Merci, Timothée Chalamet, for Making Tim Baltz Feel Normal

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In 2017, Timothée Chalamet gained prominence in “Call Me by Your Name,” leaving people wondering about the correct pronunciation of his name. As time went on, Chalamet became one of the most prominent actors of his generation, and we discovered that his French heritage was the reason behind the double E’s in his name and the distinctive accent mark. However, there has always been someone who knew the origin of Timothée Chalamet and his name – Tim Baltz, a well-known comedian and actor from “The Righteous Gemstones.” This is because Tim Baltz shares the same surname as Chalamet. For years in comedy and show business, Baltz’s real name was known only to a select few, but with Chalamet nominated for Best Actor at this weekend’s Oscars for “A Complete Unknown,” Baltz is now ready to share his experiences of living as a Timothée.

What is your name?
My name is Timothée Joseph Baltz.

Do you speak with a particular accent?

In a more colloquial manner: Got any unique way of speaking that stands out?

What’s the story behind your name? Growing up, my mother hailed from France and moved here when she was quite mature. To her, using this name seemed perfectly natural and ordinary.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Joliet, Illinois.

What do people usually respond when they see your name spelled this way? Well, quite often, it leads to a lot of confusion. I recall my peers having trouble grasping the spelling and pointing at an alphabet chart, indicating the letter ‘Y’. “Don’t you know this letter exists?” they would ask. Sometimes there was even a hint of a midwestern, “Who do you think you are?” tone. The teachers found it challenging as well, especially when someone pronounced it with a Y instead of two E’s. I can almost hear their struggles, and perhaps that empathy I possess today stems from my childhood spent observing these adults wrestle with those two E’s.

At a tender age, I learned how people tend to focus on even the slightest differences among us. This realization, whether appreciated or not, has the power to either include someone or exclude them. Growing up in a multicultural environment, such as Joliet’s public schools, helped me develop empathy early on. It might sound odd, but I believe this experience gave me an advantage when it comes to understanding others. When you’re subjected to teasing over something trivial, it’s hard not to think, “This is utterly ridiculous.” It also made me aware that many cultural norms and customs are essentially arbitrary, yet people treat them as if they were absolute truths.

As a child, what was your preferred or most commonly used nickname?

Or:

What name did you go by while growing up?

Were you raised with frequent visits to France during your childhood? My grandparents resided in Roubaix, located in the northern part of France. We’d spend four or five weeks there each summer, exploring various parts of the country, often staying with relatives and friends. It was a family-focused, small-town experience, quite similar to Joliet, Illinois, although I didn’t visit Paris until I turned 18, despite having traveled to France more than a dozen times before that age.

Were you with Tim during our college years? I did indeed, but there was this time in college when I had a counterfeit ID. I stupidly put my real name on it, though. Now here’s the funny part: since I looked like I was 14 until I was around 31, the double ‘E’ in Timothée actually worked to my advantage. When I’d show it to bouncers or at liquor stores, they’d see the two E’s and get a bit puzzled. They’d think, “If this is a fake ID, why would this kid spell it with two E’s?” It was just enough confusion for them to let me slip through.

When you began your career in comedy, did you ever think about changing the name you were known by?

As Timothée, I’ve never felt compelled to embrace the name change. It seemed like an attempt at reinvention, something that was less common in the world of sketch comedy at Second City back then. Nowadays, it appears more acceptable, but at the time, it would have felt odd. My French heritage has always been a quiet facet of my identity, often surprising people who know me for my love of NBA basketball and Tom Petty. “Wait, you speak fluent French? You’re kidding! I thought you just talked about basketball and Tom Petty all the time.” This is a common reaction.

When did you feel like your acting career began in earnest?

In those two shows, Chicago P.D. and Parks and Recreation, I was incorrectly credited as Timothée Baltz instead of my actual name. It seems I made a mistake, no joke. On my tax forms (W-2), I carelessly wrote down my full name, not thinking much of it. When asked if they needed the full name for this form, I probably replied affirmatively and thus put “Timothée” instead.

Do you recall the instance when you got acquainted with Timothée Chalamet? For me, it was back in 2012 during my audition for SNL when he released a rap video, which drew my attention. Upon seeing him, I felt a connection since we share an uncommon spelling of our names, and thought, “Wow, there’s another one with the same name spelling as mine!

How did you feel about him? Living in both New York and Paris contrasts greatly with my upbringing in two small towns, Joliet, Illinois. That struck me as amusing, and I playfully mused, “Perhaps I should release a rap video about high school as well.” But then I paused, realizing, “I’m 31. Maybe that’s not such a great idea.

Apart from that instance, the last time something similar occurred was when I became quite enthused about a French basketball player named Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot. I had high hopes for his career.

Since 2017, Timothée Chalamet has risen to become one of the most prominent and trendy film stars of his generation, following the release of “Call Me by Your Name”. How has this transformation affected you?

It’s fantastic! It seems like the growing acceptance of that spelling. Earlier, when I presented my ID somewhere, people would look at it puzzled. Now there’s a sense of anticipation and recognition, as if to say “another one like him.

Does Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot’s success in basketball sometimes make me a little envious? It’s like I could have been that guy if I had used my real name. Not quite, though. Instead, I admire him more because “A Complete Unknown” left an incredible impression on me. I find it fascinating. So no, it’s never been a matter of envy for me; rather, it’s been more like, This is quite interesting and typical. And, to be honest, when people discover that I spell my name this way, it adds a touch of mystery. It’s not about branding; it’s always been a deeply personal choice. If you’re curious to learn more, I can certainly share more about it. But if not, it’s all good. I consider myself fortunate to have experienced life through two cultures and languages. I’ve always had one foot in each continent. Meeting Bradley Cooper, Timothée Chalamet, or Victor Wembanyama would simply be thrilling. And in French, I could say something like, “Hey, did you try the crab cakes tonight?” Watching their reaction would be priceless.

How does it make you feel when Timothée Chalamet’s name is mentioned at award shows? It stirs up a feeling of Franco-American pride in me, as I don’t often come across individuals who have grown up straddling the borders of these two countries. There’s always a worry that someone might become famous and turn out to be less than admirable, but thankfully, Timothée is not only famous, but also incredibly talented.

Are you hoping Timothée will take home the Best Actor award at the Oscars? Absolutely! I found his performance incredibly captivating. To be honest, I’ve seen a good amount of Dylan-focused documentaries, and I felt he perfectly embodied the effortless coolness that Dylan exuded. His portrayal in the first half of the movie was particularly compelling to me. The way he made being casual seem so natural while his mind was fully absorbed by the genius he was pursuing really drew me in. So, yes, I’m definitely rooting for him to win!

Absolutely! You know, as a movie buff, I had high hopes for Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot making the NBA All-Star team. Unfortunately, that dream didn’t come true. Now, it’s all about Timothée Chalamet – his performances have become my new source of excitement and anticipation in the world of cinema.

Picture this: It’s the future and you find yourself back in Joliet, Illinois, but it’s 2025. Timothée Chalamet is a household name now. If we were kids again, would we address him as Timothée? Most likely, yes, especially since he’s famous now. But I bet we’d still slip up and call him Timmy B from time to time. However, in more formal situations, I imagine we’d use the full name of Timothée.

Reflecting on the topic of names, I find it intriguing that our unique identifiers can bridge cultures. For instance, I’ve had a taste of speaking French with others, and I can only imagine the fun we’d have if I ever got to do so with Bradley Cooper, whom I’ve almost met before. His press conferences in France always sparked excitement, and I’d relish the opportunity to witness that energy firsthand. Ideally, I yearn for a project that would transport me to France, where I could appear on French television, leaving viewers puzzled, “Ce ne fait pas de sens.”

I’ve always felt a bit of duality, being ‘too French’ here and ‘too American’ there. People often recognize my nationality in an instant, regardless of my flawless French pronunciation. This experience has taught me that while we may share languages, our identities transcend them, making for fascinating encounters.

In the podcast, the host inquired about my characters, asking if there might be something hidden, to which I responded that it originates from heightened awareness and observation due to feeling different. My father introduced me to a variety of humor, while traveling to France added even more perspectives. I was fortunate to have such diverse influences. A fascinating book by French writer and comedian Isabelle Alonso called “Exile Is My Country” resonated with me. In this book, she explores her own humor and attraction to comedy, eventually concluding that it stems from embracing one’s differences – a concept she refers to as “drôle de la différence.” Whether it was a coping mechanism or protection, growing up with those unique differences set me on the path toward Chicago and comedy.

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2025-02-28 17:54