Walter Matthau

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

132

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

  • Saturday Night Live

    Saturday Night Live

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • Golden Globe Awards

    Golden Globe Awards

  • Tony Awards

    Tony Awards

  • Great Performances

    Great Performances

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • Robert Montgomery Presents

    Robert Montgomery Presents

  • Robert Montgomery Presents

    Robert Montgomery Presents

  • The Dick Cavett Show

    The Dick Cavett Show

  • Naked City

    Naked City

  • Naked City

    Naked City

  • Dr. Kildare

    Dr. Kildare

  • The Philco Television Playhouse

    The Philco Television Playhouse

  • The Philco Television Playhouse

    The Philco Television Playhouse

  • The Philco Television Playhouse

    The Philco Television Playhouse

  • Studio One

    Studio One

  • Studio One

    Studio One

  • Climax!

    Climax!

  • Route 66

    Route 66

  • The Oscars

    The Oscars

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

    Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

  • Dennis the Menace

    Dennis the Menace

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

  • Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy

    Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy

  • Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore

    Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore

  • The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

    The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

  • Charade

    Charade

  • Suspense

    Suspense

  • Lux Video Theatre

    Lux Video Theatre

  • Lux Video Theatre

    Lux Video Theatre

  • Lux Video Theatre

    Lux Video Theatre

  • Charley Varrick

    Charley Varrick

  • Casey's Shadow

    Casey's Shadow

  • JFK

    JFK

  • Cactus Flower

    Cactus Flower

  • Goodbye Charlie

    Goodbye Charlie

  • Ensign Pulver

    Ensign Pulver

  • Atomic Attack

    Atomic Attack

  • Candy

    Candy

  • Grumpy Old Men

    Grumpy Old Men

  • Hello, Dolly!

    Hello, Dolly!

  • Kotch

    Kotch

  • Gangster Story

    Gangster Story

  • Mirage

    Mirage

  • The Kentuckian

    The Kentuckian

  • I.Q.

    I.Q.

  • Buddy Buddy

    Buddy Buddy

  • Profiles in Courage

    Profiles in Courage

  • Profiles in Courage

    Profiles in Courage

  • King Creole

    King Creole

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

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

  • Movers & Shakers

    Movers & Shakers

  • The Incident

    The Incident

  • Hopscotch

    Hopscotch

  • California Suite

    California Suite

  • Plaza Suite

    Plaza Suite

  • Earthquake

    Earthquake

  • House Calls

    House Calls

  • Pirates

    Pirates

  • Target: The Corruptors!

    Target: The Corruptors!

  • The American Film Institute Salute to ...

    The American Film Institute Salute to ...

  • The Survivors

    The Survivors

  • Grumpier Old Men

    Grumpier Old Men

  • Actor

    Actor

  • Onionhead

    Onionhead

  • The Odd Couple

    The Odd Couple

  • The Secret Life of an American Wife

    The Secret Life of an American Wife

  • The Front Page

    The Front Page

  • Lonely are the Brave

    Lonely are the Brave

  • The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team

    The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team

  • The Indian Fighter

    The Indian Fighter

  • A New Leaf

    A New Leaf

  • The Laughing Policeman

    The Laughing Policeman

  • A Face in the Crowd

    A Face in the Crowd

  • Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love

    Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love

  • Fail Safe

    Fail Safe

  • The Little Devil

    The Little Devil

  • Bigger Than Life

    Bigger Than Life

  • A Guide for the Married Man

    A Guide for the Married Man

  • Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough

    Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough

  • Big Deal in Laredo

    Big Deal in Laredo

  • The Stingiest Man in Town

    The Stingiest Man in Town

  • Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys

    Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys

  • First Monday in October

    First Monday in October

  • Ride a Crooked Trail

    Ride a Crooked Trail

  • Funny Business

    Funny Business

  • The Sunshine Boys

    The Sunshine Boys

  • Strangers When We Meet

    Strangers When We Meet

  • The Fortune Cookie

    The Fortune Cookie

  • Tallahassee 7000

    Tallahassee 7000

  • The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

    The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

  • Revisiting 'Fail-Safe'

    Revisiting 'Fail-Safe'

  • Incident in a Small Town

    Incident in a Small Town

  • I Love Liberty

    I Love Liberty

  • The Odd Couple II

    The Odd Couple II

  • Jack Lemmon: America's Everyman

    Jack Lemmon: America's Everyman

  • I'm Not Rappaport

    I'm Not Rappaport

  • The Bad News Bears

    The Bad News Bears

  • Out to Sea

    Out to Sea

  • Island of Love

    Island of Love

  • Slaughter on 10th Avenue

    Slaughter on 10th Avenue

  • Pete 'n' Tillie

    Pete 'n' Tillie

  • The Grass Harp

    The Grass Harp

  • Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special

    Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special

  • Little Miss Marker

    Little Miss Marker

  • I Ought to Be in Pictures

    I Ought to Be in Pictures

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

    Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

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

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

  • James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

    James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

  • Hanging Up

    Hanging Up

  • Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter

    Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter

  • Awake and Sing!

    Awake and Sing!

  • The Couch Trip

    The Couch Trip

  • 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'

  • Voice in the Mirror

    Voice in the Mirror

  • Who's Got the Action?

    Who's Got the Action?

  • The Gentleman Tramp

    The Gentleman Tramp

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • A Beverly Hills Christmas

    A Beverly Hills Christmas

  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

    How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

  • The Marriage Fool

    The Marriage Fool

  • Carol Channing and 101 Men

    Carol Channing and 101 Men

  • Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy

    Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy

  • The Lion Roars Again

    The Lion Roars Again

  • 'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War

    'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War

  • Private Screenings: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau

    Private Screenings: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau

  • Jack Benny's Bag

    Jack Benny's Bag