Walter van Dyk was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and was raised in Canada as well as the United States. He made his professional acting debut in the American Repertory Theatre's inaugural production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has also worked extensively in London's West End in Olivier Award nominated shows as well as in film, and television. In film, he has worked with Kevin MacDonald, John Badham, and most recently with Ciaran Donnelly on the TV mini-series Harley and the Davidsons for the Discovery Channel.