Showbiz

Christopher Walken recalls his night dancing with Judy Garland at Liza Minnelli’s 16th birthday bash

Christopher Walken recalls his night dancing with Judy Garland at Liza Minnelli’s 16th birthday bash

Christopher Walken relived a moment from his past where he got to dance with Judy Garland.

During an interview on SiriusXM’s Town Hall hosted by Andy Cohen, 56, with the cast of Severance, Cohen said, ‘I read you danced with a young Liza Minnelli. Do you remember that?’ 

‘We did an Off-Broadway musical called Best Foot Forward. 1962. Well, she was 16 years old, I remember,’ the 81-year-old actor said.

Cohen asked, ‘Could you see it then that she had it?’

‘Oh, absolutely,’ the Deer Hunter star said. Cohen then asked if he interacted with Minnelli’s mom, Judy Garland, at all.

‘Her mom gave a sweet 16th birthday party for her,’ Walken said, adding that he attended.

Christopher Walken relieved a moment from his past where he got to dance with Judy Garland. Seen here in 2019

Christopher Walken relieved a moment from his past where he got to dance with Judy Garland. Seen here in 2019

‘I remember I danced with Judy Garland,’ he added. He confirmed that she was a good dancer and ‘very good-looking.’

Walken began his acting career as a teenager and he has seven decades of film, television and Broadway under his belt.

Read More Christopher Walken, 80, makes a rare appearance for Robert De Niro’s VERY star-studded 80th birthday bash in NYC article image

He won and Academy Award in 1979 for his role in The Deer Hunter and was nominated in 2003 for his role in Catch Me If You Can. 

Minnelli, 78, told The Hollywood Reporter in 2014 that Walken was a music man at heart.

‘I can see the glint in his eye every time he has the opportunity to dance onscreen,’ she said. 

He told the outlet, ‘I’m kind of an actor by way of musical comedy. That’s really my education, musicals.’

Another moment from his past that he looks a little less fondly on is the iconic More Cowbell sketch from Saturday Night Live when he hosted the show on April 5, 2000.

In the documentary SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night  Will Ferrell, 57, recalled how Walker reacted to that sketch 

Andy Cohen said, 'I read you danced with a young Liza Minnelli . Do you remember that?' Liza seen here in 2006

Andy Cohen said, ‘I read you danced with a young Liza Minnelli . Do you remember that?’ Liza seen here in 2006

Cohen then asked if he interacted with Minnelli's mom, Judy Garland, at all. 'Her mom gave a sweet 16th birthday party for her,' Walken said, adding that he attended

Cohen then asked if he interacted with Minnelli’s mom, Judy Garland, at all. ‘Her mom gave a sweet 16th birthday party for her,’ Walken said, adding that he attended

'I remember I danced with Judy Garland,' he added. He confirmed that she was a good dancer and 'very good-looking.' Seen here January 16, 2025

‘I remember I danced with Judy Garland,’ he added. He confirmed that she was a good dancer and ‘very good-looking.’ Seen here January 16, 2025

Ferrell plays an overzealous cowbell player in a fictional version of Blue Oyster Cult on the day they recorded their hit song (Don’t) Fear the Reaper. 

Ferrell went to see Walken in a play a few weeks after the SNL episode aired.  

‘You know, you’ve ruined my life … every show, people bring cowbells for the curtain call and bang them. It’s quite disconcerting,’ Walken said to him. 

The band was played by then SNL cast members Chris Parnell, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Kattan and Horatio Sanz.

The band was annoyed at Ferrell’s cowbell, but fictional record exec Bruce Dickinson played by Walken encourages him to play the instrument harder.

Walken’s character says, ‘I’ve got a fever – and the only prescription is more cowbell.’ 

In 2022, he reflected on his long and successful career in an interview with the New York Times. 

‘I don’t golf or play tennis. I have no kids. I’ve been married for 53 years. I sometimes think about writing something, but I don’t have much talent for that. 

Walken began his acting career as a teenager and he has seven decades of film, television and Broadway under his belt. Seen here at the Dune: Part Two premiere on February 25, 2024

Walken began his acting career as a teenager and he has seven decades of film, television and Broadway under his belt. Seen here at the Dune: Part Two premiere on February 25, 2024

'We did an Off-Broadway musical called Best Foot Forward. 1962. Well, she was 16 years old, I remember,' he said. Cohen asked, 'Could you see it then that she had it?' 'Oh, absolutely,' the star said. Liza seen here in  2010

‘We did an Off-Broadway musical called Best Foot Forward. 1962. Well, she was 16 years old, I remember,’ he said. Cohen asked, ‘Could you see it then that she had it?’ ‘Oh, absolutely,’ the star said. Liza seen here in  2010

‘You know, all actors have a trunk full of scripts. A lot of people do. Even my dentist at one point, when he was doing my teeth, told me about a script he’d written. 

‘I’ve written things. They’re just not good enough. I start with two people sitting in a room talking and invariably it becomes incoherent. 

‘There’s nothing I can be other than an actor,’ he said.

Related Posts

Big Brother’s JoJo Siwa, 21, reveals she’s recorded daily messages for her partner Kath Ebbs while she’s away amid close bond with Chris Hughes, 32

Big Brother’s JoJo Siwa, 21, reveals she’s recorded daily messages for her partner Kath Ebbs while she’s away amid close bond with Chris Hughes, 32

JoJo Siwa has revealed that she has recorded daily messages for her partner Kath Ebbs while she is away in the Celebrity Big Brother house.  The singer, 21, went…

Daisy Edgar-Jones looks loved-up with her boyfriend Ben Seed in rare public outing as they step out in New York

Daisy Edgar-Jones looks loved-up with her boyfriend Ben Seed in rare public outing as they step out in New York

Daisy Edgar-Jones put on a loved-up display with her boyfriend Ben Seed as they made a rare public outing in New York on Friday. The Normal People star,…

Shirtless Dan Osborne shows off his ripped frame on the field at celebrity charity football match – as he returns from ‘make or break holiday’ with Jacqueline Jossa

Shirtless Dan Osborne shows off his ripped frame on the field at celebrity charity football match – as he returns from ‘make or break holiday’ with Jacqueline Jossa

Dan Osborne showcased his ripped physique as he took to the field for the Sellebrity Soccer match on Friday after his ‘make or break holiday’ with Jacqueline Jossa….

Olivia Attwood puts on a leggy display in a black mini skirt and vest – after taking swipe at ex Chris Hughes

Olivia Attwood puts on a leggy display in a black mini skirt and vest – after taking swipe at ex Chris Hughes

Olivia Attwood put on a very leggy display as she stepped out for dinner in central London on Friday night. The former Love Island star, 33, showed off…

Lola Young runs off stage to vomit mid performance after gagging on stage as she asks ‘can I get a bucket’ while struggling through her Coachella debut

Lola Young runs off stage to vomit mid performance after gagging on stage as she asks ‘can I get a bucket’ while struggling through her Coachella debut

Lola Young proved that the show really must go on as she powered through her Coachella set last Friday.  The Messy hitmaker was making her debut at this…

Celebrity Big Brother fans threaten to switch off ‘disgusting’ show as Chris Hughes uses the litter tray

Celebrity Big Brother fans threaten to switch off ‘disgusting’ show as Chris Hughes uses the litter tray

Celebrity Big Brother took a bizarre turn during Friday night’s episode as two housemates took the cat themed challenge a step too far.  Fans were left threatening to…