Quick Facts
Born:
1920-10-01
Birthplace:
New York City, New York, USA
Credits:
134 Total Roles
Walter Matthau
Acting
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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.
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
JFK
Senator Long
Dennis the Menace
George Wilson
Charade
Hamilton Bartholemew
Chaplin
Self (archive footage)
Grumpy Old Men
Max Goldman
The Odd Couple
Oscar Madison
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Lt. Garber
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
Full Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Elvis: A Life in Music MOVIE | Self (archive footage) |
| 2020 | 'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War MOVIE | Self (archive footage) |
| 2015 | Last of the Independents: Don Siegel and the Making of 'Charley Varrick' MOVIE | Self (archive footage) |
| 2000 | Revisiting 'Fail-Safe' MOVIE | Self (archive footage) |
| 2000 | Hanging Up MOVIE | Lou Mozell |
| 1998 | The Marriage Fool MOVIE | Frank Walsh |
| 1998 | Private Screenings: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau MOVIE | Self |
| 1998 | The Odd Couple II MOVIE | Oscar Madison |
| 1998 | Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy MOVIE | Self |
| 1997 | Out to Sea MOVIE | Charlie Gordon |