Christopher Walken
Pictured is actor Christopher Walken. Reuters

"More cowbell" apparently led to years of extreme derision for actor Christopher Walken. Revealed in an interview with Jimmy Fallon on "The Tonight Show" via Entertainment Weekly, Will Ferrell discussed how the infamous “Saturday Night Live” sketch "ruined" Walken’s life.

During Thursday's sitdown, Ferrell said, while imitating Walken’s voice, “Here’s the crazy thing. I go to see Christopher Walken years later, in a play. I say hello to him backstage and he’s like, ‘You know, you’ve ruined my life. People during the curtain call bring cowbells and ring them. The other day I went for an Italian food lunch, and the waiter asked if I wanted more cowbell with my pasta bolognese.’”

The 2000 "SNL" sketch in question, literally called “More Cowbell,” involved a Blue Öyster Cult parody wherein Walken played Bruce Dickinson, the popular and well-known music producer. Walken’s Dickinson consistently called for “more cowbell" on each particular track, with a member of the band, Ferrell, taking the suggestion far too much to the heart.

“I think he’s really mad at me,” Ferrell related to Fallon. “From ‘The Deer Hunter’ to ‘Pulp Fiction’ to ‘More Cowbell’ — that’s all he gets.”

Ferrell will be hosting the upcoming episode of “Saturday Night Live” for the fifth time. His lead follows a breakout performance last week from Harry Styles. Ferrell will also be joined by first-time musical guest King Princess.

Despite the years of ridicule, it seems that according to Ferrell, Walken can still take a joke. Ferrell explained to Fallon that Walken “had a little smile” while bringing up his supposed "ruined" life following the “SNL” cowbell sketch. Catch all of Ferrell’s interview with Fallon here.

Ferrell’s fifth “SNL” appearance will air Saturday on NBC.

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