Although Hollywood has given us many romantic stories, it doesn’t seem to be the place to meet the love of your life. Especially considering the high divorce rate among celebrity couples. But the protagonists of this story disprove the stereotype. Actor Christopher Walken and casting director Georgianne Walken met at work, got married and have been happy together for over half a century.
They met in theatre and got married 6 years later.
Christopher and Georgianne originally met on a West Side Story theater tour in 1963. The performers, who are also superb dancers, played a couple in the musical. They were so close while working together that they fell in love almost instantly. Georgianne admitted that she understood right away that Christopher was her one and only. They married six years later.
“When [I] met him, [I] knew he had a future. He was good and was [going to] be better. It was a very compelling idea, and I had never met anybody like that in my life.”
They support each other’s careers.
Georgianne opted to quit the performing scene after her marriage in search of more steady work. She wanted Christopher to be able to focus on his craft and pursue a career without having to worry about money. Georgianne quickly found success in show business again, this time behind the scenes as a casting director. She has now appeared in over 90 films and television shows, including The Sopranos, for which she received an Emmy Award.
Christopher’s career is also noteworthy. With over 100 films and television shows to his credit, he has won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in The Deer Hunter and a BAFTA for his work in Catch Me If You Can. Walken is devoted to his work, which impresses his wife. She previously stated that she enjoys being married to the actor, particularly while he is rehearsing for his parts.
“It’s very interesting being married to a man who is constantly playing a different person. You’re always living with a different person. He never tells me what part he’s playing when he’s getting ready. It just descends on me one day. Very interesting.”
They share household responsibilities equally.
The Walkens live a fairly simple life. When her husband is filming, Georgianne handles everything, including paying the bills and ensuring Christopher has enough money to cover his operating expenses. In turn, the husband prepares delicious lunches and dinners for his wife, especially during filming. He once admitted that he enjoys spending time in the kitchen learning a new script. At the same time, the actor cooks and memorizes lines.
“My life is really quite conservative. I’ve been married nearly 50 years. I don’t have hobbies or children. I don’t much care to travel. I’ve never had a big social life. I just stay at home, except when I go to work. So, in that sense, I’m a regular guy.”
They decided not to have kids so they could focus on their work.
The couple has no children and has no regrets about their decision. Christopher once stated that he has seen many of his young actor friends abandon their dreams after having children. Christopher, on the other hand, was overly concerned with his work and was genuinely enthusiastic about it. He admits that if he and Georgianne had children, he wouldn’t have been able to film as much and as consistently over the years. Furthermore, their hectic schedules would have precluded them from being good parents.
“I’m sure many of the kids I knew as a child would have continued in show business, but they had kids of their own, had to do something dependable. I didn’t, so I could get by even in periods of unemployment.”
But they’ve been raising cats together for many years.
Despite the fact that Christopher and Georgianne do not have children, they adore animals. For many years, the couple has been entertained by two cats named Bowtie and Flapjack, though the latter has since passed away. They now only have one canine companion.
When Christopher opens the front door and sees his beloved pet running toward him, he smiles. He once remarked that cats, like actors, are only interested in other cats, just as actors are only interested in other actors.
They’ve been married for over 50 years.
Christopher and Georgianne are presently split between Connecticut and New York. They own property in both states. They aim to spend as much time as possible on their farm in Wilton, Connecticut, while they are not working. The New York apartment, on the other hand, does not appeal to Christopher. He thinks the large mansion in Connecticut is a much nicer place to live.
By Hollywood standards, the Walkens have a very stable marriage – they’ve been married for more than 50 years. Although they seldom discuss their personal lives, some of the things they have revealed can be used to extrapolate the keys to marital bliss. These include freely discussing significant problems such as children, enjoying sharing household tasks, and still being able to surprise their spouse after all these years.
Is it possible to successfully combine work with parenting?