets home, he enjoys spending time with Georgianne and maintaining a normal routine. He commented on his life at present, saying:
"Every once in a while — certainly not often — I'll be looking out the window, and I'll think, I feel pretty good. My bills are paid, my wife is healthy, the weather's nice. That's really all I care about: when, apropos of nothing, I happen to look out the window and think, This is good."
Even his choice of pet adheres to his preference for a calm lifestyle. The actor keeps a cat that he sometimes calls Bowtie. In an interview, he laughingly commented that the cat has had a myriad of names, including Flapjack, Bowtie, and Popcorn. Mainly, though, he refers to the pet by saying, "Hey you, cat."
Christopher Walken at his Connecticut house, 2012 | Source: www.youtube.com/c/FunnyOrDie
Besides caring for his cat and cooking for his wife, Christopher is still very active in the film industry. He claimed that he has no real hobbies besides cooking, and his idea of fun is generally working. He would often contemplate his performance throughout the day, wondering what he could have done better.
And acting seems to be the only thing he is interested in. On many occasions, he has admitted to trying his hand at writing instead of just acting, but it has rarely amounted to anything. He also believes that his writing is just no good.
However, he has produced a single play about the legendary musician Elvis, claiming the icon had a significant influence on him over the years. He also shared that he has a collection of notes that would one day be turned into a memoir, but he would need help putting it all together.
Christopher Walken arrives at the premiere of CBS Films' "Seven Psychopaths" at Mann Bruin Theatre on October 1, 2012 in Westwood, California | Source: Getty Images
The actor also opened up about his career and preference for acting. Christopher has been acting since he was around three years old, which has shaped the way he does everything. According to him, very few people are immersed in the world of entertainment from such a young age.
With his unique way of talking and his foreign ancestry, it's natural for the actor to draw parallels between his unconventional life and being viewed as different. He said that being in the entertainment industry from a young age is the same as being from another country, one that he calls the country of show business.
This also means show business is one of the only things he knows. He has honed his skills since he was a child, which is why he has such an iconic style of acting. He also mused that his history in dance has drastically influenced his technique.
Christopher Walken and wife Georgianne Walken attend the 2008 Princess Grace Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on October 15, 2008 in New York City | Source: Getty Images
After his long career, though, Christopher is more than happy to slow down and spend some time at home. When asked about the secret to his long marriage, he responded that, although luck is necessary, it is vital to relish being married. He added that he is definitely someone who enjoys it.