Christoph Waltz

Christoph Waltz (German: [ˈkrɪstɔf ˈvalts]; born 4 October 1956) is an Austrian-German actor and director. Since 2009 he has mainly been active in the United States.[1][2][3] His accolades include two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two British Academy Film Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Christoph Waltz
Born (1956-10-04) 4 October 1956
Vienna, Austria
Citizenship
Alma materMax Reinhardt Seminar
OccupationActor, director
Years active1977–present
Spouse(s)
  • Jacqueline Rauch
    (divorced)
  • Judith Holste (m. )
Children4
AwardsFull list

His breakout American role came in Quentin Tarantino's 2009 film Inglourious Basterds, where he played SS officer Hans Landa. He would later collaborate with Tarantino once again in 2012, where he played bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz in Django Unchained. For each performance, he earned an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. Waltz also received the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his portrayal of Landa.[4]

Waltz has also starred in Roman Polanski's dark comedy Carnage (2011), Terry Gilliam's science fiction film The Zero Theorem (2013), Tim Burton's biographical film Big Eyes (2014), Alexander Payne's satire Downsizing (2017), and Woody Allen's comedy Rifkin's Festival (2020). Waltz also gained acclaim for his performance as James Bond's nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld in Sam Mendes' Spectre (2015),[5] a role which he will reprise in Cary Joji Fukunaga's No Time to Die (2021). For his role as Walter Keane in Big Eyes he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor.

In 2020, he starred in the web series Most Dangerous Game and garnered his first Primetime Emmy nomination, for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series. He also provided the voice of Mandrake in Epic (2013) and is set to voice the Fox and the Cat in Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio adaptation (2021). Waltz is also set to appear in the upcoming Wes Anderson film The French Dispatch.

Early life

Waltz was born in Vienna,[6] the son of Johannes Waltz, a German set designer, and Elisabeth Urbancic, an Austrian costume designer.[7][8]

Waltz comes from a family of theatrical heritage: his maternal grandmother was Burgtheater and silent film actress Maria Mayen, and his step-grandfather, Emmerich Reimers, and his great-grandfather, Georg Reimers, were both stage actors who also appeared in silent films.[7][9] Waltz's maternal grandfather, Rudolf von Urban, was a psychiatrist of Slovene descent[lower-alpha 1] and a student of Sigmund Freud.[12]

Waltz's father died when he was seven years old,[7] and his mother later married composer and conductor Alexander Steinbrecher.[13][14] Steinbrecher was previously married to the mother of director Michael Haneke; as a result, Waltz and Haneke shared the same stepfather.[15]

Waltz had a passion for opera as a youth, having seen his first opera (Turandot with Birgit Nilsson in the title role) at around the age of ten. As a teenager, Waltz would visit the opera twice a week.[14] He was uninterested in theatre[7] and wished to become an opera singer.[12]

After graduating from Vienna's Theresianum,[7] Waltz went to study acting at the renowned Max Reinhardt Seminar.[16] At the same time, he also studied singing and opera at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, but eventually decided that his voice was not good enough for an opera career.[9][17] In the late 1970s, Waltz spent some time in New York City where he trained with Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler. He studied script interpretation under Adler, and credits his analytical approach to her teaching.[9]

Career

Waltz in 2012

On his return to Europe, Waltz found work as a stage actor, making his debut at the Schauspielhaus in Zurich.[18] He also performed in Vienna, Salzburg, Cologne and Hamburg.[9][12] He became a prolific television actor in the years 1980 to 2000. In 2000, he made his directorial debut, with the German television production Wenn man sich traut.[19] Before coming to the attention of a larger audience in Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, he had played Dr. Hans-Joachim Dorfmann in the British TV series The Gravy Train in 1990. The show is a story of intrigue and misdeeds set in the offices of the European Union in Brussels.[20]

In Quentin Tarantino's 2009 film Inglourious Basterds, Waltz portrayed SS-Standartenführer Hans Landa, also known as "The Jew Hunter". Clever, courteous, multilingual—but also self-serving, cunning, implacable and murderous—the character of Landa was such that Tarantino feared he "might have written a part that was un-playable".[21] Waltz received the Best Actor Award for the performance at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and received acclaim from critics and the public. In 2009, he began sweeping critics' awards circuits, receiving awards for Best Supporting Actor from the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics,[22] Los Angeles Film Critics Association,[22] and for Best Supporting Actor at the 67th Golden Globe Awards and the 16th Screen Actors Guild Awards in January 2010.

The following month, he won the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor,[23] and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.[24] Tarantino acknowledged the importance of Waltz to his film by stating: "I think that Landa is one of the best characters I've ever written and ever will write, and Christoph played it to a tee. It's true that if I couldn't have found someone as good as Christoph I might not have made Inglourious Basterds".[25]

Waltz played gangster Benjamin Chudnofsky in The Green Hornet (2011); that same year, he starred in Water for Elephants and Roman Polanski's Carnage. He played German bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained (2012), a role Tarantino wrote specifically for Waltz.[26] During a training accident prior to filming, Waltz injured his pelvis.[27] His role garnered him acclaim once again, with Waltz winning the Golden Globe, the BAFTA, and ultimately the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Waltz has been cast as the former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the film Reykjavik, based on the 1986 peace talks between the United States and USSR.[28] In April 2013, he was selected as a member of the main competition jury at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.[29] He directed a production of the opera Der Rosenkavalier at the Vlaamse Opera, in Antwerp in late 2013, and in Ghent early 2014.[30] In 2014, he was selected as a member of the jury for the 64th Berlin International Film Festival.[31] He starred as Walter Keane in Tim Burton's Big Eyes, which opened on 25 December 2014,[32] and appeared as Ernst Stavro Blofeld in Spectre, the 24th film in the James Bond franchise.[33] In July 2019, it was reported that Waltz would reprise the role in No Time to Die (2020).[34]

In 2015, it was announced that Waltz would direct and star in the film Georgetown (formerly titled The Worst Marriage in Georgetown), which is based on the true crime story of the murder of Viola Drath.[35] In July 2016, he portrayed lead villain Captain Leon Rom, a corrupt Belgian captain, in the reboot The Legend of Tarzan.

In 2017, Waltz appeared in the films Tulip Fever and Downsizing. In 2019, Waltz appeared in the action fantasy Alita: Battle Angel. He directed a production of the opera Falstaff, again at the Vlaamse Opera, in Antwerp in late 2017, and in Ghent in early 2018.

In 2018, it became public that Christoph Waltz had agreed to play the leading role in a film adaptation of the novel The Nazi and The Barber, and had described the main role, the role of the mass murderer Max Schulz, as "juicy rôle".[36]

Personal life

Waltz and wife Judith Holste at the 82nd Academy Awards, March 2010

Waltz has three children with his former wife, Jacqueline (née Rauch), a dance therapist originally from New York.[9][37] The two lived in London and their marriage lasted 17 years.[9][8] Waltz married his second wife, German costume designer Judith Holste, with whom he has a daughter. They divide their time between Berlin, Vienna and Los Angeles.[38][39]

Waltz's native language is German, and he also speaks both English and French fluently.[40] He speaks all three of these in Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained, and although his character in Inglourious Basterds also spoke Italian, Waltz said on the Adam Carolla Podcast that he is not fluent in Italian.

Waltz was born in Vienna to a German father who applied for him to become a citizen of Germany after his birth.[41] He received Austrian citizenship in 2010, thus holding citizenships of both Austria and Germany, but considers his German passport a "legal, citizenship law banality"[3] despite the fact that he had not previously been able to vote in Austria's national elections. Asked whether he felt Viennese, he responded: "I was born in Vienna, grew up in Vienna, went to school in Vienna, graduated in Vienna, studied in Vienna, started acting in Vienna – and there would be a few further Viennese links. How much more Austrian do you want it?"[42]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Director Notes
1979BreakthroughParamedicAndrew V. McLaglenUncredited
1981HeadstandMarkusVeith von Fürstenberg
1982Fire and SwordTristanVeith von Fürstenberg
1986WahnfriedFriedrich NietzschePeter Patzak
1988Quicker Than the EyePolice ChiefNicolas Gessner
1991Life for Life: Maximilian KolbeJan TytzKrzysztof ZanussiCredited as Chistopher Waltz
1995The Start of SomethingHerbertNikolaus Leytner
1997Our God's BrotherMaksymilian GierymskiKrzysztof Zanussi
1998Seven MoonsKom. BeckerPeter Fratzscher
1998Love Scenes from Planet EarthCharlyMarc Rothemund
1999The BrideKarl AugustEgon Günther
2000Ordinary Decent CriminalPeterThaddeus O'Sullivan
2000Falling RocksLouisPeter Keglevic
2000Death, Deceit and Destiny
Aboard the Orient Express
Ossama / TarikMark Roper
2001Queen's MessengerAli Ben SammMark Roper
2001SheMichael VinceyTimothy Bond
2003AngstPsychoanalystOskar Roehler
2003Gun-ShyJohannsenDito Tsintsadze
2003Berlin BluesDoctorLeander Haußmann
2004Pact with the DevilRolf SteinerAllan A. Goldstein
2006Lapislazuli: In the Eyes of the BearCzernyWolfgang Murnberger
2009Inglourious BasterdsCol. Hans LandaQuentin Tarantino
2011The Green HornetBenjamin Chudnofsky
Bloodnofsky
Michel Gondry
2011Water for ElephantsAugust RosenbluthFrancis Lawrence
2011The Three MusketeersCardinal RichelieuPaul W. S. Anderson
2011CarnageAlan CowanRoman Polanski
2012Django UnchainedDr. King SchultzQuentin Tarantino
2013EpicMandrakeChris WedgeVoice
2013The Zero TheoremQohen LethTerry GilliamAlso co-producer
2014Muppets Most WantedHimselfJames BobinCameo
2014Horrible Bosses 2Burt HansonSean Anders
2014Big EyesWalter KeaneTim Burton
2015SpectreErnst Stavro BlofeldSam Mendes
2016The Legend of TarzanLéon RomDavid Yates
2017Tulip FeverCornelis SandvoortJustin Chadwick
2017DownsizingDusan MirkovicAlexander Payne
2019Alita: Battle AngelDr. Dyson IdoRobert Rodriguez
2019GeorgetownUlrich MottHimselfDirectorial debut
2019QT8: The First EightHimselfTara WoodDocumentary film[43]
2020Rifkin's FestivalDeathWoody Allen
2021No Time to DieErnst Stavro BlofeldCary Joji FukunagaPost-production
2021PinocchioThe Fox and the CatGuillermo del Toro
Mark Gustafson
Post-production; voice
TBAThe French DispatchBoris SchommersWes AndersonPost-production

Television

Year Title Role Language Notes
1977 Am dam des (singer) German
1977 Der Einstand Gunther Vesley German Television film
1979 Feuer! Karl Albrecht Schlick German Television film
1979 Parole Chicago Eduard "Ede" Bredo German 13 episodes
1982 The Mysterious Stranger Ernst Wasserman English Television film
1982 Dr. Margarete Johnsohn Rainer German Television film
1983 Der Sandmann Nathanael German Television film
1985 Ein Fall für zwei Alf German Episode: "Blutsbande"
1986 The Old Fox Hans Baumeister German Episode: "Zwei Leben"
1986 Derrick Eberhard Bothe German Episode: "Schonzeit für Mörder"
1986 The Lenz Papers Franz Sigel German Television miniseries
1987 Tatort Inspektor Passini German Episode: "Wunschlos tot"
1987 Das andere Leben Stefan German Television film
1988 The Alien Years Stefan Mueller English Television series
1988 Derrick Schumann German Episode: "Mord inklusive"
1989 Goldeneye German spy English Television film
1990 The Gravy Train Dr. Hans-Joachim Dorfmann English 4 episodes
1990 The Old Fox Christian Kamp German Episode: "So gut wie tot"
1991 The Gravy Train Goes East Dr. Hans-Joachim Dorfmann English 4 episodes
1992 5 Zimmer, Küche, Bad Hartwig Klemmnitz German Television film
1992 Die Angst wird bleiben Manfred German Television film
1993 König der letzten Tage John of Leiden German (a.k.a. A King for Burning; Television film
1994 Tag der Abrechnung
Der Amokläufer von Euskirchen
Erwin Mikolajczyk German Television film
1994 Jacob Morash English Television film
1994 Die Staatsanwältin Andreas Doepke German Television film
1995 The All New Alexei Sayle Show Weak Moustache English Episode #2.3
1995 Prinz zu entsorgen Roman German Television film
1995 Man(n) sucht Frau Christoph German Television film
1995 Catherine the Great Mirovich English Television film
1996 Der Tourist Stephan Görner German Television film
1996 Du bist nicht allein – Die Roy Black Story Roy Black German Television film
1996 Rosa Roth Wietze German Episode: "Nirgendwohin"
1996 Rex: A Cop's Best Friend Martin Wolf German Episode: "Der Puppenmörder"
1997 Maître Da Costa Walter Mueller French 2 episodes
1997 Faust Gerhardt Schulze-Leitner German Episode: "Villa Palermo"
1997 Schimanski Klaus Mandel German Episode: "Blutsbrüder"
1998 Vickys Alptraum Johnny German Television film
1998 Schock – Eine Frau in Angst Kommissar Kaul German Television film
1998 The Final Game Kant German Television film
1998 Rache für mein totes Kind Paul German Television film
1998 Mörderisches Erbe
Tausch mit einer Toten
Moritz Fink German Television film
1999 Dessine-moi un jouet Klaus Hermann French Television film
2000 The Beast Herbert Fink German also known as Das Teufelsweib; Television film
2001 Engel sucht Flügel Caspari German Television film
2001 Riekes Liebe Pair skating coach Karlhoff German Television film
2001 Der Tanz mit dem Teufel Dieter Cilov German Television film
2002 Dienstreise – Was für eine Nacht Klaus-Dieter Lehmann German Television film
2002 Weihnachtsmann gesucht Johannes Böhmke German Television film
2003 Jagd auf den Flammenmann Brisky German Television film
2003 Der Mörder ist unter uns Martin Bach German also known as Der Fall Gehring; Television film
2003 Zwei Tage Hoffnung Michael Berg German Television film
2003 Jennerwein Pföderl German Television film
2003 Tigeraugen sehen besser Dr. Thilo Rylow German Television film
2004 Scheidungsopfer Mann Benedikt von Arn German Television film
2004 Mörderische Suche Richard Benedek German Television film
2004 Schöne Witwen küssen besser Jean-France German Television film
2005 Die Patriarchin Wolf Sevening German 3 episodes
2005 Der Elefant: Mord verjährt nie Richard Seemann German Episode: "Verlorene Jahre"
2006 SOKO Rhein-Main Andreas Senner German Episode: "Schuld und Sühne"
2006 Polizeiruf 110 Dr. Juris Gríns German Episode: "Die Lettin und ihr Lover"
2006 Stolberg Paul Büttner German Episode: "Kreuzbube"
2006 Tatort Prof. Robert Henze German Episode: "Schlaflos in Weimar"
2006 Franziskas Gespür für Männer Karl Löwen German Television film
2007 Der Staatsanwalt Dr. Claudius Tressen German Episode: "Glückskinder"
2007 Der letzte Zeuge Dr. Martin York German Episode: "Martinspassion"
2007 Unter Verdacht Thomas Sell German Episode: "Hase and Igel"
2007 The Zurich Engagement Frank "Büffel" Arbogast German Television film
2007 Die Verzauberung Dr. Helmut Bahr German Television film
2008 Das Geheimnis im Wald Hans Kortmann German Television film
2008 Todsünde Sebastian Flies German Television film
2008 Das jüngste Gericht Peters German Television film
2008 Die Anwälte Herbert Jahn German Episode: "Leben und Tod"
2008 Tatort Gerd Weißenbach German Episode: "Liebeswirren"
2013 Saturday Night Live Host English Episode: "Christoph Waltz/Alabama Shakes"
2017 Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Guest English Episode: "Champagne, Cigars and Pancake Batter"
2020 Most Dangerous Game Miles Sellars English 15 episodes

As director

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Wenn man sich traut
2019 Georgetown[44] Ulrich Mott

Accolades

See also

Notes

  1. Rudolf's father was Viktor Urbantschitsch, son of Alois Urbantschitsch (Alojz Urbančič), who was born in Preddvor, today Slovenia, then part of the Kingdom of Illyria, Austria.[10] Through Alojz, Waltz is related to Josipina Urbančič, Alojz's first cousin, and one of the first Slovene female poets and composers.[11]

References

  1. "Pass-Hickhack: Christoph Waltz wird im Eilverfahren zum Österreicher – Nachrichten Kultur" (in German). Welt.de. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  2. "Österreichische Staatsbürgerschaft für Christoph Waltz'". Der Standard. 8 August 2010.
  3. "Waltz fühlt sich definitiv als Österreicher – Boulevard". Focus.de. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  4. "Christoph Waltz Wins The Academy Award For Best Actor In A Supporting Role". stories99.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  5. Miller, Ross (4 December 2014). "The next James Bond film is called Spectre: new car, poster, and full cast confirmed". The Verge. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  6. Gettell, Oliver (2 December 2014). "Christoph Waltz". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  7. Badia, Alex; Windolf, Jim (9 December 2014). "M: Good Day, Christoph Waltz". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  8. Chalmers, Robert (15 May 2015). "We've been expecting you, Mr Waltz". GQ. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  9. Lim, Dennis (12 August 2009). "'Inglourious' Actor Tastes the Glory". New York Times. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  10. K. Arnegger, H. Bergmann (7 June 2016). "Urbantschitsch, Viktor von (1847–1921), Otologe". Austrian Biographical Lexicon. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  11. Kurillo, Jurij (2020). "Preddvorski graščaki Urbančiči" (PDF). Isis (8–9): 69–71.
  12. Rafanelli, Stephanie (21 December 2017). "A Merry Dance With Mr Christoph Waltz". MR PORTER. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  13. Lemke-Matwey, Christine (12 December 2013). "Christoph Waltz". Die Zeit (in German). Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  14. da Fonseca-Wollheim, Corinna (11 December 2017). "Christoph Waltz, Directing Opera, Moves From Tarantino to Verdi". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  15. Rose, Steve (13 March 2014). "Zero Theorem: the world according to Christoph Waltz". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  16. Hitz, Julia (4 October 2016). "Hollywood's favorite bad guy Christoph Waltz turns 60". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  17. Gross, Terry (18 December 2012). "'Unchained' Admiration Between Actor And Director". NPR. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  18. "Christoph Waltz und der Sprayer von Zürich". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). 27 September 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  19. "Christoph Waltz". IMDb. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  20. "4oD Drama". Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  21. Fleming, Michael (17 May 2009). "Tarantino Reflects On 'Basterds'". Variety. Reed Business Information. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  22. "BSFC Award Winners – Recent". Thebsfc.org. Archived from the original on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  23. "Film Awards Winners in 2010 - Film Awards - Film - The BAFTA site". Archived from the original on 27 April 2011.
  24. "2015 Oscars: Nominees - 87th Academy Awards Nominations". Oscar.com.
  25. "Inglorious Basterds feature". Network.nationalpost.com. The National Post. 27 August 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  26. Ordoña, Michael (27 December 2012), "Christoph Waltz admires Tarantino's to-the-heart style", Los Angeles Times, retrieved 12 January 2016
  27. Borys Kit (30 September 2011). "Christoph Waltz Dislocates Pelvic Bone During 'Django Unchained' Training". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  28. "Christoph Waltz Signs to Star Opposite Michael Douglas in Reykjavik". The Hollywood Reporter. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  29. Saperstein, Pat (23 April 2013). "Nicole Kidman, Christoph Waltz, Ang Lee Among Cannes Jury Members". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  30. "Vlaamse Opera | Vlaamse Opera". Vlaamseopera.be. 15 January 2015. Archived from the original on 3 August 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  31. "Berlinale 2014: International Jury". Berlinale. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  32. Sepinwall, Alan (2 May 2014). "Weinstein sets awards season dates for Big Eyes, Imitation Game and Eleanor Rigby". Hitfix.com. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  33. Polowy, Kevin (7 November 2015). "So Who Does Christoph Waltz Play in 'SPECTRE'? (Spoilers!)". Yahoo!. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  34. Kroll, Justin (12 July 2019). "Christoph Waltz to Return as Blofeld in 'Bond 25'". Variety.
  35. Andrews, Helena (6 May 2015). "Actor Christoph Waltz will direct and star in 'The Worst Marriage in Georgetown'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  36. "On the life and work of Edgar Hilsenrath. Obituary on the occasion of his death on December 30, 2018". Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  37. Husband, Stuart (28 October 2015). "Christoph Waltz: 'Facebook is a step toward fascism'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  38. Freydkin, Donna (26 January 2010). "At long last, movie stardom shines on Christoph Waltz". USA Today.
  39. "Waltz unchained for Jerusalem wedding". The Times of Israel. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  40. Billington, Alex (20 August 2009). "Interview: Col. Hans 'The Jew Hunter' Landa – Christoph Waltz". First Showing. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  41. "Waltz to become Austrian citizen". Wiener Zeitung Online. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  42. "Waltz to become an Austrian citizen". 26 August 2010.
  43. McNary, Dave (13 February 2019). "Director Reclaims Rights to Documentary '21 Years: Quentin Tarantino' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  44. Ritman, Alex. "Cannes: Christoph Waltz's Directorial Debut Adds Vanessa Redgrave". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 May 2017.

Audiobooks

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Heath Ledger (posthumous)
for
The Dark Knight
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
2009
for
Inglourious Basterds
Succeeded by
Christian Bale
for
The Fighter
Preceded by
Christopher Plummer
for
Beginners
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
2012
for
Django Unchained
Succeeded by
Jared Leto
for
Dallas Buyers Club
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