Christoph Waltz biography, young, height, Oscar, awards, age, family 2025

Biography of Christoph Waltz

Hollywood's most charming villain, Christoph Waltz, is an extraordinary personality and a unique actor. Waltz's fame came in true Hollywood fashion—instantly: after portraying the Nazi hunter in "Inglourious Basterds," he woke up a worldwide celebrity.

Childhood

Christoph was born in Vienna on October 4, 1956. His parents were artists at Vienna's Court Burgtheater where they met, and his grandparents and even great-grandparents had acted at the same theater. When Christoph's father Johannes Waltz passed away, his mother Elisabeth remarried the Burgtheater's director, who became a father figure to the boy.

Christoph never questioned his career path—his world revolved around theater, and he always knew he'd become an actor. In the early '70s, Christoph enrolled at the Max Reinhardt Seminar, but the school expelled him for bad behavior. He enjoyed his studies, and famous Austrian actors delivered the lectures, but he didn't consider any of them role models. After becoming an actor, Christoph often admitted he felt ashamed of how he'd mocked them. After joining the Burgtheater, he managed to graduate from acting school.

European Beginnings of a Career

Christoph's theater career was shaping up nicely, but the young actor was drawn to other horizons. After studying at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York, he returned to Austria, where he began his film career. His first role was as Markus in the 1981 social drama "Headstand." Though the actor was already 25, his character was a teenager. The slim, not-so-tall young man had a romantic appearance that didn't quite match his extraordinary intelligence and strong character.

For the next 15 years, Christoph lived in London and gained recognition in European cinema, starring in many films and TV series that were popular in his home country but didn't achieve worldwide success.

In 1990, he played a police detective in the crime drama "Quicker Than the Eye," pursuing a cunning thief played by the legendary Ben Gazzara. In 1995, Waltz appeared in the biblical drama "Jacob," starring alongside Matthew Modine, Giancarlo Giannini, and Sean Bean, and in 1996 he played a doll-obsessed maniac in the third season of the hit series "Rex: A Cop's Best Friend." In another popular German series "Derrick," he appeared in two episodes.

Waltz's most notable roles during his "London" period include Louis in the German thriller "Falling Rocks" and Peter in the crime comedy "Ordinary Decent Criminal," alongside Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, and Linda Fiorentino.

Christoph Waltz in the series 'Rex: A Cop's Best Friend'

From 2001 to 2007, the actor appeared in films like "Berlin Blues," "Stolberg," and "Das jüngste Gericht," but didn't gain significant fame—though this didn't greatly disappoint him.

Inglourious Basterds

Producers initially eyed Leonardo DiCaprio for the role of the psychopathic Nazi in "Inglourious Basterds". But Quentin Tarantino, who also wrote the screenplay, insisted that whoever played the cunning Colonel Landa had to speak and recite poetry fluently in multiple languages: English, German, and French.

When Tarantino sent Waltz the "Inglourious Basterds" script, the actor figured it was just another small part and didn't even get nervous about the audition. But the moment Tarantino saw Christoph audition, he knew instantly that no one else could nail the role.

The character of Waltz became the standard of the screen villain

Waltz's character inspired terror and admiration at the same time. His twisted smile and calculated gestures became the gold standard for screen villains. Critics universally agreed that the Austrian actor completely outshone Brad Pitt, August Diehl, and Michael Fassbender, with his scenes—especially that unforgettable bar sequence—becoming the absolute highlight of Tarantino's sixth film.

Inglourious Basterds - That's a Bingo!

While the film racked up countless awards and nominations, it was Waltz who took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, with critics dubbing him "Tarantino's secret weapon" and "the gem of the movie". Among many other accolades, Christoph also received the Golden Globe and the British BAFTA.

Hollywood Period

After the extraordinary success of "Inglourious Basterds," offers poured in for Christoph Waltz like a meteor shower. In the action comedy "The Green Hornet," the actor played the crime lord Benjamin Chudnofsky, alongside Seth Rogen, Edward Furlong, and David Harbour. The film received mixed reviews from critics who nonetheless unanimously praised Christoph Waltz's charm and skill as a unique cinematic phenomenon.

Threatening the Dealer - The Green Hornet (Christoph Waltz, James Franco)

Waltz's polished villainous persona was showcased once again in the drama "Water for Elephants." In the 2011 film, based on the novel by Sara Gruen, he portrayed a circus owner named August, with Reese Witherspoon playing his wife and Robert Pattinson her lover.

A scene from the movie 'Water for Elephants'

The 2011 dramatic comedy "Carnage," which also starred Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, and Kate Winslet, wasn't successful in America due to unresolved conflicts with Hollywood executives and director Roman Polanski. However, the film was highly praised in Europe and received several prestigious nominations.

Carnage - Drunk Scene

In 2012, Waltz worked with Quentin Tarantino again in "Django Unchained," for which he won his second Oscar. The western also starred Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, and Samuel L. Jackson. Tarantino wrote the quirky bounty hunter character Schultz specifically for Waltz, who unexpectedly gave his fans a positive hero.

In 2013, Waltz landed the lead role in Terry Gilliam's cyberpunk phantasmagoria "The Zero Theorem." Initially, the part of the eccentric computing genius Cohen was intended for Billy Bob Thornton, but Gilliam changed his mind at the last moment and had no regrets. Waltz, who had to lose weight and shave his head for the role, shone alongside Matt Damon and David Thewlis.

A frame from the movie 'The Zero Theorem'

Tim Burton, taking a break from his favorite themes of the dead and otherworldly adventures, also noticed Waltz and offered him the lead role in the 2014 drama "Big Eyes." The role of Margaret Keane's husband (Amy Adams), who became famous in the 1950s for her style of painting children with big eyes, was another victory for the actor.

DP/30: Big Eyes, Christoph Waltz Interview

Waltz's portrayal of a notorious scoundrel surprised no one, but once again proved his skill. Even Margaret Keane herself noted that Waltz captured the most vicious essence of her late husband's personality, who wasn't bound by moral obligations and was ready to betray a loved one for profit.

Next, he starred in the adventure film "The Legend of Tarzan," alongside Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson, and Margot Robbie.

Christoph Waltz in 'The Legend of Tarzan'

In the 24th Bond film "Spectre," Waltz played the criminal mastermind Oberhauser, with Daniel Craig as the legendary agent. The film also starred French actress Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, and Monica Bellucci.

A scene from 'Spectre'

The 2017 melodrama "Tulip Fever," based on Deborah Moggach's novel, failed to win awards or earn critical acclaim, though audiences responded more warmly. Waltz played the ambiguous role of the wealthy Dutchman Cornelis, whose wife becomes enamored with a poor artist.

Early 2018 saw the premiere of the satirical sci-fi comedy "Downsizing." Director Alexander Payne's vision of the future earned rave reviews from film critics. Waltz starred alongside Matt Damon and Hong Chau.

February 2019 brought the premiere of the action film "Alita: Battle Angel." In the film, Waltz played one of the key characters from Yukito Kishiro's manga, which inspired the screenplay.

In 2021, the long-awaited 25th Bond film "No Time to Die" was released. In the last movie with Daniel Craig as James Bond, Waltz reprised his role as the villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld (though when filming began in 2015, Waltz insisted his character was named Franz Oberhauser).

He also appeared in Wes Anderson's new film "The French Dispatch," the comedic movie "The Portable Door," and the western "Dead for a Dollar."

Christoph Waltz's Personal Life

Waltz has been married twice. His three adult children from his first marriage with Jackie Waltz adopted their mother's religion, Judaism, and live in Israel.

Christoph's second wife is the costume and makeup artist Judith Holste. They had a daughter in 2005.

Waltz keeps his personal life private—he avoids social media and famously despises mobile phones.

Waltz's closest friend is Quentin Tarantino, whose talent and encyclopedic film knowledge he constantly admires.

Christoph Waltz Now

In 2023, the first season of the comedic thriller about corporate culture "The Consultant" was released with Christoph Waltz in the lead role. Critics compared his character Regus Patoff, a consultant for an IT giant whose leader died under mysterious circumstances, to Mikhail Bulgakov's Woland, and to the Devil from Stephen King's "Needful Things."

Christoph Waltz in the series 'The Consultant'

Christoph Waltz: latest news and articles

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11 Feb 2019

Wesley Stewart

This actor is no longer young and won an Oscar, I don`t remember him in any films at all...

2021-05-17 12:21:32
Helen Johnson

It seems to me that the roles of some villains, villains and scoundrels are very suitable for the actor Waltz. This is his type!

2021-05-11 21:14:53
Hunter Dylan Price

In Django Unchained Waltz was gorgeous. And even more so he is on friendly terms with one of the most famous director - Tarantino. They worked out great

2021-05-08 10:49:17
Edward Johnson

Christoph, as a professional actor for the role in «The Zero Theorem», shaved off his hair and noticeably lost weight, as was required of him. This is what a real actor means.

2021-03-19 13:03:06
Gloria Walker

I had no idea who Christophe was until I read the article. Was curious, thanks

2021-03-09 09:49:19

Photos: Christoph Waltz