Walter Matthau

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

131

Gender

Male

Birthday

1920-10-01

Day of death

2000-07-01 (79 years old)

Place of Birth

New York City, New York, USA

Walter Matthau

Biography

Walter Matthau (born Walter John Matthow; October 1, 1920 – July 1, 2000) was an American actor, comedian and film director. He is best known for his film roles in A Face in the Crowd (1957), King Creole (1958) and as a coach of a hapless little league team in the baseball comedy The Bad News Bears (1976). He also starred in 10 films alongside Jack Lemmon, including The Odd Couple (1968), The Front Page (1974) and Grumpy Old Men (1993). Matthau won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the Billy Wilder film The Fortune Cookie (1966). Matthau is also known for his performances in Stanley Donen's romance Charade (1963), Gene Kelly's musical Hello, Dolly! (1969), Elaine May's screwball comedy A New Leaf (1971) and Herbert Ross' ensemble comedy California Suite (1978). He also starred in Plaza Suite, Kotch (both 1971), Charley Varrick (1973), The Sunshine Boys (1975), and Hopscotch (1980). On Broadway, Matthau originated the role of Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple by playwright Neil Simon, for which he received a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play in 1965, his second after A Shot in the Dark in 1962. Matthau also received two British Academy Film Awards and a Golden Globe Award. In 1963, he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his performance in The DuPont Show of the Week. In 1982, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Known For

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • Great Performances

    Great Performances

  • Saturday Night Live

    Saturday Night Live

  • The Philco Television Playhouse

    The Philco Television Playhouse

  • The Philco Television Playhouse

    The Philco Television Playhouse

  • The Philco Television Playhouse

    The Philco Television Playhouse

  • Tony Awards

    Tony Awards

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • Robert Montgomery Presents

    Robert Montgomery Presents

  • Robert Montgomery Presents

    Robert Montgomery Presents

  • Climax!

    Climax!

  • Studio One

    Studio One

  • Studio One

    Studio One

  • Dr. Kildare

    Dr. Kildare

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

    Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

  • Naked City

    Naked City

  • Naked City

    Naked City

  • The Dick Cavett Show

    The Dick Cavett Show

  • Route 66

    Route 66

  • Suspense

    Suspense

  • The Oscars

    The Oscars

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

  • Grumpy Old Men

    Grumpy Old Men

  • Lux Video Theatre

    Lux Video Theatre

  • Lux Video Theatre

    Lux Video Theatre

  • Lux Video Theatre

    Lux Video Theatre

  • Earthquake

    Earthquake

  • Grumpier Old Men

    Grumpier Old Men

  • Charade

    Charade

  • Incident in a Small Town

    Incident in a Small Town

  • Two by Saroyan: 'Once Around the Block' and 'My Heart's in the Highlands'

    Two by Saroyan: 'Once Around the Block' and 'My Heart's in the Highlands'

  • JFK

    JFK

  • Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy

    Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy

  • Dennis the Menace

    Dennis the Menace

  • Target: The Corruptors!

    Target: The Corruptors!

  • Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore

    Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore

  • The American Film Institute Salute to ...

    The American Film Institute Salute to ...

  • Hanging Up

    Hanging Up

  • Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love

    Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love

  • Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter

    Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter

  • The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

    The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

  • Goodbye Charlie

    Goodbye Charlie

  • The Odd Couple II

    The Odd Couple II

  • I'm Not Rappaport

    I'm Not Rappaport

  • Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough

    Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough

  • King Creole

    King Creole

  • A Guide for the Married Man

    A Guide for the Married Man

  • The Odd Couple

    The Odd Couple

  • Charley Varrick

    Charley Varrick

  • The Sunshine Boys

    The Sunshine Boys

  • Island of Love

    Island of Love

  • Big Deal in Laredo

    Big Deal in Laredo

  • A Face in the Crowd

    A Face in the Crowd

  • Profiles in Courage

    Profiles in Courage

  • Profiles in Courage

    Profiles in Courage

  • House Calls

    House Calls

  • I Love Liberty

    I Love Liberty

  • Cactus Flower

    Cactus Flower

  • A New Leaf

    A New Leaf

  • Kotch

    Kotch

  • The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team

    The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team

  • Hello, Dolly!

    Hello, Dolly!

  • I.Q.

    I.Q.

  • Candy

    Candy

  • James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

    James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

  • Voice in the Mirror

    Voice in the Mirror

  • First Monday in October

    First Monday in October

  • Hopscotch

    Hopscotch

  • Slaughter on 10th Avenue

    Slaughter on 10th Avenue

  • Ride a Crooked Trail

    Ride a Crooked Trail

  • The Laughing Policeman

    The Laughing Policeman

  • The Little Devil

    The Little Devil

  • Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special

    Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special

  • The Incident

    The Incident

  • Bigger Than Life

    Bigger Than Life

  • Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

    Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

  • A Beverly Hills Christmas

    A Beverly Hills Christmas

  • The Front Page

    The Front Page

  • Gangster Story

    Gangster Story

  • Atomic Attack

    Atomic Attack

  • Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys

    Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys

  • The Indian Fighter

    The Indian Fighter

  • Pirates

    Pirates

  • The Stingiest Man in Town

    The Stingiest Man in Town

  • The Grass Harp

    The Grass Harp

  • The Fortune Cookie

    The Fortune Cookie

  • The Marriage Fool

    The Marriage Fool

  • The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

    The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

  • Tallahassee 7000

    Tallahassee 7000

  • The Kentuckian

    The Kentuckian

  • Awake and Sing!

    Awake and Sing!

  • The Couch Trip

    The Couch Trip

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • Pete 'n' Tillie

    Pete 'n' Tillie

  • Movers & Shakers

    Movers & Shakers

  • Fail Safe

    Fail Safe

  • Buddy Buddy

    Buddy Buddy

  • Out to Sea

    Out to Sea

  • The Bad News Bears

    The Bad News Bears

  • Casey's Shadow

    Casey's Shadow

  • Plaza Suite

    Plaza Suite

  • Onionhead

    Onionhead

  • Mirage

    Mirage

  • Revisiting 'Fail-Safe'

    Revisiting 'Fail-Safe'

  • Strangers When We Meet

    Strangers When We Meet

  • The Secret Life of an American Wife

    The Secret Life of an American Wife

  • Actor

    Actor

  • Ensign Pulver

    Ensign Pulver

  • Private Screenings: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau

    Private Screenings: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau

  • The Survivors

    The Survivors

  • Funny Business

    Funny Business

  • The Gentleman Tramp

    The Gentleman Tramp

  • I Ought to Be in Pictures

    I Ought to Be in Pictures

  • Lonely are the Brave

    Lonely are the Brave

  • Jack Lemmon: America's Everyman

    Jack Lemmon: America's Everyman

  • Who's Got the Action?

    Who's Got the Action?

  • Little Miss Marker

    Little Miss Marker

  • California Suite

    California Suite

  • Jack Benny's Bag

    Jack Benny's Bag

  • The Lion Roars Again

    The Lion Roars Again

  • Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy

    Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy

  • Carol Channing and 101 Men

    Carol Channing and 101 Men

  • Portrait of a '60% Perfect Man': Billy Wilder

    Portrait of a '60% Perfect Man': Billy Wilder

  • Last of the Independents: Don Siegel and the Making of 'Charley Varrick'

    Last of the Independents: Don Siegel and the Making of 'Charley Varrick'

  • 'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War

    'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War

  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

    How the Grinch Stole Christmas!