Walter Matthau
Acting
- Born:
- 1920-10-01
- Died:
- 2000-07-01
- Place of birth:
- New York City, New York, USA
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
Filmography
'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War
Last of the Independents: Don Siegel and the Making of 'Charley Varrick'
Hanging Up
The Marriage Fool
The Odd Couple II
Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy
Out to Sea
Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough
I'm Not Rappaport
Jack Lemmon: America's Everyman
The Grass Harp
Grumpier Old Men
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
I.Q.
Incident in a Small Town
Grumpy Old Men
Dennis the Menace
Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys
Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore
JFK
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love
The Incident
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
The Little Devil
The Couch Trip
A Beverly Hills Christmas
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Pirates
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
Movers & Shakers
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
The Survivors
Portrait of a '60% Perfect Man': Billy Wilder
Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter
I Ought to Be in Pictures
I Love Liberty
First Monday in October
Buddy Buddy
Hopscotch
Little Miss Marker
The Stingiest Man in Town
Funny Business
California Suite
House Calls
Actor
Casey's Shadow
The Gentleman Tramp
The Bad News Bears
The Sunshine Boys
Saturday Night Live
The Lion Roars Again
The Making of Pelham One Two Three
Earthquake
The Front Page
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
The Laughing Policeman
Charley Varrick
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Pete 'n' Tillie
Awake and Sing!
Film '72
Kotch
Plaza Suite
A New Leaf
Great Performances
Cactus Flower
Hello, Dolly!
Candy
Jack Benny's Bag
The Secret Life of an American Wife
The Dick Cavett Show
The Odd Couple
Carol Channing and 101 Men
A Guide for the Married Man
The Fortune Cookie
Mirage
Goodbye Charlie
Profiles in Courage
Fail Safe
Ensign Pulver
Charade
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Island of Love
Who's Got the Action?
Big Deal in Laredo
The Merv Griffin Show
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Lonely are the Brave
The Mike Douglas Show
Target: The Corruptors!
Dr. Kildare
Tallahassee 7000
Two by Saroyan: 'Once Around the Block' and 'My Heart's in the Highlands'
Route 66
Strangers When We Meet
Gangster Story
Ride a Crooked Trail
Onionhead
Naked City
Voice in the Mirror
King Creole
Slaughter on 10th Avenue
A Face in the Crowd
Bigger Than Life
Tony Awards
The Indian Fighter
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
The Kentuckian
Climax!
Atomic Attack
The Oscars
General Electric Theater
Lux Video Theatre
Robert Montgomery Presents
Suspense
Studio One
The Philco Television Playhouse
Golden Globe Awards