Christoph Waltz Quick Info | |
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Height | 5 ft 7 in |
Weight | 66 kg |
Date of Birth | October 4, 1956 |
Zodiac Sign | Libra |
Eye Color | Green |
Christoph Waltz is an Austrian and German actor who is best known for portraying roles such as Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds, Dr. King Schultz in Django Unchained, Ernst Stavro Blofeld in Spectre, Burt Hanson in Horrible Bosses 2, Cardinal Richelieu in The Three Musketeers, and Alan Cowan in Carnage. He has also appeared in several other films and TV shows like Love Scenes from Planet Earth, Berlin Blues, Pact with the Devil, The Mysterious Stranger, The Alien Years, Most Dangerous Game, and many more. For his acting skills, Christoph has been honored with numerous awards such as the Academy Award, British Academy Film Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award.
Born Name
Christoph Waltz
Nick Name
Christoph
Sun Sign
Libra
Born Place
Vienna, Austria
Residence
Christoph Waltz divides his time between Los Angeles, London, and Berlin.
Nationality
Education
Christoph Waltz got enrolled at the Max Reinhardt Seminar, Vienna, to hone his acting skills.
He later studied at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute in New York City to further polish up his performance skills.
Occupation
Actor, Director, Voice actor
Family
- Father – Johannes Waltz (Set and costume designer)
- Mother – Elisabeth Urbancic (Set and costume designer)
- Others – Rudolf von Urban (Maternal Grandfather) (Psychiatrist, Psychologist, and Author), Maria Mayen (Maternal Grandmother) (Actress), Emmerich Reimers (Step Grandfather) (Actor)
Manager
Christoph Waltz is represented by Players Agentur Management GmbH.
Build
Slim
Height
5 ft 7 in or 170 cm
Weight
66 kg or 145.5 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Christoph Waltz has dated –
- Jackie – Christoph Waltz’s first wife was Jackie, who worked as a psychotherapist and was from New York City. During the course of their marriage, she gave birth to three children – Miriam, Leon, and Rachel. One of their sons is a rabbi and one daughter is an architect. They got divorced after spending 17 years in marriage.
- Judith Holste – Waltz’s second wife is a costume designer, Judith Holste, who is based in Berlin. They reportedly got married in the nineties and he confirmed the existence of their marriage in a 2013 interview. In 2005, Holste gave birth to their daughter.
Race / Ethnicity
White
He has German and Austrian ancestry.
Hair Color
Dark Brown
Eye Color
Green
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Defined and prolonged chin
- Deep silky voice
- Austrian accent
Brand Endorsements
Christoph Waltz has been signed up as an ambassador for French champagne Dom Pérignon from Moët & Chandon as part of which he appeared in its print advertisements as well as TV commercials.
He has also appeared in advertisements for the following brands –
- German Telekom
- Ikea
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7
- Clash of Clans (Video Game)
- PRADA Eyewear (Print Advert)
Best Known For
- Being cast as the lead villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond movie, Spectre.
- Having played the role of SS-Standartenführer Hans Landa in the historical drama movie, Inglourious Basterds. His role in the movie helped him win Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award, and an Academy Award.
- Being cast in the role of bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz in American western drama flick, Django Unchained.
First Film
In 1979, he made his theatrical film debut in a minor role of Paramedic in a war movie, Breakthrough. However, his work in the movie wasn’t credited.
His first credited work came in 1981 drama movie, Kopfstand (known as Headstand in English). He was cast in the leading role.
First TV Show
In 1976, Christoph Waltz made his first TV show appearance in the Austrian children’s series, Am Dam Des.
Christoph Waltz Favorite Things
- Film – 8½ (1963)
- Opera Composer – Donizetti
Source – IMDb
Christoph Waltz Facts
- In his 20s, he moved to New York City and took acting lessons from the legendary acting coach, Stella Adler, who counts Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro amongst her protegees.
- Although he has established himself as one of the best actors in the current Hollywood scene, however, it is his second stint in the American showbusiness as he left the US in the 80s after struggling to find substantial roles and got back into Austrian theatre scene.
- He battled depression when his acting career failed to take off in Germany despite having appeared in a series of popular and critically acclaimed theatrical creations.
- During his first unsuccessful stint as an actor in the US, he used to work as a waiter at the Greek restaurant in New York City, which had legendary actor Bill Murray amongst its regular patrons.
- While growing up, he wasn’t too hung up on becoming an actor. He has claimed in his interviews that sheer lack of imagination led him to the acting profession.
- When he started horse training to prepare for his role in Django Unchained, he had not ridden a horse for about 40 years. And, on the very third day of shooting, he had a nasty accident, which required surgery, and he was ordered not to get on a horse for about 3 months.
- He was hired to play the role of Sigmund Freud in A Dangerous Method. However, as he wanted to focus on his work in the movie, Water for Elephants, he decided to drop out.
- He holds the distinction of being the first actor to have won an Oscar Award for having worked in a Quentin Tarantino film. As a matter of fact, he won Oscar Awards for his work in Django Unchained as well as Inglourious Basterds.
- Waltz is the first and only Austrian actor to have won an Oscar Award.
- In December 2014, he was honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at the iconic Hollywood Boulevard.
- He is the first actor in the history of James Bond movie franchise to have won two Academy Awards before being cast in any movie that was a part of the popular English spy franchise.
- After Christopher Walken and Javier Bardem, he is the third Oscar-winning actor to have played the role of the main villain in James Bond movie.
- In July 2017, he was honored in his birth country as they featured him on the new 80c Austrian postage stamp.
- Before Quentin Tarantino hired Waltz to play the role of Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds, he felt that he might have created a character that was unplayable.
- In April 2013, he was roped in to be a member of the main competition jury at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
- He doesn’t have any social media account.
Featured Image by Zadi Diaz / Flickr / CC BY-SA 3.0