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Christopher Walken is truly unplugged when it comes to technology.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal published Monday, January 27, the 81-year-old famed actor revealed that he doesn’t own a cell phone, use social media, or even email. The Academy Award winner shared he watches Severance — the hit Apple TV + show he stars in — on DVD.
“I don’t have technology. I only have a satellite dish on my house. So I’ve seen Severance on DVDs that they’re good enough to send me,” he told the publication. “I don’t have a cell phone. I’ve never emailed or, what do you call it, Twittered.”
Christopher Walken attends the “The Deer Hunter” Screening during the 2024 De Niro Con at Spring Studios on June 16, 2024 in New York City.
Christopher Walken attends the “The Deer Hunter” Screening during the 2024 De Niro Con at Spring Studios on June 16, 2024 in New York City.
John Lamparski/Getty Images
The Hairspray actor explained that when he needs to use a phone, he can borrow one from someone else, comparing the situation to not owning a watch. “I’ve never had a watch either. But if I need the time, I just ask somebody,” he told the outlet. “Likewise, once in a while when I need to use a phone, I just ask if I can borrow one.”
Walken also recounted how, during the last play he did, he noticed audience members were distracted by their phones — and he hasn’t returned to the stage since. “Then again, even the last time I was on stage [in 2010 in Martin McDonagh’s “A Behanding in Spokane”], phones rang in the theater, people answered them,” he recalled. “If not that, they’re taking a video of your performance. I thought, that’s it, it’s over. I can’t do it anymore.”
The A-lister seemingly has no problem following Severance director Ben Stiller’s “no phone” policy on set, which Stiller, 59, discussed on Monday on the Working It Out podcast hosted by Mike Birbiglia.
“No phones anywhere near the eyeshot of the actors at all,” the Zoolander star stated. “My least favorite thing is to see a dolly grip guy hunched down while an actor is acting their brains out, and he’s scrolling or whatever. It drives me crazy.” Stiller added, “As a director, you want to protect that environment for the actors.”
Stream Severance on Apple TV+.