Christoph Waltz

Christoph Waltz is an Austrian and German actor who has had a distinguished career in both Europe and the United States. Born on 4 October 1956 in Vienna, Waltz has a background steeped in cinema, with origins in a family of theatrical heritage. From his first opera experience at the age of ten until deciding that his voice was not good enough for an opera career, Waltz's early years were marked by his passion for the performing arts. He studied acting in Vienna and New York and became a prolific television actor in Europe after returning from the U.S. He had his directorial debut with a German television production in 2000.

Waltz's international breakthrough came from his collaboration with Quentin Tarantino. His role as Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds (2009) swept critics' awards circuits, earning Waltz the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Award. Waltz collaborated again with Tarantino in Django Unchained (2012) for which he earned second Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Waltz's body of work is diverse, ranging from Carnage (2011) and The Zero Theorem (2013), to the James Bond films Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021). He also made his mark in the world of opera, directing productions of Der Rosenkavalier and Falstaff. Waltz's unique blend of talent and passion earned him an Icon award at the Newport Beach Film Festival in 2024.