Christopher Walken Says He Doesn't 'Have a Cell Phone', Has 'Never Emailed' and Watches TV This Old School Way

Mar. 15, 2025

Christopher Walken attends the Dune: Part Two premiere at Lincoln Center on February 25, 2024 in New York City.Photo:Arturo Holmes/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty

Arturo Holmes/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty

Christopher Walkenis old school when it comes to technology.

TheSeverancestar, 81, revealed during an interview withThe Wall Street Journalpublished on Monday, Jan. 27 that he doesn’t have any modern gadgets to contact others or even to watch his television.

“I don’t have technology. I only have a satellite dish on my house. So I’ve seenSeveranceon DVDs that they’re good enough to send me,” Walken told the outlet. “I don’t have a cell phone. I’ve never emailed or, what do you call it, Twittered.”

His lack of technology helps him fall in line withSeveranceco-executive producer and directorBen Stiller’s “no phones” rule on set. The actor and comedian, 59, shared on Mike Birbiglia’sWorking It Outpodcast that he enacted the rule to help “protect that environment for the actors,” perVariety.

“Crew have to use phones sometimes to communicate, but, for me, I like no phones anywhere near the eyeshot of the actors,” Stiller said, per the outlet. “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.”

“You also have to be respectful of the crew,” he added. “… These people are actually working really hard, and you have to figure out how to motivate them to want to be on the team. They haven’t been with the script that you’ve been writing for five years. They just came on last week. So, it’s on you as a director to figure out a way to get everybody on board.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Cindy Ord/Getty

When asked if he has watched the episodes he’s in, he responded, “Not all of them. I can’t. I don’t have the equipment. So, they’re good enough to send me DVDs.”

InSeverance, Walken portrays Burt Goodman, a severed employee who is forced to retire after striking up a relationship with Lumon Industries colleague (and eventual love interest) Irving Bailiff (John Turturro). Walken’s efforts earned him anEmmy nominationin 2022. Meanwhile, the show, itself, haswon two Emmysafter beingnominated in 14 categoriesfor its first season in 2022.

Of the role, Walken toldWSJ, “It was a very special job. It was mysterious, but funny and scary, which I’ve always felt was a good combination.”

source: people.com