Overview (2)

Mini Bio (1)

Spouse (2)

Judith Holste (? - present) ( 1 child) Jackie (? - ?) ( divorced) ( 3 children)

Trade Mark (7)



Frequently works with Quentin Tarantino

Often plays charming but sinister characters



Polyglotism



Characters often explain their motivations or opinions through long (usually humor-filled) speeches



Smooth voice



Smooth Austrian accent



Characters are often meticulous, being extremely precise with a great attention to detail.



Trivia (28)

Is fluent in German, English and French and is skilled at mimicking Italian speech.



Made his stage debut at the Schauspielhaus in Zurich (1982).



Is divorced from his first wife, Jackie, an Ashkenazi Jewish psychotherapist born in Manhattan, New York, New York County, New York. They have three adult children: Miriam Waltz, Leon Waltz, a Rabbi, and Rachel Waltz, one of his daughters being an Architect.





Studied acting at the Max Reinhardt -Seminar in Vienna and the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute in New York.



Lives in London, but his longtime companion, costume designer Judith Holste , and their daughter live in Berlin.



The first and, thus far, only actor to win an Oscar for acting in a Quentin Tarantino film. He received Best Supporting Actor for both Inglourious Basterds (2009) and Django Unchained (2012).

Despite being born in Austria, he was born with German citizenship (and kept it all his life) since his father was German.





Is one of four consecutive Oscar winners in the Best Supporting Actor category whose name begins with Chris, the other actors being Christian Bale and Christopher Plummer . Waltz won twice.



Counts Federico Fellini 's 8½ (1963) as one of his all-time favorite films, having seen it numerous times since his teens.

Is the only Austrian actor (born in Vienna) to win two Oscars.





He and Marcia Gay Harden are the only two actors to win an Oscar without receiving a SAG nomination for the same performance.

He loves opera. His favorite opera composer is Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti.





His stepfather Alexander Steinbrecher had previously been the stepfather of director Michael Haneke by his marriage to actress Beatrix Degenschild.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6667 Hollywood Boulevard on December 1, 2014.



He is the first actor to appear in the James Bond franchise to have won two Academy Awards.





He played the small part of a 'German spy' in the British TV-Movie Goldeneye (1989) about the life of James Bond creator Ian Fleming . Waltz was an unknown actor then. Fleming was played by Charles Dance . 26 years later Waltz would appear in Spectre (2015) in the iconic role of James Bond's greatest villain: 'Ernst Stavro Blofeld'.



Similar to Robin Williams , most of the villainous characters Waltz has played have been clean-shaven, while most of the protagonists he has played have sported beards or some form of facial hair.

Pictured on an 80c Austrian postage stamp issued 12 July 2017.



Resides in Berlin, Germany.





Alumnus of Stella Adler Studio of Acting.

Personal Quotes (20)

[on working in Hollywood] In Europe, everybody would say, "Well, they just want to squeeze you like a lemon." Well, yeah! But, you know, if I have the juice, why shouldn't they?



[on being typecast] Nobody's talking about that. I get interest coming my way from many different directions. I'd hate to pigeon-hole myself. The variety is what's interesting.



I know what I can contribute. And that's a very limited, very specific unit, whether it's a big movie, a small movie, a German movie, an American movie. That's the advantage I have over a 25-year-old. I've had the chance to understand what it is I do.



The one advantage of having grown up in the business is that you don't romanticize it. "Oh, isn't it wonderful?" Blah, blah, blah. No, it isn't! I've never romanticized it. But on the other hand, the conviction, the dedication that you see here, is tremendous. It would be awful if the whole business consisted of grouchy farts like me.



[on advice a dog trainer once gave him that can apply to him as well] The better the dog, the busier you have to keep him. I'm arrogant and blase enough to consider myself a very good dog. You take pride in what you're doing, in your craft, and all of that, but -- I wouldn't say I resigned myself to mediocrity, not at all, but I started to accept that there might be an ideal you strive for (and) never realize.





[on the toughest aspect of preparing for Inglourious Basterds (2009)] To put aside what I know about the topic. Because it was irrelevant. Growing up in that area, you don't hear much about the French Revolution or the Egyptians or the Seven Year War. You hear about the Nazi era. But it was irrelevant to the part and unnecessary and would have been a bad obstacle.

It's frustrating. Even though I agree with all of you [other actors being interviewed], I have a less romantic and idealistic approach to acting. Over there [Germany], the business is based on mediocrity. On a high level, admittedly, but mediocrity. You reach a certain level, beyond which you will not go. Not just in career but in challenges and opportunity. It's interesting for the specific issue of how to cope with an actor's life. To lead an actor's life. What do you do if you have a stretch of five years where you only get mediocre offers and nothing to sink your teeth into? That's where it is difficult. Becoming an actor is one thing. Being an actor is entirely different.



It's the result that makes the art, not necessarily the process that leads to it. So when Hilary plays Bach, that's the music (but) what you perceive is the art. Is she considering herself as an artist? I don't think so. I think she just puts herself into the craft, into each individual note and ties them together in order to arrive at what the emotion might be. That's one of the biggest problems with the actor. The piece of art -- the person, the performance, everything that leads up to it -- is so difficult to separate from each other.



Becoming an actor is like becoming a father. It's not hard to become one. Making a life of it is the challenge.



If the advice to 'get out' is too late, then my advice would always be read, go to museums, go to concerts. Don't learn life from movies or television.



[on comedy] As long as you take it seriously, you can do it. But in a movie, because comedy is so much timing and rhythm, all of that is most established in editing. I can say a complete straight sentence, just neutral and straight, and a good editor can turn it into a funny or sad thing. Because that's the beauty of movies, nothing works in itself.



[on waiting 30 years to become an overnight success] That was my experience, and it was very frustrating. These false dawns went on for a long time. It feels like someone keeps trying to switch the light on, but the dimmer switch is broken. And then sometimes the bulb blows altogether.



[on being a private person] When I was 25, that's when this whole thing got started. My oldest daughter was a little kid. A tabloid reporter called my house. He said, "I hear a child crying. Is it a boy or a girl? What's their name?". I said "I want to keep that private." He said "It's not private." Thats when I decided I didn't want other people to decide what I disclose.





[on Bill Murray ] He was just the nicest guy, he gave me the biggest tips [while Waltz was working as a waiter]. And now I know him: not like as a close friend, but I know him. I really like how he handles privacy. But then Bill Murray is a radical...I'm not a radical. I'm just a smart-ass.

[on fame] As a motivation in itself, celebrity is foolhardy and stupid.



I do feel I can say - without smugness - that it feels good. I am entitled. I am entitled to judge the situation and say that yes: It feels good, and that yes, I agree with you. I feel like I served my time. I feel like I paid [my dues].



It would be completely laughable if I claimed I was always motivated by the pure craft of acting and that recognition doesn't play a part. Of course it does - that's human nature. The bohemian artist who exists only for his art, it's a myth.



[on director Roman Polanski] His process is diligent preparation, utmost precision, and masterful execution.



[on his nationality] I was born in Vienna, I was raised in Vienna, I went to school in Vienna, I made my Matura in Vienna, I studied in Vienna, I started my professional life in Vienna, I played theater the first time in Vienna, I filmed the first time in Vienna. There are some more Vienna details. How much more Austrian do you want it?

