Walter Matthau

Walter Matthau

Acting
Born 1920-10-01 - Died 2000-07-01New 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.

Movies (95)

Dennis the Menace
5.9

Dennis the Menace

1993Movie5.9
JFK
7.6

JFK

1991Movie7.6
Candy
5.1

Candy

1968Movie5.1
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
7.5

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

1974Movie7.5
Charade
7.7

Charade

1963Movie7.7
Grumpy Old Men
6.7

Grumpy Old Men

1993Movie6.7
Hello, Dolly!
7.0

Hello, Dolly!

1969Movie7.0
Earthquake
6.2

Earthquake

1974Movie6.2
Grumpier Old Men
6.5

Grumpier Old Men

1995Movie6.5
The Bad News Bears
6.9

The Bad News Bears

1976Movie6.9
Little Miss Marker
6.6

Little Miss Marker

1980Movie6.6
Jack Lemmon: America's Everyman
7.5

Jack Lemmon: America's Everyman

1996Movie7.5
The Fortune Cookie
7.2

The Fortune Cookie

1966Movie7.2
Pirates
6.3

Pirates

1986Movie6.3
The Front Page
7.3

The Front Page

1974Movie7.3
Charley Varrick
7.4

Charley Varrick

1973Movie7.4
I.Q.
6.0

I.Q.

1994Movie6.0
The Odd Couple II
6.3

The Odd Couple II

1998Movie6.3
California Suite
5.9

California Suite

1978Movie5.9
The Laughing Policeman
6.2

The Laughing Policeman

1973Movie6.2
Fail Safe
7.8

Fail Safe

1964Movie7.8
The Survivors
5.7

The Survivors

1983Movie5.7
Hanging Up
5.3

Hanging Up

2000Movie5.3
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
8.0

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

1995Movie8.0
Cactus Flower
7.2

Cactus Flower

1969Movie7.2
Bigger Than Life
7.2

Bigger Than Life

1956Movie7.2
The Odd Couple
7.4

The Odd Couple

1968Movie7.4
The Grass Harp
5.9

The Grass Harp

1996Movie5.9
A Guide for the Married Man
5.9

A Guide for the Married Man

1967Movie5.9
A New Leaf
7.3

A New Leaf

1971Movie7.3
The Kentuckian
5.8

The Kentuckian

1955Movie5.8
The Couch Trip
5.5

The Couch Trip

1988Movie5.5
Onionhead
5.5

Onionhead

1958Movie5.5
Elvis: A Life in Music

Elvis: A Life in Music

2026Movie
The Indian Fighter
6.3

The Indian Fighter

1955Movie6.3
The Sunshine Boys
6.9

The Sunshine Boys

1975Movie6.9
The Marriage Fool
6.9

The Marriage Fool

1998Movie6.9
Out to Sea
5.8

Out to Sea

1997Movie5.8
A Face in the Crowd
7.6

A Face in the Crowd

1957Movie7.6
Buddy Buddy
6.1

Buddy Buddy

1981Movie6.1
The Lion Roars Again
6.5

The Lion Roars Again

1975Movie6.5
Mirage
7.0

Mirage

1965Movie7.0
Hopscotch
7.0

Hopscotch

1980Movie7.0
Lonely are the Brave
7.4

Lonely are the Brave

1962Movie7.4
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
6.5

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

1987Movie6.5
Who's Got the Action?
5.2

Who's Got the Action?

1962Movie5.2
Ride a Crooked Trail
6.5

Ride a Crooked Trail

1958Movie6.5
King Creole
6.4

King Creole

1958Movie6.4
The Little Devil
6.7

The Little Devil

1988Movie6.7
Kotch
6.6

Kotch

1971Movie6.6
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

1989Movie
House Calls
6.4

House Calls

1978Movie6.4
I Love Liberty

I Love Liberty

1982Movie
I'm Not Rappaport
5.7

I'm Not Rappaport

1996Movie5.7
The Incident
6.4

The Incident

1990Movie6.4
Goodbye Charlie
5.8

Goodbye Charlie

1964Movie5.8
Ensign Pulver
6.5

Ensign Pulver

1964Movie6.5
Carol Channing and 101 Men

Carol Channing and 101 Men

1968Movie
Strangers When We Meet
6.4

Strangers When We Meet

1960Movie6.4
Plaza Suite
6.2

Plaza Suite

1971Movie6.2
Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy
5.8

Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy

1993Movie5.8
Funny Business
8.0

Funny Business

1978Movie8.0
Actor
7.0

Actor

1978Movie7.0
Incident in a Small Town
7.1

Incident in a Small Town

1994Movie7.1
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love
5.1

Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love

1991Movie5.1
Awake and Sing!
10.0

Awake and Sing!

1972Movie10.0
I Ought to Be in Pictures
6.9

I Ought to Be in Pictures

1982Movie6.9
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team

The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team

1984Movie
Movers & Shakers
3.9

Movers & Shakers

1985Movie3.9
Island of Love
5.8

Island of Love

1963Movie5.8
Slaughter on 10th Avenue
5.8

Slaughter on 10th Avenue

1957Movie5.8
The Stingiest Man in Town
5.6

The Stingiest Man in Town

1978Movie5.6
Pete 'n' Tillie
5.8

Pete 'n' Tillie

1972Movie5.8
Gangster Story
4.9

Gangster Story

1959Movie4.9
Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore
6.1

Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore

1992Movie6.1
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
9.0

Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special

1986Movie9.0
Voice in the Mirror
6.5

Voice in the Mirror

1958Movie6.5
First Monday in October
6.2

First Monday in October

1981Movie6.2
Casey's Shadow
6.5

Casey's Shadow

1978Movie6.5
Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys
7.0

Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys

1992Movie7.0
Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy
6.0

Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy

1998Movie6.0
'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War

'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War

2020Movie
Private Screenings: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau

Private Screenings: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau

1998Movie
Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter

Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter

1982Movie
The Secret Life of an American Wife
6.0

The Secret Life of an American Wife

1968Movie6.0
Last of the Independents: Don Siegel and the Making of 'Charley Varrick'
5.0

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

2015Movie5.0
A Beverly Hills Christmas
3.5

A Beverly Hills Christmas

1987Movie3.5
Jack Benny's Bag

Jack Benny's Bag

1968Movie
Atomic Attack
7.5

Atomic Attack

1954Movie7.5
Big Deal in Laredo

Big Deal in Laredo

1962Movie
Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough
6.5

Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough

1997Movie6.5
The Gentleman Tramp
7.1

The Gentleman Tramp

1976Movie7.1
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
7.6

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

1992Movie7.6
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'

1960Movie
Portrait of a '60% Perfect Man': Billy Wilder
6.9

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

1982Movie6.9

TV Shows (26)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
The Mike Douglas Show
5.8

The Mike Douglas Show

1961Series5.8
Golden Globe Awards
7.0

Golden Globe Awards

1944Series7.0
Great Performances
6.1

Great Performances

1971Series6.1
The Merv Griffin Show
6.8

The Merv Griffin Show

1962Series6.8
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
5.9

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

1963Series5.9
Dr. Kildare
5.7

Dr. Kildare

1961Series5.7
Robert Montgomery Presents
6.0

Robert Montgomery Presents

1950Series6.0
The Philco Television Playhouse
6.6

The Philco Television Playhouse

1948Series6.6
Tony Awards

Tony Awards

1956Series
Film '72
5.1

Film '72

1971Series5.1
Climax!
3.8

Climax!

1954Series3.8
Route 66
6.7

Route 66

1960Series6.7
The Dick Cavett Show
6.8

The Dick Cavett Show

1968Series6.8
Studio One
5.4

Studio One

1948Series5.4
Naked City
5.7

Naked City

1958Series5.7
The Oscars
7.0

The Oscars

1953Series7.0
Suspense
5.1

Suspense

1949Series5.1
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
7.8

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

1955Series7.8
Lux Video Theatre
6.7

Lux Video Theatre

1950Series6.7
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
6.3

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

1973Series6.3
Profiles in Courage
7.5

Profiles in Courage

1964Series7.5
Target: The Corruptors!
5.7

Target: The Corruptors!

1961Series5.7
Tallahassee 7000
8.5

Tallahassee 7000

1961Series8.5
General Electric Theater
6.8

General Electric Theater

1953Series6.8